Located in the province of Junin, the city of Huancayo, called “incontrovertible”, is a busy commercial and tourist focal point amid the stillness of the Andes. It is also a unique symbol of the pride of its entire people. For centuries, the Mantaro Valley was the scene of the raids of Huancas, former enemy of the Inca people, subjected to Pachacutec in the Fifteenth century. The people of Huancayo, are proud to keep its traditions intact, evidence of this are the monuments in tribute to the "Huanca identity " raised in many parts of the city. Tambo and San Jerónimo, home to plaster and silver craftsmen since immemorial times, are also remarkable neighborhoods.
Tourist Attractions
La Merced Chapel
It was here where the Constitution of 1839 was signed. It was declared a National Historic Monument by the National Institute of Culture.
Torre Torre (Tower Tower)
It was named this way due to geologic formations that resemble high stone towers of between 10 and 30 meters of height, formed by the effects of rain and wind.
Cochas (Shells)
“Mate burilados” are made in this town, where skillful artisans depict the town’s experiences in wooden vases
San Jerónimo de Tunán
This town is dedicated to the elaboration of silver and gold objects, Filigree crafts are very popular.
The Church in the main square features beautiful, Baroque and Churrigueresque style, wooden-carved altars.
Huanta Identity Park
Only five kilometers from the city of Huancayo, it stretches 5800 square meters, among huge green areas,
A sólo 5 Km. de la ciudad de Huancayo se extiende a lo largo de 5800m2 en los cuales se observa, entre extensas áreas verdes, work crafted in pebbles, marble, stone, foam, flagstone and quartz.
Paca Lagoon
It is a beautiful lagoon with calm water, many legends have been told about it. One of them says that on the bottom, lie flames with cargoes of gold and silver that were thrown there by the caravan of subjects of the Inca coming from Cusco. When they learned Atahualpa was assassinated, the cargo would increase the rescue offered by the Inca to the Spaniards to their release them.
Snow Peaks of Huaytapallana
Huaytapallana belongs to the snow peaks of the same name, which in turn is part of the Eastern Cordillera of the Central Andes of Peru. Its name comes from the QUECHUA term "Huayta" meaning flower and "palla", which means collecting. Therefore, Huaytapallana means "place where the flowers are collected." The snow peak of Huaytapallana has an elevation (on its highest peak) of 5557 meters. Its second peak, the Yanahucsha, is 5530 meters high. The total area of the zone comprises 378'40 square kilometers.
The Mountains of Huaytapallana are two hours away (by car) on the road of the city of Huancayo, in the province of Junin, in the department (province) of the same name. Huancayo is eight hours east of Lima.
For expeditions in the mountains, the starting point is called Virgen de las Nieves, 4800 meters above sea level. From this point, there are two routes which one can pick from to start the way up the mountains of Huaytapallana to the top of the highest peak. One of the routes goes all the way to a shelter for Andean climbers two hours on their way, passing through the Carhuaccocha, Cochagrande and Yanausha lagoons. The other route is three and a half hours long and it leads to the Lazuhuntay lagoon.
Ingenio Trout Hatchery
Located just a few minutes away from Concepción, in the Blue Valley.
This hatchery has 105 trout-rearing ponds, this allows one to see the life cycle of this fish. Its annual output reaches 180 tons and it is one of the most famous hatcheries of the central Highlands; it is also the one with greater demand for its quality trouts, the trout species that lives here is called Arco Iris (Rainbow trout).
Trout is in high demand in the Central Highlands because of the variety of dishes that can be done with it and their delicacy.
On the back of the hatchery, lovely ponds cascades are surrounded by a really impressive flora and fauna. The ponds from the hatchery are “fed” by the river Chiapuqio, which is begins in a lagoon formed by the ice-melting of the Snow Peaks of Huaytapallana, which is 5 kilometers away from the hatchery.
