Accommodations

Both clean and safe, the eight-room Alojamiento Caballero (Daniel Villar 485, tel. 043/77-0919, US$4 pp) is a reliable budget option. The beds are droopy and bathrooms are shared, but there is a lovely little terrace, which looks out onto the street and the impressive peaks nearby.

The most tasteful option in town is Los Pinos Lodge (Parque San Martin 103, tel. 043/39-1130, www.apuaventura.com [1], US$11 s, US$20 d with breakfast). The lobby and 12 spacious rooms are filled with antiques, which give the house a colonial feel. Grassy gardens enclose the house and are perfect for posttrek sunbathing. Travel information, bike rental, book exchange, and a DVD library are available to all guests. The small restaurant is the town’s best dinner option and serves a creative Novoandino menu.

Tucked away in a neighborhood above town is Grand Hostal Caraz Dulzura (Sáenz Peña 212, tel. 043/39-1523, www.hostalcarazdulzura.com [2], US$11 s, US$17 d with breakfast), a modern hotel with a friendly staff. The large rooms are plain but impeccably clean with comfortable beds. Downstairs, there is both a restaurant and a TV/DVD room. Knowledgeable owner Carlos Huaman enjoys helping travelers plan their adventure excursions.

For good service and a location on the main square, try Hostal Perla de los Andes (Daniel Villar 179, Plaza de Armas, tel. 043/39-2007, hostalperladelosandes [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$11 s, US$17 d). Simple, unadorned rooms are clean, with cable TV and private baths, and there is a café downstairs.

Hotel La Alameda (Noe Bazán Peralta 262, tel. 043/39-1177, www.hotellaalameda.com [3], US$10–15 pp) is a maze of rooms, each one of surprisingly different quality. The primary distinction between the rooms is the comfort of the beds and shared versus private bathrooms. Regardless, all rooms are slightly overpriced.

Just one kilometers outside of town is the sprawling O’Pal Inn (Km 265.5 Huaraz–Caraz Highway, tel. 043/39-1015, www.opalsierraresort.com [4], US$14–20 pp). A series of rustic bungalows (some with kitchenettes) and spacious rooms, the inn is a good option for families or travelers looking for privacy. On the grounds, there are a playground, swimming pool, restaurant, and 60 hectares of orange groves.