Chavín de Huántar

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Chavín de Huántar

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Discover Chavín de Huántar

Chavín de Huántar is a town and archaeological site from the pre-Incan Chavin culture of around 900 BC containing ruins and other artefacts. The site in the Central Andes of Peru is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chavín de Huántar is a town of around 9,000 inhabitants, most of which are bilingual in Spanish and Quechua. It's the capital of a district with the same name and is perched high up in the Andes at an altitude of 3,137 m above sea level.

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What to Experience in Chavín de Huántar

Plaza de armas de Chavin de Huantar

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Cuisine

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Weather

Climate

Chavín is in the tropics, but also at a high altitude so temperatures aren't particularly high for this latitude. Daytime highs are generally below +20°C, and at night temperatures are a few degrees below +10°C. As with tropical locations, the temperatures don't change much throughout the year but the amount of rain does. The dry season, also known "Andean summer", ranges from April to November, whereas the rainy season covers December to March - though months just before and after the rainy season aren't entirely dry. During the rainy season it may rain up to 1000 mm. There are daily buses from Huaraz, Huari, Llamellín and Lima. From Huaraz the distance is 104 km (65 mi), and the ride along a paved road takes at least two hours. The trip goes south to Cátac, then eastwards at which point the road starts ascending. It then enters the Huascarán National Park and goes through the Kahuish tunnel to enter the district of Chavín de Huántar.

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Essential Information

Getting There

Multiple Options

There are daily buses from Huaraz, Huari, Llamellín and Lima. From Huaraz the distance is 104 km (65 mi), and the ride along a paved road takes at least two hours. The trip goes south to Cátac, then eastwards at which point the road starts ascending. It then enters the Huascarán National Park and goes through the Kahuish tunnel to enter the district of Chavín de Huántar. Several bus companies located on Mariscal Caceres avenue offer regular departures throughout the day to Chavin (S/12, May 2014). Buses to destinations further afield also stop at Chavin around midnight, but then you'll need to have accommodation sorted out ahead. You might also be able to find shared taxis and combis from Huaraz. From San Marcos, a town 14 km (8.7 mi) away, you can get in by taxi colectivo or combi. The former is a private vehicle, commonly a station wagon, and the latter is a small van with seats. Combis are part of a private association operating routes approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Transport....

Travel Tips

Getting Around & Staying

Getting Around

Attractions within the town are within walking distance, the same goes for most of the sites outside town (see the See section for individual advice). The region has long traditions of making carved stone art, and many shops in town where you can buy such artworks by local artisans. It's a small city but there are several places to sleep, most of which are concentrated downtown. As with many locations in Peru, altitude sickness and sunburn are real risks. There's a health center in the city, and a few pharmacies. The closest hospitals are in Huari (38 km away) and in Huaraz (104 km away, has three hospitals). In addition there are a few small health centers in nearby hamlets. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Operators Claro and Movistar have 3G coverage in town and a bit outside of it, Movistar also has 2G coverage further out.

Where to Stay

It's a small city but there are several places to sleep, most of which are concentrated downtown. As with many locations in Peru, altitude sickness and sunburn are real risks. There's a health center in the city, and a few pharmacies. The closest hospitals are in Huari (38 km away) and in Huaraz (104 km away, has three hospitals). In addition there are a few small health centers in nearby hamlets. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Operators Claro and Movistar have 3G coverage in town and a bit outside of it, Movistar also has 2G coverage further out.

Money & Budget

The region has long traditions of making carved stone art, and many shops in town where you can buy such artworks by local artisans. It's a small city but there are several places to sleep, most of which are concentrated downtown. As with many locations in Peru, altitude sickness and sunburn are real risks. There's a health center in the city, and a few pharmacies. The closest hospitals are in Huari (38 km away) and in Huaraz (104 km away, has three hospitals). In addition there are a few small health centers in nearby hamlets. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Operators Claro and Movistar have 3G coverage in town and a bit outside of it, Movistar also has 2G coverage further out.

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