Junín Department · Peru
Huancayo travel guide
Huancayo is a city in Junín Department, Peru, home to about 378,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- JAU42 km · Francisco Carle Airport
- Currency
- PENNuevo sol
- Time zone
- America/Lima
- Language
- Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
About
About Huancayo
Huancayo is the capital of the Junín Region and Huancayo Province, in the central highlands of Peru, in the Mantaro Valley and is crossed by the Shullcas, Chilca and Mantaro rivers. It was founded as a reduction by the name Santísima Trinidad de Huancayo on 1 June 1572, by Don Jerónimo de Silva, a Spanish conquistador.
The population is about 500,000, altitude 3300 m. Huancayo lies on the lower end of the broad Mantaro Valley. The surrounding mountains reach up to ~3,600 m. En route from Lima, the road ascends as high as ~4818 m. In Peru, there is not only Cusco, Arequipa and Puno to visit, but also charming, smaller towns such as the ones encountered in the region of Junin. These towns represent another aspect of the Peruvian culture and its traditions, giving tourists another angle from which to experience this diverse country.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Huancayo
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel de Turistas de Huancayo | 1.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Huancayo
Huancayo has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C; February is the wettest, with about 199 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Huancayo: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Francisco Carle Airport (JAU), about 42 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Many bus companies offer services from and to Lima. Cruz del Sur is a good one. The trip takes about 8 hours in dry season, depending on traffic. Buses from Huancavelica, a five hour trip, are also available. The Ferrocarril Central Andino the train line joining Lima to Huancayo, is the second highest railway in the world and the highest in South America. The journey on board the Train of the Andes through the heart of Peru is simply breathtaking. It is an 11-hour experience where the train reaches an altitude of 4781 m (15,681 ft), goes through 69 tunnels and 58 bridges and makes 6 zigzags.
Getting around
Taxis - transport in the city is around S/3 soles. Trips to more distant parts of the city can range up to S/6. Nicolás Carhuaz Chipana, Nicolás Taxi, in the city of Huancayo, is a very friendly, patient, knowledgeable and helpful taxi driver (however, he doesn't speak much English) who will take you on self-designed excursions to the Mantaro Valley, and isn't afraid to drive off the beaten path! Telephone: +51 964736038. Buses - buses and colectivos within the city generally cost less than S/1. Routes generally follow the main streets, but can be variable, so ask around for specifics.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
JAU · Francisco Carle Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Huancayo
Eat
It is a pity that this region is unknown to tourists, everything is great and especially its local food. By not visiting the region of Junin, people miss a lot of Peru's culture and tradition. If you are a culinary addict, you have to jump on the Ferrocarril Central (it would give you a good first glance of the good local food)and run to a restaurant in Conception or Jauja! Everyone who visits the region of Junin has to go and eat a trout in the village of Ingenio, home to farms where these fish are raised. Every restaurant has its own recipes and ways of preparing this local product. You have to try the cebiche de trucha or trucha a la huancaina!
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Huancayo: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Huancayo?
Huancayo has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C; February is the wettest, with about 199 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Huancayo?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Francisco Carle Airport (JAU), about 42 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Huancayo?
Nuevo sol (PEN).
Nearby
Destinations near Huancayo
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.