Peru Tours, Travel and Adventures
Tourism in Peru

OTHER DESTINATIONS

While these places of Peru may lie outside traditional circuits, they still hold fascinating sights worthy of a visit.

Peru tours: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco,Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Pucallpa, Ucayaly, Central road, Train Central.Back to top

HUANCAYO, HUANCAVELICA, CERRO DE PASCO, HUANUCO, TINGO MARIA, PUCALLPA, UCALLALY

Only 492 miles from the city of Lima is the city of Huancayo, celebrated for its popular Sunday flea market. Getting there is a drive along one of Peru’s main highways, the Central Highway, that snakes around the towering peaks of the Central Andes. The route leads through the awe inspiring setting of the Mantaro River Valley and its many attractions, like the Ocopa Monastery (built and used by Franciscan missionaries and containing a library of very old books), Paca Lagoon and Ñahuinpuquio Lagoon, and the bizarre shaped rock formations at a place called Torre Torre.

Peru tours: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco,Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Pucallpa, Ucayaly, Central road, Train Central.Back to top

While at Huancayo, visit the Chilca Train Station, part of the old Tren Macho Line (the Manly Train), whose reputation was not based on punctuality. The saying for this service used to be “leaves when it wants to and arrives when it feels like it”. Now, the train service has been renovated, using a modern train, and it takes you on a three hour, 206-mile trip to the city of Huancavelica, a journey through sublime settings covered with cacti and broom tops and over the Izcuchaca Bridge, built during the Colony.

Tumbes tours: Mangroves Reserve – surfing Cabo Blanco, Órganos, Máncora, Chulucanas, Catacao.Back to top

Another site off the beaten track but likewise via the Central Highway is Lake Junin. This time, head northeast and you will pass the shores of this impressive lake and, if you keep going, will end up at the city of Cerro de Pasco, launching point for a tour of the bizarre Huayllay Stone Forest. The formations there eerily remind of the shapes of animals and humans, yet living amongst these natural statues are deer, wildcats, vicuñas and partridges.

Peru tours: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco,Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Pucallpa, Ucayaly, Central road, Train Central.Back to top

Another city that will amaze you is Huánuco, lying just  miles from Lima. A nearby place of interest is the village of Tomayquichua, known for having breathtaking landscapes and tasty offerings in its country restaurants. History buffs will enjoy visiting the Huánuco Viejo (Old Huánuco) archeological site, the remains of perhaps the most superb example of Incan architecture in northern Peru. The more intrepid, however, will want to continue the trip to Tingo María, tropical, steamy and home to Cueva de las Lechuzas (Owls’ Cave) and then cross the impressive mountain pass of the Boquerón del Padre Abad (Father Abad’s Canyon), wedged in one of the steep cliffs of the Velo de la Novia Falls (Bride’s Veil Falls) and harbinger of the Peruvian lower jungle as well as of the city of Pucallpa, seated on the banks of the Ucayali River, 1,294 miles from Lima. From Pucallpa, you can take a riverboat and enter the heart of the Peruvian Amazon as you float downstream to the city of Iquitos.

Peru tours: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco,Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Pucallpa, Ucayaly, Central road, Train Central.Back to top

 Ferrocarril Central Andino (FCCA)

Is the consortium which operates the Ferrovías Central railway in Peru linking the Pacific port of Callao and the capital Lima with Huancayo and Cerro de Pasco. As one of the Trans-Andean Railways it is the second highest in the world.

Route

The line starts at the port city of Callao and goes through Lima and the Desamparados station parallel to the Rímac River. It crosses into Junín state via the Galera Tunnel, the highest railroad tunnel in the world. It reaches La Oroya, where it splits in two: the southern branch goes to Huancayo, while the northern branch (previously a line operated by a mining company) goes into Pasco region, through Cerro de Pasco (the regional capital) to the Goyllarisquizga coal mines. Formerly a branch split off at Cerro de Pasco and ran into Pachitea Province in Huánuco region. There are 27 stations.

In June 2006, the Peruvian government agreed that FCCA should go ahead with converting the 914 mm (3 ft)  gauge Ferrocarril Huancayo – Huancavelica to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) gauge. Estimated to take 16 months, the US$33m project was to be funded jointly by the government and the Andean Development Corporation.[2][3] This project was finished by October 2010.[4]

RDC has suggested the building of a 21 km (13 mi), US$400m tunnel in the Andes, to reduce the spectacular 332 km (206 mi) Lima – Huancayo journey to 4 hours.

Peru tours: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco,Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Pucallpa, Ucayaly, Central road, Train Central.Back to top