Huancaya: A Wonder from Peru

THE CAPITAL OF THE NAMELIKE DISTRICT, PERCHED ON THE YAUYOS PROVINCE IN THE LIMA DEPARTMENT, STANDS OUT FOR ITS BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES AS IT'S PENCILED IN AS A TRAVEL POWERHOUSE

Those who have had the privilege of visiting the Peruvian town of Huancaya, describe it as a perfect place because of the possibility it offers to interact with nature in its most sublime state, the magnificence of its landscapes and the healing experience it puts within the reach of strollers.

It is the capital of the district of the same name, located in the province of Yauyos, in the department of Lima. It stands at no more and no less than an impressive 3,554 meters above sea level and its beauty is renowned not only for its impressive elevated environments, but also for those that rest on the banks of the Hualhua River, where beautiful emerald-colored lakes are formed.

The splendor of Huancaya is not accidental. Know that it is located in the center of a site of great natural values, the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve, which was catalogued by the Peruvian naturalist, geographer and explorer Daniel López Mazzotti as "the most beautiful landscape in Peru". Some of its main attractions are the Cabrachanca Waterfall, the waterfalls and lagoons of Carhuayno, the Huallhua Lagoon, and the Chuchupasca Lagoon.

There are many and varied options of enjoyment that the visitor will be able to find in this magical enclave of Peru. In Huancaya it is possible to do trekking, camping, bird watching, boat trips, sport fishing, canoeing, canopy, horse riding, mountain biking and rural tourism, this last modality will allow you to get in touch with some customs of the Andean culture. Needless to say, lovers of photography will be able to take memorable pictures and adventurers will prove their ability with activities as demanding as they are pleasant.

Tourists should bear in mind important recommendations such as staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen and sunglasses, having cash, pills for altitude sickness, as well as adequate clothing and footwear.

ECOTOURISM POWERHOUSE

Huancaya is one of the meccas of ecotourism. Those who dare to visit the remarkable waterfall circuits located between Huancaya and Vilca will be able to verify this. Some of the most famous are those of Cabracancha, Carhuayno and Pucacha. Although there are others of similar beauty. Also, the Carhuayno Falls, the Pre-Inca Natural Bridge and Pachachaca, among others, are fascinating because of their impressive beauty.

There are many tourists who are surprised to admire the lakes of Huallhua, Cajahore, Huancacruz, Laguna Grande, Papacocha, and others that are in the high Andean areas of Huancaya and Vilca: Ashincuy, Yanacancha, Parpacocha, Yanasalla, Quillcay, Pachas and Carhuacocha.

To admire the majesty of Huancaya's divine nature, a visit to the San Cristobal Hill viewpoint is a must, an enclave that offers not only memorable views, but also a feeling of peace and quiet that is always appreciated.

There are two other jewels on the Huancaya Vilca route that cannot be overlooked. The first is the Hanging Bridge, a tourist attraction that allows visitors to walk over the beautiful waterfalls of Cabracancha and offers spectacular views of the best landscapes of the Nor Yauyos Reserve. The second is the Bosque del Amor (Forest of Love), a paradise located as a natural dam with incredible waterfalls that form the Papacocha Lagoon.

Most of the history of the inhabitants of this town is in the Centro Poblado, where the museum, the communal church, the plaza de armas, as well as the municipal and communal palace are located.

Harmony reigns in this environment where all the carved stones, typical of an Andean village, are combined with green spaces of real value in the style of the terraces that are in the surroundings, recognized as "ancestral terraces", from which a great part of the village can be admired.

One of the options that attracts the most attention is the night tourist circuit, which makes it possible to renew the energies sheltered by the complicit darkness and to taste some of the wonders of the local gastronomy, recognized by its flavors and stews of meats, trouts, smoked meats, cheeses, red fruits of the Andes; in addition to memorable plates like the grilled trout, the lamb stru and a traditional pachamanca.

NOR YAUYOS-COCHAS LANDSCAPE RESERVE

Located in the upper and middle basin of the Cañete River and in the basin of the Cochas Pachacayo River, in the departments of Lima and Junín, the Nor Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve stands out as a beautiful high Andean natural setting with an area of 221,268.48 hectares, at an altitude of between 2,500 and 5,700 meters above sea level.

Created in 2001, it protects one of the most beautiful high Andean landscapes in Peru. The source of the Cañete River forms numerous waterfalls, such as the Cabracancha staggered waterfalls, and lagoons that look like water mirrors. In addition to its great scenic value, it is home to typical Andean flora and fauna, such as the Andean fox, vicuñas, grebes, herons and queñual forests.

It has two marked regions: the upper basin of the Cañete River and the basin of the Pachacayo River, where peasant communities live in harmony with the ecosystems of the area.

The main tourist area is close to the towns of Vitis, Huancaya, and Vilca, in the Cañete River basin, where there are houses that offer lodging and camping areas.

Huancaya, one of the pillars of the area, offers the possibility of walking part of the old Inca Trail, and you can appreciate the Apu Pariacaca, a snow-capped mountain considered a deity in pre-Hispanic times.

Peru is home to enviable treasures; its historical, natural and cultural wealth is unquestionable. Among so many destinations to choose from, Huancaya offers the visitor an ideal alternative to relieve the uneasiness imposed by the urgencies of modern life. Without a doubt, this is the place for a perfect getaway, to live a rewarding experience hand in hand with the wonders that nature gives away every day.