Huancaya is a beautiful town located in the province of Yauyos, which is approximately 320 km from Lima, the capital of Peru. Huancaya is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes near Lima. There are nine lagoons in Huancaya, and they have an astonishing turquoise colour. I would recommend using your own car so that you stop freely and take some pictures in your way to Huancaya because the sights are amazing. An SUV might be useful for the last 30 to 40 minutes, which is a dirt road. However, a car might do just fine.
View of the Vilca Lagoon, Huancaya, Yauyos, Peru
How to get there? (6 hours approximately from Lima)
I recommend departing from Lima at 6 am to avoid traffic jams. Head south on the Panamericana Sur freeway. Have your breakfast at km 53; there is a bakery that makes artisan bread on clay ovens which are delicious. Then continue towards Panamericana Sur until Canete (at Km 142) and then turn left towards Lunahuana. You will pass through the towns of Pacaran, Zuniga, Catahuasi, Magdalena, Tinco Alis and Vitis. The next one is Huancaya.
Calves in the Town of Huancaya, Yauyos, Peru
Where to stay?
There are many accommodations in the town of Huancaya. Some of them are Hospedaje Las Lagunas, Las Brisas de Mayo, Hospedaje Rojas, among others. Do not expect something fancy though.
Waterfalls of the Vilca Lagoon, Huancaya, Yauyos, Peru
What to pack?
Be sure to pack your mosquito repellent as you will be close to rivers. One thing to be aware of: if you decide to stay at Las Brisas de Mayo or Las Lagunas, which is next to the river, you will most likely find mosquitos in your soup, as they will be flying around the dining room which has a view of the river. You have been warned!. Also, make sure you take your sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm with you when you to the lagoons. The Andes of Peru has a general dryness and is important to keep your skin and lips hydrated. Due to the altitude (3,554 meters above the sea level), you will winter clothing because it gets pretty cold at night, and most accommodations do not have heating.
Waterfalls of the Huallhua Lagoon, Huancaya, Yauyos, Peru
What to see?
There are 9 lagoons in Huancaya and in three of four days you may not be able to see them all. I went to two most popular lagoons, Vilca and Huallhua, where you can rent a boat and see the waterfall. The water is very cold, so bring a wetsuit of you want to jump in. Huancaya is an amazing place, I could not believe my eyes when I got there. I hope you have the chance to experience it. That’s it for now, come back next week for my next post!
