HUANUCO

GENERAL DATA

Location: The department of Huánuco is situated in Peru’s central highlands.
Area: 37 722 km2
Capital: Huánuco (1 894 masl)
Altitude: 167 masl (Honoria) Lowest town.
3 839 masl (Puños) highest town.
Average annual temperature: 20º C (24º C maximum and 18º C minimum).
Rainy season: December to March.

ACCESS ROUTES

By land: The most advisable road is the Lima-La Oroya-Huánuco highway (410 km), about 8 h by car.
By air: Irregular service. Flying time is approximately 45 minutes.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

This department contains traces of the most ancient human occupation in Peru, the Lauricocha people, dating back some 10 000 years. Subsequently, discoveries were made in Kotosh, where the so-called Temple of the Crossed Hands was found, considered to be the oldest in America (2 000 BC to 200 AD).
This area was populated by different ethnic groups who, despite their resistance, were incorporated into the Inca empire to become Huánuco, an inevitable thoroughfare for anyone traveling from Cusco to Cajamarca or vice-versa. The Huánuco Pampa or Huánuco Marka citadel is evidence of this movement.
The Spaniards founded Huánuco in the famous Inca area of Yarowilca (now the province of Dos de Mayo) in 1 539. It was then transferred to its current location in the Pillco valley in 1 541. A busy cultural town during the colonial period, it was home to important authors like Amarilis and Diego de Ojeda who were descendants of Spanish celebrities during the conquest. During the emancipation period, Huánuco was one of the first cities to promote the independence of Peru early in the seventeenth century.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY

Plaza de Armas – Main Square

Located in the town center, it was built in 1 845, with a stone fountain in the middle made of a single piece of granite rising 4m above its base.

The Cathedral

Jr. Dámaso Beraún 701.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 8:00-20:00.
It houses a collection of anonymous paintings of the Cusco School.

San Francisco Church

Jr. Damaso Beraúnm block 4
Visits: Monday to Sunday 6:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00.
Built in the XVI century, it belongs to the Franciscan Order. It contains beautiful altars adorned with gold leaf.

Cristo Rey Church

Jr. Dos de Mayo 899, Santo Domingo Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 6:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00.
Rebuilt in 1 824, its main altar is covered in gold plate.

San Sebastián Church

Jr. Dos de Mayo block. 1, San Sebastián Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 6:00-9:00 and 17:00.
This seventeenth century church is situated at the entrance to the town. It contains the image of San Sebastian with smallpox scars all over its body.

La Merced Church

Jr. Hermilio Valdizán block 4.
Visits: 6:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00.
Built in the middle of the sixteenth century, it contains the image of the Spanish Virgin of Las Mercedes, a gift from Emperor Charles V.

San Cristóbal Church

Corner of Jr. San Cristóbal and Jr. Damaso Beraún, in the San Cristóbal Square.
Visits: during Mass hours.
This was the first temple built upon the arrival of the Spaniards. It contains very ancient carved wooden relics, such as Our Lady of Ascension, St. Augustine and Our Lady of Sorrows.

Natural Science Museum

Jr. General Prado 499.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 8:00-12:00 and 15:00-19:00.
More than 10 000 pieces on display, including stuffed animals and pottery of different cultures, as well as Huánuco and Paracas mummies.

OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY

Andabamba

A farmhouse situated in the middle of the countryside 8 km south of Huánuco, about 10 minutes by car. Initially inhabited by the Franciscan Order, it subsequently became the property of the Durand family. It is currently managed by the Vichaycoto Cooperative.

Quicacán

This enormous old house is situated 16 km from the city, about 20 minutes away by car. It was the site of the Confined Convent of the Mercedaria Order. The beautiful arches of its colonial architecture blend with the surrounding landscape.

Tomayquichua

This is a peasant settlement situated 18 km from Huánuco, about 25 minutes away by car, with old houses, wide patios, narrow streets and picturesque landscapes. It was a favorite spot of Micaela Villegas La Perricholi as well as of author Enrique Lopez Albujar, whose work El Hechizo de Tomayquichua was inspired by this town.

Kotosh

Over 4 000 years old and situated 5 km from Huánuco, about 5 minutes by car, is a hillock formed by a group of structures. Prominent among these is the Temple of the Crossed Hands, the first sculpture in America molded underneath one of the niches that surround the room.

Huánuco-Pampa Archaeological Complex

Located in the La Union district, Dos de Mayo province (3 736 masl), 144 km from the city of Huánuco, about 5 hours by car. This archaeological complex founded by Inca Tupac Yupanqui, consists of 3 500 Inca buildings within a 21 km2 area.

