Pasco

The terrain of Pasco is rich and diverse with two well-differentiated eco-regions: highlands characterized by its high mesas and cold mountains and the upper jungle with dense vegetation and high humidity. The capital, Cerro de Pasco (4,338 masl) is located in a predominately mining district. The Huayllay Stone Forest National Sanctuary is just forty-five kilometers from Cerro de Pasco. It is a State protected natural area possessing fascinating rocky formations and beautiful lakes.

It was the nineteenth century German and Austrian colonists who brought their architecture and traditions, still preserved today, to the picturesque town of Oxapampa (1,814 masl) where they live. The Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park (122,000 hectares) is located twenty-five kilometers from Oxapampa, and it is composed of high Andean plains, pasturelands, and tropical and cloud forests where exotic life abounds: almost 350 species of orchids, more than 520 species of birds, and nearly 125 species of mammals like the otter, the jaguar, the spectacled bear, the dwarf brocket deer and the giant rat, every one in danger of becoming extinct. The Yanesha, indigenous people, today live in sixty communities.

Continuing to the north, ninety kilometers from Oxapampa, the town of Pozuzo lies where German and Austrian colonists have lived and worked cultivating fruit trees, coffee beans, rice, and tobacco since the nineteenth century. Another town, Villa Rica famous for beautiful waterfalls, is just seventy-one kilometers from Oxapampa and has distinguished itself in the production of coffee, pineapples, and rocoto peppers.

Cerro de Pasco and Huallay

Province of Pasco

Church of San Pedro de Ninacaca
31 km / 19 miles southeast of Cerro de Pasco (30 minutes by car)
The church, built between 1580 and 1610, combines Andean and Spanish architectural elements. In 1626, it was given the name of its patron saint, San Pedro. The building has only one nave with stonewalls and a straw roof. Its wood altar is covered in gold leaf and the exterior walls feature stone carvings.

Church of the Immaculate Conception in Vicco
Main Square of the District of Vicco, 18 km / 11 miles from Cerro de Pasco (30 minutes by car). Visiting hours: 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. only with previous authorization from the church officials.
The inhabitants of the district built this stone church in the seventeenth century.

Lake Punrun
37 km / 23 miles southwest of Cerro de Pasco (1 hour and 15 minutes by car)
The 8-km2 lake (3 miles2), situated at 4200 masl (13.776 fasl) has a maximum depth of 200 meters ( 656 feet ). There are five islands in its cold waters, Pumapachupan Island being the most impressive. Around the lake, you find typical vegetation like chilligua grass, feather grass, bladder senna, and highland wetlands. Lake Punrun is also home to many species of birds like the wild duck, the chiloe wigeon, the dark-backed wood quail, the gull, the grebe, the frailisco, the green kingfisher, and the black-faced ibis as well as numerous frogs, trout, carachi fish, and catfish.

Replica of the house of Daniel A. Carrion
Avenida Los Incas, Yanacancha. 2 km / 0.6 mile from Cerro de Pasco (10 minutes by car)
The house, built in memory of Daniel Alcides Carrion, martyr of the Peruvian medicine, is located at the main entrance of the hospital named after him.

Huayllay National Sanctuary
45 km / 28 miles south of Cerro de Pasco (45 minutes by car). Visiting hours: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
It consists of rock formations of various shapes and sizes produced by wind and water erosion and glacier movements. These formations resemble human and animal profiles and form doorways and arches. The forest shelters hot springs , which are believed to have medicinal properties, with temperatures reaching 60º C ( 140ºF ).

The place is also the habitat to deer, vicuñas, vizcachas, bobcats, skunks, hawks, and partridges. The flora is mainly composed of pastureland, queñual trees, huamanpinta bushes, putagas, and mata mata trees, or pargashes.

Calera Hot Springs
43 km / 27 miles northwest of Cerro de Pasco (1 hour and 15 minutes by car) or 3 km / 2 miles (45 minutes on foot) from Huayllay.
These hot springs rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, chlorides, sulfates, and bicarbonates have temperatures reaching 60º C ( 140ºF ). People attribute curative properties for muscle and nervous disorders to their waters.

