Huaraz: Culture, Processions and Mountain Views

If you are looking for a hotel in Huaraz, the city’s cultural traditions and urban landmarks can enrich your travel plans. The Plaza de Armas is the main public space in the province of Huaraz and the Áncash region, and a meeting place for local residents, Peruvian visitors and international guests. The following places and traditions offer concrete points of reference as you decide which aspects of the city you would like to discover in more depth.

Finding Your Way Around the Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas features a bronze fountain installed in 1870 and a portrait of Grand Marshal Toribio de Luzuriaga. From there, you can see the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. The Parqueo San Martin parking lot is another local point of reference: from there, it is 300 metres, or a four-minute walk, along a paved route to the plaza. The exact distance may vary slightly depending on how the route is measured.

Dance, Music and Religious Traditions

The Shacshas is considered the most characteristic dance of the city of Huaraz. A group consists of 15 to 20 dancers and is led by a “Campero.” The choreography combines animal motifs such as the dove, thrush and snake with economic activities such as sowing and herding vicuñas. It also includes cosmic figures—two rows, a triangle and a cross. At the Encuentro de Cruces, visitors can experience dances, music, and games involving water and streamers.

The Festividad del Señor de la Soledad, also known as Señor de Mayo, is celebrated in the district and province of Huaraz in the department of Áncash. In 2026, it was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation through Vice-Ministerial Resolution N.° 162-2026-VMPCIC/MC. This should be distinguished from the 2017 declaration: at that time, 76 movable cultural assets belonging to the Diocese of Huaraz and housed at the Santuario del Señor de la Soledad were declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation. The sanctuary preserves the image of the Señor de la Soledad, the city’s patron saint. Its main altar is made of mahogany, decorated with 24-karat gold leaf, and was crafted by the Cooperativa Artesanal Don Bosco de Chacas.

The Semana Santa Huaracina can also be explored through its individual days. It begins on Palm Sunday with a procession of Jesus through the streets of Huaraz. On Maundy Thursday, the ritual includes the washing of feet, followed by a vigil for Jesús Nazareno. The Huaraqui procession begins at 2 a.m. on Good Friday; along the route, flower carpets cover the streets. On Easter Sunday, the procession of the Señor de la Resurrección makes its way to the Plaza de Armas, where it meets the Virgen Dolorosa.

City Views and History in the Surrounding Area

Visitors go to Pumacayán for its strategic location within the city, which offers views of Huaraz. Check local conditions before visiting. Pico Churup is near Huaraz; a route described there offers panoramic views of the city. East of Huaraz, in the centre of Jancu, is an archaeological site dating to the period of Recuay presence between 200 and 700 AD, in the Early Intermediate Period. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider urban viewpoints, religious traditions and an archaeological topic as distinct facets of Huaraz.

For the broader travel overview: Huaraz.