Huancavelica Tourism - Travel to Huancavelica
The Peru main page.
Other sites in the Southern Sierra, general Information.
| Table of contents |
Know
Huancavelica is the capital of the department of Huancavelica. The population is about 37,000, altitude 3,680 m. Huancavelica is surrounded by about 4000 m heigh mountains that give a fantastic panorama. Around the plaza, many colonial buildings dominate the impression.
The Tourist Office is very helpful, Jr. Victoria Garma 444 (next to the marked hall), Tele-fax 064-752938.
Get in/Get out
There are daily trains from Huancayo, leaving Huancayo at 6am and 1pm during the week and 2pm and 6pm Sundays. The journey takes ca. 5 hours.
From Huancayo, there are buses, too, but you should have a good reason if you decide to travel for hours on the dust road.
Daily buses from Ayacucho offer 2 alternatives: 1. The direct way via Lircay (dust road) or 2. via Rumichaca and St. Ines. Take the main road from Ayacucho to the coast until Rumichaca (paved and in good condition), then catch a bus to Huancavelica (departure 11am, dust road). The landscape is unique and impressive, the very most part of it is between 4000 and 5000 m sea level.
Daily buses to Ayacucho Buses leave at 4.30pm (!) from Plaza Tumpac Amaru del Barrio de Yananaco to Rumichaca (dust road, very impressive landscape, 6h) and arive there at 10.30am. The bus company "San Juan Bautista" at Plaza Tupac Amaru sells tickets. From Rumichaca, take one of buses that go from the coast to Ayacucho (paved road).
Get around in Huancavelica
This is no serious theme. Distances are small, just walk. If you need a taxi, don't pay more than 3 Soles (0,80 US$) in the city.
See Huancavelica
Inside
Most of the churches are open between 5pm and 7pm. They are worth to visit.
Do Huancavelica
- Thermal bath with water temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. The basins are refilled every day in the early morning hours. So, the earlier you come, the warmer is the water.
Day Trips
- Santa Barbara is a very old miner village, founded just after the conquista. It has been abandoned in the late 80's. You still can see the mining plants and tunnels as they had been left. The church gives an impression of the former richness. Take a taxi (ask the driver to wait, otherwise you have to walk back) or make a day trip by feet. It is on the other side of the mountain with the remarkable antennas on the top.
Eat - Travel to Huancavelica
- Mid-range
- Mochica Sanchun, Av Virrey Toledo 303.
- Splurge
- Hotel Presidente, Plaza de Armas, Chinese menu and a la carte.
