The town is situated on the eastern slope of the Andean mountain range known as the Cordillera Blanca.

The economy of the province is primarily agricultural, with at least half the population engaged in subsistence horticulture, raising crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, other native tubers, quinoa, maize, wheat, barley, tomatoes, peppers, and various vegetables.

The drive from Huari westward to the Pan-American Highway during fair weather required six to eight hours on packed-earth and graveled roads until arriving at the asphalt-paved Pan-American Highway on the Pacific coast near the town of Comas.

Crossing the Cordillera Blanca was facilitated by a one-lane tunnel, approximately 800 meters in length.

The ceiling and walls were unfinished, and year-round water seepage at numerous places kept the rough but generally level one-lane roadway constantly muddy and covered with puddles.