Travelers to this region will feel like intrepid explorers blazing paths where there are no other tourists, yet will also feel incredibly spoiled by what the area offers.
Andean traditions and fascinating landscapes will marvel you in the mountains. In the jungle you’ll find German and Indigenous communities intermixed, resulting in fascinating foods and experiences. Adventures include summitting snowcaps, hiking ancient trails, and swimming in tropical waters.
Central Peru has a special place in my heart. It’s where I first lived outside my home country and began a lifelong dream of traveling. It’s where I fell in love. And here my Spanish skills went from very basic to sometimes passable.
This part of Peru has become more well-known to national tourists, yet international visitors are uncommon. But that’s not due to a lack of things to do. On the contrary, the most exciting part of your trip might be here!
Fortunately it’s pretty easy to get to parts of Central Peru from Lima. So you can plan an excellent trip in this region. Or, you can easily make a side trip to one of the locations below. So check out my travel tips for Central Peru to get started:
FYI: This article does not include Lima. Our article on Lima is here
How to Visit: Travel Tips for Central Peru
The Highlands
The biggest city in Central Peru, Huancayo, is an 8 hour bus ride from Lima. Huancayo is famous for its artisans and has potential for adventure tourism. You can visit the artesian market in town or take a car to one of the nearby artesian villages. Each is known for a different type of artwork!
A day hike to the snowcapped mountain of Huaytapallana is another option. From Huancayo cars take the 3-5 hour ride to the beautiful cascades and traditional villages (and my old home :)) of the Nor-Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve. There you can hike old Incan trails to snow-capped mountains and see the unique UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Further inland is another highland city, Huancavelica. Here, too, Andean culture is alive and well. You can take a bus or the country’s only train used for public transportation, “El Train Macho”. The trip takes 6 hours and has a buffet option! In and around Huancavelica are hot springs, dozens of churches and temples, pre-incan sites, and adventure tourism options such as exploring snow capped mountains and rock forests.
The Jungle
If these high Andean cities get too cold, you can warm up in the Central Jungle. Oxapampa is 10 hours from Lima and 7 from Huancayo. There you can bathe in waterfalls, take a delicious coffee tour, or camp in Yanachaga Chemillen National Park. The park is home to the spectacled bear and cock-of-the-rock (Peru’s national bird).
For yet another city with spring-like weather year round, there is Huanuco. There, bathe in even MORE waterfalls at Tingo Maria, dip in hot springs, or be the only foreigner in an ancient Incan stronghold.
Pucallpa is deeper into the Peruvian tropics. There the biggest attractions are the oxbow Yarinacocha Lake and neighboring indigenous communities. In Pucallpa you can hop on a boat for the multi-day journey to Iquitos and the northern jungle.
Top Travel Tips for Central Peru: Activities For the Uber Adventurer
Pretty much this entire region is overlooked by international tourists. That makes for an adventure in itself, and below are the top activities in Central Peru:
Cultural Experiences
- Hiking around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed terraces and archaeological sites in the Nor Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve
- Witnessing the plazas, man-made water channels, and “solar clocks” at Incahuasi
- Touring the German-influenced breweries and distilleries of the central jungle
- Learning from and sharing cultures with the Tsachopen Native Community
- Taking a delicious coffee tour in Villa Rica
- Oktoberfest-ing in Pozuzo
- Taking a boat tour of Lake Yarinacocha and visiting nearby native communities
Adventure & Adrenaline
- Taking the day hike to the snowcapped mountain of Huaytapallana near Huancayo
- Bike from Huancayo to the jungle (hire a guide!)
- Taking a little-known Incan trail to the sacred snowcap Pariacaca
- Summiting Chonta mountain, then finishing with a dip in a hot spring,
- Walking in the ancient stone “laberinth” of Piedras Virgen de Lourdes near Huancavelica
- Hiking to and bathing in the waterfalls of Oxapampa
- Camping among the birds and bears (they’re vegetarian!!!) at Yanachaga Chemillen National Park
- Swimming in the saltwater ponds of Agua Salada
- Feeling on top of the jungle while standing on a gigantic rock balcony, Balcon de Trama
- Zipline, rappel, and rock climb at Ulcumano lodge in Oxapampa’s Chontabamba district
- Getting on a boat for the multi day ride to Iquitos
When to Visit Central Peru
Best Time to Go
Avoid the rainy season. That’s generally November through March. The coldest months are June-August, when the Andes can get quite frigid at night.
Main Festivals
Selvavamos is Oxapampa’s celebration of music, culture and the environment. They hold the huge outdoor concert at different dates yearly, but normally in June.
St. John’s Festival, El Dia de San Juan, is the jungle’s largest festival and is celebrated on June 23rd.
For a unique Austrian-Peruvian experience Pozuzo has the Beer and Gastronomy Festival of Pozuzo, usually in September. Pozuzo also celebrates Octoberfest, which tends to coincide with that of Berlin’s.
The most important Peruvian national holidays are Holy Week, Independence Day (July 28th), Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
And Huancayo has more festivals than days per year (true story!)
Next Steps
Leave a comment if you have more tips or questions. I’d love to help you out- I’ve lived for three years in Central Peru! I’d also love to know what experience seems the most exciting to you.
And see my guide sample itinerary for Central Peru if you want to have an adventure of a lifetime.
Not ready to start an itinerary? Sign up to the email list, and like Gringo Inca on Facebook! You’ll learn about amazing places like Oxapampa.
Also: You may have noticed this article does not include Lima! Click here for what to do in Lima. Most itineraries for Central Peru start in Lima, too.
Gracias and we’ll be in touch!
