Snowboarding in Peru seems unlikely to most people but appearances are deceiving. Extreme snowboarders and other winter mountaineering types consider Peru to be high on the list for unfettered adventure. Large glaciers here number in the hundreds and the Andes – the largest mountain range in the Americas – runs right through Peru.
Huaraz is where snowboarders and serious mountaineering types flock to before treks as it’s close to the Huascaran National Park and Cordillera Blanca mountain range containing some of the highest peaks in South America to climb and ride. Huascaran Mountain peak is the highest peak in the tropics at 6768 meters.
Huaraz City is 7 to 8 hours away from Jorge Chavez- the international airport in Lima. Many tourists travel around Peru via domestic flights as bus travel can be dangerous. Between the dangerous mountain passes and the buses being held up by “highwaymen” the bus ride to Huaraz can be an adventure on it’s own.
Pastoruri Glacier with a summit of 5240 meters is a couple of hours South of Huaraz. Pastoruri is what locals claim to be Peru’s only major ski resort. The term “resort” in Peru is loosely defined though. There are no chair lifts or ski patrol. You climb to ride and the climb takes days.
Peru’s winter is considered their dry season and runs April- October with high season at July- September. Visas are not needed for visitors from US, Canada, Australia and EU but passports must be valid for at least six months.
The best way to snowboard Peru’s wild glaciers is to hook up with a mountaineering travel company.
