On Sunday morning, Huancavelica Street fills with stalls: artisans working in a wide range of media on one side, guinea pigs and tropical fruits on the other. That market is the clearest introduction to Huancayo, a city in the Mantaro Valley where the surrounding towns supply the crafts and the festivals.
Huancayo suits travellers who are comfortable at altitude and prefer markets, viewpoints and valley excursions to polished sightseeing circuits. Days are mild year-round, but nights in the dry season are cold, and the wet season runs from November to March.
This guide covers the sights and experiences named in the source material, with practical notes on how to combine them.
Top things to do in Huancayo
1. Feria dominical
The Sunday market on Huancavelica Street is known as the Feria de Huancavelica. It has a large section of local artisans working in a wide variety of media, alongside all manner of foodstuffs, from guinea pigs to tropical fruits, raw and prepared, plus more conventional goods.
Go on Sunday, when the market is held, and give yourself time to walk both the artisan and food sections.
2. Torre-Torre
Torre-Torre is a formation of sandstone needles, the impressive effect of erosion. It lies less than a kilometer past El Cerrito de la Libertad, and offers better views of the city and valley than El Cerrito.
A taxi can get you close, but the last part has to be done on foot. Combine it with Cerrito de la Libertad in the same outing.
3. Cerrito de la Libertad
Cerrito de la Libertad is a viewpoint over the whole city, and it also has a small zoo and several restaurants. Take a taxi or walk up.
Because Torre-Torre is less than a kilometer beyond it, the two work well as one trip, with Torre-Torre saved for the better views.
4. Huaytapallana Glacier
The Huaytapallana Glacier is a full-day excursion requiring a guide, and the route passes spectacular turquoise lakes. The tourist kiosk in Huamanmarca Plaza, under the giant golden hat, offers a trip for S/45 per person; agencies in Plaza de la Constitución advertise between S/40 and S/50, while the local price is S/35. Incas del Peru on Av. Giraldez offers overnight trips as well.
The glacier sits at about 5,000 m above sea level, so acclimatization is highly recommended before climbing, as the trek is steep and rigorous in places.
5. Laguna de Nahuinpuquio and Arwuaturo Ruins
The Huanca ruins sit on top of a hill, with the small lake below, a 5 to 10 minute walk away. There is often a guide at the ruins willing to explain the history for a small tip, and at the lake there are restaurants and boats for rent.
Take a bus to Chupaca, then a colectivo to the lake; drivers are generally willing to drop you at the ruins too if you ask. If no taxis are available for the return, it is a 2 km walk down to the village of Ahuac, where there are many more taxis than at the lake.
6. Laguna de Paca
Laguna de Paca is a decent-sized lake surrounded by hills, with boat rides and restaurants in a peaceful setting. Take a bus to Jauja and transfer to a colectivo heading to the lake.
The boats and restaurants are a bit before the village of Paca, and it is an easy walk between them. Note that the road does not go all the way around the lake.
7. Parque de la Identidad Huanca (Wanka)
This park is widely loved for its strange and artistic design, which is popular with children. It is a celebration of the Huanca culture and includes a statue of local heroes, many labeled plants, and a gift shop with local crafts.
It works well as a relaxed stop between the city's market and plaza areas.
8. Virgen de Concepcion
Above the town of Concepcion stands a giant white virgin statue. For S/2 you can climb inside her and pop out of her head for 360° views of the Mantaro Valley.
Pair it with a valley day that also takes in the craft villages.
9. Day trip through craft villages
Multiple tourist agencies in the valley offer this trip at different prices, but 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.
Book through any agency, but expect the same bus regardless of what you pay.
10. Museo Salesiano
The Museo Salesiano is on the second floor of the Colegio Salesiano and costs S/5. It has an extensive collection of Peruvian animals and artifacts, though there is next to no labeling or information on them.
Go for the collection itself rather than for interpretation, and allow a short visit.
11. La Inmaculada
La Inmaculada is a church where you can often find local musicians waiting to be hired for weddings or other events, some of whom play on real cow horns. It is generally only open for mass and special ceremonies.
Time your visit around a service if you want to hear the musicians.
12. Cross on the hill
The cross is visible from the city, and it is possible to walk up to it in about two hours for a view of the city and valley. Follow Prolongacion Trujillo through eucalyptus-ringed fields, heading left when you cannot go straight.
This is a half-day on foot, so set out with enough daylight for the return.
13. Market area behind the railway station
The market area behind the railway station to Lima is worth a wander. It pairs naturally with the Sunday market on Huancavelica Street if you are in the city on market day.
14. Traditional crafts classes
Classes in gourd carving, weaving, wood carving, cooking, dance, musical instruments and more are offered by Incas del Peru (incasdelperu.org), which also has Spanish classes. There is a 15-hour minimum, and homestays are available.
This suits travellers staying long enough to commit to the minimum hours.
15. Central Jungle
A bus to La Merced takes about 4 hours and brings you to the central jungle. It makes a good weekend trip but can be done in a day if you are short on time.
Buses leave from the multi-company terminal on Av. Ferrocarril.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Feria dominical on Huancavelica Street if it is Sunday, then walk the market area behind the railway station. If it is not Sunday, begin instead at the Parque de la Identidad Huanca (Wanka) and the Museo Salesiano.
Afternoon: Take a taxi or walk to Cerrito de la Libertad for the city view, then continue on foot for the last stretch to Torre-Torre for the sandstone needles and the better view of the city and valley.
Evening: Return to the centre and check whether La Inmaculada is open for mass or a special ceremony, where local musicians often gather. If it is closed, finish at the Parque de la Identidad Huanca (Wanka) instead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Huancayo?
The dry season runs from May to September, with June and July the driest months. The wet season spans November to March, when most of the annual precipitation falls. Daytime temperatures stay close to 20 °C all year, but dry-season nights are significantly colder.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Huaytapallana Glacier trip?
Yes. The glacier is at about 5,000 m above sea level, and the trek is steep and rigorous in places, so acclimatization is highly recommended before climbing.
How do I reach Laguna de Nahuinpuquio and the Arwuaturo Ruins?
Take a bus to Chupaca, then a colectivo to the lake; drivers are generally willing to drop you at the ruins too if you ask. If no taxis are available for the return, it is a 2 km walk down to the village of Ahuac, where there are many more taxis than at the lake.
Can I visit the central jungle as a day trip?
Yes. A bus to La Merced takes about 4 hours, and the trip can be done in a day if you are short on time, though it makes a better weekend trip. Buses leave from the multi-company terminal on Av. Ferrocarril.
Plan around the Sunday market and a valley excursion, and you will see the Huancayo the surrounding towns supply.