Huancayo
Table of Contents: Culture and History / Travel to Huancayo, visa requirements Buses to Huancayo By train / Other / Get around / Huancayo attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Shopping, Huancayo souvenirs / Huancayo nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Club .26 discotec / Bar / 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 |
Huancayo is the capital of the department of Junin in Southern Sierra region of Peru.
Culture and History
The population is about 500,000, altitude 3300 m. Huancayo lies on the lower end of the broad Mantaro Valley. The surrounding mountains reach up to ca. 3,600 m.
In Peru, there is not only Cuzco, Arequipa y Puno to visit, but also charming, smaller towns such as the ones encountered in the region of Junin. Such towns represent another aspect of the Peruvian culture and its traditions, giving the tourists another experience of this diverse country. In Huancayo and its surroundings, there are many activities to do and many un-touristy cultural sites to visit. When Pissaro setelled the first capital of Peru in Jauja his first impression of the region was that it looked like Switzerland. The everlasting valley of Mantaro is very green, its agriculture is floorishing and is full of wondering cows, pigs, donkeys and lambs. The region is full of pre Inca ruins, from the Wanka civilization. You should go and visit Tunanmarca, a wanka ruin that has more than 3000 houses! or go trekking on the Huaytapallana glacier for a day. It is a pleasant and relatively safe place for visitors to practice their Spanish, meet down-to-earth Peruvians, and try delicious local food at reasonable prices. Ruins, Museums, Trekking and Fishing are on the menu...
Travel to Huancayo, visa requirements
Buses to Huancayo
Many bus companies offer services from and to Lima. Huancavelica, a five hour trip, is also available.
By train
The Ferrocarril Central Andino the line joining Lima to Huancayo is the second highest railway in the world and the Highest in South America. The Journey on board of the Train of the Andes, through the heart of Peru is simply breathtaking. It is an 11 hour experience where the train reaches an altitude of 4781m.a.s.l (15681ft) and goes through 69 tunnels, 58 bridges and makes 6 zigzags. In 1999, the company was privatized, in 2005, Ferrocarril Central Andino renovated their passenger wagons in a Luxurious and comfortable way which puts the railway in the list of the most famous trains along with the Orient Express and the Transsiberien. you will not regret this original trip...
For more info about the Train of the Andes and some tour operator, go to the web pageFerrocarril Central Andino
Other
During the day, there are always colectivos to and from Jauja.
Get around
Taxis - transport in the city is around 3 Soles (US$0.8).
Huancayo attractions and sightseeing
- Cerrito de la Libertad Take a taxi or walk to this view point over the whole city.
- Torre-Torre Sandstone needles, the impressive effect of erosion.
- Visit the marked area behind the railway station to Lima.
- La Inmaculada A church where you can often find local musicians that wait to be hired for some wedding or whatever, some of which play on real cow horns.
- Parque de Identidad A famous park in the city that is widely loved for its strange and artistic design that is popular with children.
City tours
- Many tourist agencies offer a day trip through villages in the valley for different prices, but in the end all the agencies send their clients to the same bus. The tour is well guided in Spanish and goes to San Jeronimo, Ingenio, and several other villages.
- If you have a chance definately try a volunteer/homestay option. Best place to get to know some Peruvian culture.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
It is a pitty that this region is unkonown to tourists, everything is great and especially its local food. By not visiting the region of Junin people miss alot of Peru's culture and tradition. If you are a culinary addicted, you have to jump on the Ferrocarril Central ( it would give you a good first glance of the good local food)and run to a restaurant in Conception or Jauja!
Everyone who visits the region of Junin has to go and eat a trout in the village of Ingeno. Every restaurant has its own recepies and ways of preparing this local production (trouts). You have to try the cebiche de Trucha or La Troucha a la huancaina!
For the bravest the most reputated dish that could fill your starvation is the picante de cuy or cuy Chactado (guinea pig). It is found in every restaurant and every toursits have to try it before they leave the region, it is an experience!
Another typical local dish would be the Papa a la Huancaina with a plate of Pachamanca (a way of cooking the food, served with many different food) it is delicious.
Go to the restaurant la cabana and ask for Lucho!
Shopping, Huancayo souvenirs
Huancayo nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Club & discotec
- La Noche, Jr. San Antonio 241 - Huancayo
- Taj Mahal, Av Huancavelica - Huancayo
Bar
- El Tayta, Av Huancavelica #859 - Huancayo
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- Hospedaje Tachi, Huamanmarca 125, Family run, very friendly atmosphere, laundry facility, double room for 10 soles (US$3) each. Some English is spoken.
- Hotel Kiya, The fist hotel in Huancayo, in the center of the main city, double room for 66 soles (Average rate US$20.00). English is spoken. Contact us: contact@hotelkiya.com, Telephone: +5164 214955
- La Casa de la Abuela, Giraldez 691, dorms for 20 soles per person or double room for 25 soles per person. Great atmosphere, very popular among backpackers.
- There are several hotels on the city square with rates well under 100 soles per night. Except during festivals, there's probably no need for reservations.
Get out
- Huarivilca, or Warivilca. A temple ruin from the Wari era. Take a colectivo or a taxi to the village Huari. You will find the museum (service in the morning and in the afternoon) in the plaza. You can get there explanations in English. After the museum, the guide will show you the ruins, too.
- The trains to Huancavelica leave Huancayo at 6am and 1pm during the week and 2pm and 6pm Sundays. The journey takes about 5 hours. The station is at the crossing of Av. Ferrocarril and Av. Junin. Probably, you will see the old station building first. Beware, it's out of order. The new one is on the other side of the rails and is not very easy to find.
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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