Huancavelica

Table of Contents: Culture and History / Travel to Huancavelica, visa requirements / Get around / Huancavelica attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Huancavelica souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Mid-range / Splurge / Huancavelica nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out More from Southern Sierra (Peru): Huancavelica, Huancayo, Sacred Valley of the Incas More from Peru: Altiplano (Peru), Amazonas (Peru), Cajamarca, Central Coast (Peru), Cordillera Blanca, Madre de Dios (Peru), Northern Coast (Peru), San Martin, Southern Coast (Peru), Southern Sierra (Peru) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela

Huancavelica is a city in the Southern Sierra region of Peru.

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Culture and History

Huancavelica is the capital of the department of Huancavelica. The population is about 37,000, altitude 3,680 m. Huancavelica is surrounded by about 4000 m high mountains that give a fantastic panorama. Around the plaza, many colonial buildings dominate the view.

The Tourist Office is very helpful, Jr. Victoria Garma 444 (next to the marked hall), Tele-fax 064-752938.

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Travel to Huancavelica, visa requirements

There are daily trains from Huancayo, leaving Huancayo at 6am and 1pm during the week and 2pm and 6pm Sundays. The journey takes about 5 hours.

From Huancayo, there are buses too but you should have a good reason if you decide to travel for hours on the dust road.

Daily buses from Ayacucho offer 2 alternatives:

1. The direct way via Lircay (dust road) or
2. via Rumichaca and St. Ines. Take the main road from Ayacucho to the coast until Rumichaca (paved and in good condition) then catch a bus to Huancavelica (departure 11am, dust road). The landscape is unique and impressive, most of it is between 4000 and 5000 m above sea level.

Daily buses to Ayacucho Buses leave at 4.30pm (!) from Plaza Tumpac Amaru del Barrio de Yananaco to Rumichaca (dust road, very impressive landscape, 6h) and arrive there at 10.30am. The bus company San Juan Bautistaat Plaza Tupac Amaru sells tickets. From Rumichaca, take one of buses that go from the coast to Ayacucho (paved road).

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Get around

Not a problem. Distances are small, just walk. If you need a taxi, don't pay more than 3 Soles (0,80 US$) in the city.

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Huancavelica attractions and sightseeing

• Most of the churches are open between 5pm and 7pm. They are worth a visit.

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City tours

• Thermal bath with water temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. The basins are refilled every day in the early morning hours. So, the earlier you come, the warmer the water.

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Shopping, Huancavelica souvenirs

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Good restaurants and cheap meals

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Mid-range

• Mochica Sanchun, Av Virrey Toledo 303.

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Splurge

• Hotel Presidente, Plaza de Armas, Chinese menu and à la carte.

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Huancavelica nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

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Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

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Get out

• Santa Barbara is a very old mining village, founded just after the conquista. It was abandoned in the late 80's. You still can see the mining plants and tunnels as they were. The church gives an impression of the former richness. Take a taxi (ask the driver to wait, otherwise you have to walk back) or make a day trip by feet. It is on the other side of the mountain with the remarkable antennas on the top.

More from Southern Sierra (Peru): Huancavelica, Huancayo, Sacred Valley of the Incas More from Peru: Altiplano (Peru), Amazonas (Peru), Cajamarca, Central Coast (Peru), Cordillera Blanca, Madre de Dios (Peru), Northern Coast (Peru), San Martin, Southern Coast (Peru), Southern Sierra (Peru) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela

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