huancayo
Written: Mar 31 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: warm weather
Cons: altitude
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| charly2000's Full Review: Peru |
Comments: - I also took the train to Huancavelica, a six hour ride through beautiful terrain. I lucked out and arrived in time for the last few days of the annual agricultural fair -- complete with alpaca and llama judging, pachamanca, a bull-fight and incredibly colorful people, crafts, etc. It's a very quiet, friendly town. I travelled alone (I'm female) and felt very safe and welcomed in the whole Huancayo area. I highly recommed visiting it if you want to meet Peruvians, see how crafts are made, take interesting hikes/walks/ bike rides. If you come in from Lima (sea-level) take it easy the first day or two -- an 11,000 elevation change in just a few hours can be tough on the body.Weather: - end of rainy season
Terrain: - Highlands of the central Andes: Huancayo is a small city, surrounded by mountains and little villages
Hotels: - The Huancayo area is really beautiful, and very un-touristed, especially when compared with Huaraz. I recommed meeting Lucho Hurtado upon arrival in Huancayo -- his restaurant, La Cabana (Av. Giraldez 652) has good food and live music on the weekends; his mother runs a really sweet, inexpensive, clean, safe hostel called La Casa de La Abuela just up the street. He is a terrific guide -- he know the area intimately and loves it, and speaks very good English, so he is able to very effectively share what he knows and loves about it. He offers a 5 day high jungle trip (I wasn't able to go) that sounds incredible. We went mountain biking and hiking in the area, meeting people from very small villages. His phone number is 51-64-223-303; his fax is 222-395. If you go, please tell him Elizabeth Austen recommended him. Huancayo has the largest Sunday market in Peru -- don't miss it! The quality ranges, but a lot of it is very well made stuff and very reasonable prices. The variety is astounding.
Route: - Bus from Lima to Huancayo (6 hours: spectacular! $9.) The road crosses a pass at more than 5,000 meters -- the views are breath-stoppingly beautiful. Train from Huancayo to Huancavelica and back (6 hours each way: amazing! Ride in the first or second class carriage and you'll get to meet the locals, who are very friendly. If you ride in the buffet car you'll miss out on the vendors, who provide a fair amount of the trip's entertainment.) Micro bus to various small villages (cheap, easy and totally worthwhile) Mountain bike to Huari ruins (45 mins from Huancayo) and to Cochas Chico, where they carve beautiful gourds (don't miss this!)
Essentials: - Rain and warm weather gear. Patience with the altitude (Huancayo is at something like 11,000 feet)
Interests: - Trekking
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
charly2000
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Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 1 member
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