Huaguruncho Glacier
Travel 86 km / 53 miles east of Cerro de Pasco (3 hours by bus) to Huachón and then another 6 km / 4 miles to the foothills of the mountain (2 hours by car)
The mountain reaches 5730 masl (18.794 fasl) and is formed by four important glaciers: Jacahuay (5180 masl / 16.990 fasl), Ranrajanca (5180 masl / 16.990 fasl), Carhuaraj (5160 masl / 16.925 fasl), and Incatama (5130 masl / 16.826 fasl). At the base of the mountain, there are numerous lakes, the most important ones being Huaguruncho, Leche Cocha, Suyro Cocha, Talaya, and Pacchapata.

Conoc Hot Springs
District of Pallanchacra, 66 km / 41 miles east of Cerro de Pasco (2 hours by bus)
These hot springs are attributed curative properties. The temperature of the main pool varies from 20ºC ( 68ºF ) to 29°C ( 84ºF ).

Oxapampa, Villa Rica and Pozuzo

Province of Oxapampa

396 km / 246 miles from Lima (9 hours by bus)
Santa Rosa de Oxapampa was founded in 1891 by a group of German and Austrian settlers on the right bank of the Chontabamba River. Its name means “straw field” in Quechua. The church and several other buildings feature European characteristics. The Oxapampa of today is a mixture of German, Austrian, and Peruvian customs and traditions that are shown in its cuisine, dances, and festivals.

Santa Rosa Church
Main Square, Oxapampa
Built of wood in 1940, it is different from most churches in the country since it has a rectangular ground floor. Inside, there is a replica of the Señor de los Milagros and statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Saint Martin of Porres.

Yanachaga Chemillen National Park
62 km / 39 miles north of Oxapampa (2 hours by car)
National Park Office: Jiron Pozuzo C-3, Oxapampa - Telephone: (063) 762544
The Park covers 122.000 hectares. Its name comes from the Quechua word Yanachaga, “black” and the Yanesha word Chemillén, “burnt”. Both names allude to the dark colors of the mountains. Thanks to the different altitudes, there are several types of landscapes in the park from Andean altiplano (high plateau) and feather grass prairies to tropical and cloud forests. The plant life mainly censists of ulcumano trees, diablo fuerte pine trees, cedars, walnut trees, and oaks. In addition to these, there are mosses, ferns, orchids, bromeliads, bushes, and reeds. The wildlife counts with fifty-nine species of mammals like the giant river otter, the jaguar, the spectacled bear, the dwarf brocket deer, and the giant rat. Unfortunately, each of these species is endangered. There are also 427 registered bird species like the harpy eagle, the Andean rock-cock, and the blue-crowned motmot, and there are more than thirty-one species of fish like the white sea bass, the boquichico, and the white mullet. In order to enter the park, you need an authorization from the National Park Office in Oxapampa.

Villa Rica
71 km / 44 miles from Oxapampa (2 hours and 30 minutes by car)
This town is the doorway to the Pichis and Palcazú river valleys. Here, you can take part in the agro-tourism and work in the coffee, pineapple, and rocoto pepper plantations. It is also the ideal place to purchase the necessary gas (petrol) and food supply if you are traveling farther.

El Encanto Falls (Enchantment Falls)
12 km / 7 miles from Villa Rica (34 minutes by car)
It is a three-level, thirty-meter waterfall (98 feet) with deep natural pools, big enough to swim in. The waterfall is surrounded by characteristic upper jungle vegetation.

El Leon Falls (Lion Falls)
5 km / 3 miles from Villa Rica (35 minutes from car)
A fifteen-meter waterfall (49 feet) formed by two independent crystal clear streams from the Yezu River.

