Chances are, if you’re planning to hike the Andes in Peru, your journey will take you to Huaraz. The capital of the Ancash region in northern Peru, Huaraz is known as the gateway to the Cordillera Blanca mountain range and is often dubbed the “Switzerland of Peru.”

This high-altitude city has become the go-to base for trekkers heading into Huascarán National Park to attempt some of this UNESCO World Heritage site’s 50 recognized trails. But in staying here, what you might miss as you stock up on snacks and adjust to the altitude is the nearby town of Yungay.

Just an hour and 20 minutes by bus from Huaraz (35 miles), Yungay was once the original capital of the region, home to around 20,000 people and known as the “Pearl of the Huaylas Corridor” (the name for this spectacular valley). Toda

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