Tantamayo

Situated 158 km northwest of the city of Huánuco, at an altitude of 3 500 masl. It contains a Pre-Inca archaeological complex known as The Skyscrapers of America, since the buildings are five stories tall. It is considered to be the most populated settlement of the Pre-Inca period and consists of groups of residential, administrative-religious and fortress type buildings.

Garu

This is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Alto Marañon, located 73 km from the city of Huánuco, about 2 ½ h by car. It may have been the political-administrative seat of the Ayllus and the southern territories of the Yaro or Yarowilca Empire.

Tauripampa Thermal Baths

Situated 2 km south of La Union, known as the Inca Baths, is a 10 m deep tunnel from which thermal-mineral medicinal waters flow, which are used for sauna baths and to treat rheumatism.

Conoc Thermal Baths

The thermal-mineral medicinal waters in the district of Ripan, Dos de Mayo province, 2 km from the city, are recommended for the treatment of rheumatism and skin diseases. There are two pools, bathtubs and a room with a tunnel which is a natural sauna.

Baños Thermal Baths

The famous Inca Swimming Pools are located in the Baños district, Lauricocha province, 116 km southwest of Huánuco. There are two pools with steps and hot and cold water canals, where the Incas and the nobility took their baths when they traveled to Cusco, Huánuco, Marka, Cajamarca and Quito.

TINGO MARIA

The capital of the Leoncio Prado province (652 masl), situated on the shores of the Huallaga river, some 120 km from Huánuco, approximately 2 h by car.

Bella Durmiente (Sleeping Beauty)
This is a mountain range situated southeast of Tingo Maria. It is the most important natural monument in the province, resembling the profile of a woman lying asleep on her back, eternally at rest.

Cueva de las Lechuzas
Situated in the foothills of the Sleeping Beauty mountain range 6 km from Tingo Maria, about 15 minutes by car, is a gigantic limey stone grotto that houses an important colony of well-known birds, including guacharos or santanas (similar to owls), parrots, swallows and bats.

Cueva de las Pavas
Situated 15 km from Tingo Maria, about 10 minutes by car, in the last section of a deep and narrow gorge where a small stream flows, forming beaches and pools surrounded by thick vegetation. In one of the pools there is a natural formation depicting a beautiful woman named The Water Goddess.

FOLKLORE

Characteristic of this area are the lively and varied dances, including the cashua, huayno, muliza, chimayche, tuy tuy, pallas, auga, huanca, tucuman, inca, mama rayhuana, ruco, changanaqui, chuncho, tranzada and jijahuancas. The dance of the Negritos takes place between December 25th and January 18th, a reminder of the slaves’ pursuit of freedom during colonial times.

HANDICRAFTS

Huánuco craftsmen are known for their silver, basketwork (baskets, cane furniture), embroidery with regional themes (tablecloths), masks, pottery and carved bull horns.

GASTRONOMY

Typical dishes:

• Locro de gallina (Chicken stew with potatoes, onions and hot chili peppers).
• Picante de cuy ( Guinea pig stew cooked in a peanut and red pepper sauce).
• Pachamanca (various types of meat, potatoes and corn, covered with aromatic herbs and cooked underground between hot stones, in pre-Hispanic style).
• Tacacho con cecina (Roasted or fried banana, mashed with lard and dried meat).
• Juane (Mushy rice cooked with Peruvian saffron and chunks of chicken wrapped and cooked in bijao leaves).
• Picuro roast (a very tasty Amazon rodent).
• Inchicapi (Chicken soup cooked with peanuts, coriander and cassava).
• Chifles (Freíd banana chips).
  

Typical desserts are sweets made of cheese or potatoes, honeyed donuts, etc.
Traditional beverages are different kinds of Chicha, made of fermented corn, pepper or peanuts, cane based liquors, Masato (boiled cassava crushed and fermented with sweet potatoes or sugar), “aguajina” (a delicious refreshment).

FESTIVALS

Perricholi Festival (July)

This festival is the framework for various activities, including excursions to tourist and archaeological sites, painting competitions, photograph and video exhibitions, presentations of folk music groups and bands from the region.

Huánuco Anniversary (August)

The activities of this festival take place between August 12th and 17th and include an agricultural, industrial and artisan fair and the presentation of folk music groups and bands on a national scale. Also, photograph and video exhibitions, excursions to the main regional attractions.

Señor de Burgos Festival (October)

Religious, cultural, tourist and artistic activities, paying homage to the Lord of Burgos, King and Patron of the city of Huánuco.

SERVICES

• Airport
• Land Transport
• Health Centers
• Police Stations
• Handicrafts Markets
• Post Office
  

Send us an e mail for more details.