Pozuzo

84 km / 52 miles north of Oxapampa (3 hours by car); 360 km / 224 miles from Cerro de Pasco
Founded by Austrian-German immigrants that settled in lands granted by the Peruvian government in 1857, the city was built according to architectural patterns from the settlers’ home countries, so that the homes have geometric plans, wooden floors, and slanted roofs.

San Jose de Pozuzo Chapel
Built in 1875, the chapel is made of concrete and brick with wood finish. Its doorway has two side towers that frame the nave. The Neo classic altar is combined with columns and stained-glass windows of Santa Rosa of Lima and Santa Nocturna of the Tyrol. The most distinctive ornaments are the Tyrolese wood carving of the Virgin Mary and a canvas of Saint Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Over the Huancabamba River
This bridge was a gift from the Prussian emperor William II in 1914 and is still in use today.

Tunqui Cave
5 km / 3 miles from Oxapampa (10 minutes by car)
Limestone cave with stalactites.

Pichis and Palcazú Rivers
These places are perfect for engaging in eco and adventure tourism. Their location in the middle of virgin forest and their large biodiversity make for a very attractive area to nature lovers. In addition, you can make contact with the indigenous populations, learn about traditional medicine, and sample typical dishes made with fish and exotic fruit.

Province of Daniel A. Carrion

Yanahuanca
In the Chaupihuaranga Gorge, 64 km / 40 miles from Cerro de Pasco (2 hours by car)
The town is situated at 3184 masl (10.444 fasl) and surrounded by beautiful countryside, upper Andean forest, and important traditional farming communities.

Tambochaca Hot Springs
6 km / 4 miles from Yanahuanca on the way to Oyon (20 minutes by car)
The local people use the Tambochaca Hot Springs medicinal waters for the treatment of respiratory, bronchial, rheumatic, and nervous disorders as well as to practice therapy with wild medicinal herb of the area. The temperature of the springs reaches 75ºC (167ºF) and the place offers an attractive infrastructure and a very pleasant climate.

Chumpinvilca Archeological Remains
8 km / miles from Yanahuanca, District of Tápuc (25 minutes by car)
Located above 4000 masl (13.120 fasl), these remains are vestiges of a Yaro administrative and religious center.

Goñicutac Archeological Remains
5 km / 3 miles from Yanahuanca, village of Rocco (15 minutes by car)
Simplicity and solidity are cornerstones of its architecture, which features clear influence from the Yaro and Chaupihuaranga cultures. There are two-story buildings divided into rooms for storage and living quarters, as well as watchtowers and cultivated fields.

Ichugán Archeological Remains
10 km / 6 miles from Yanahuanca, community of Chipipata (25 minutes by car)
Inca style towers, approximately 2 meters tall (7 feet), abound in the area.

Gorish Archeological Remains
12 km / 7 miles from Yanahuanca, District of Vilcabamba (30 minutes by car)
This is another Llactas or Yaro culture site, made up of roads with terraces, public courtrooms and punishment areas, observation towers, and agricultural terraces.

Chinche
10 km / 6 miles from Yanahuanca (30 minutes by car)
This village is located at over 3500 masl (11.480 fasl). Among its tourist attractions, there are the Lancoy, Shalacuta, and Goganmachay waterfalls, the rock-art of Pintamachay and Rayhuan, and the Rabi and Viso hot springs.

Useful Information

Altitude
Capital: Cerro de Pasco (4338 masl / 14.229 fasl)
Lowest point: 256 masl / 840 fasl (Puerto Bermúdez)
Highest point: 4380 masl / 14.366 fasl (Yanacancha)

Climate
Cerro de Pasco has a cold climate, and constant rains in the fall, spring and summer. The annual average maximum temperature is 12ºC (54ºF) and the minimum is 0.6ºC (31ºF).

Access Routes
By land: Lima – Cerro de Pasco: 295 km / 183 miles by the Central Highway (7 hours by bus)

Distances from the city of Cerro de Pasco to the following cities:
Yanahuanca (Province of Daniel Carrion) 64 km (40 miles) / 2 hours
Oxapampa (Province of Oxapampa) 396 km (246 miles) / 9 hours.