The natural stone formations of Torre Torre consist of stone towers (spanish: Torre) that reach up to 30 metres in height. They have been formed by erosion, wind and rain sculpting this sandstone into most bizarre shapes and forms.
The culture of the Wari is among the oldest in Peru. From around
600 to 1200 AC they ruled the central highlands of Peru. In Wari
Willka you can visit parts of the reconstruced ruins of a settlement
of this once so mighty people. A small museum displays artefacts and gives background information.
The little Andean village is know for its hats made from sheep wool that get produced here as well as for the calabash gourds. The calabash is a type of vine, grown for its fruit, which is harvested, dried, and used as a utensil. The local inhabitants carve the surface of these dried out fruits into complex designs, depicting such things as alpacas, incas, temples and many traditional geometric forms.
The Franciscan monastry of Ocopa was founded in 1725
and for a long time was a resting point for missionaries
before continuing on to the rainforest. One of the specialities of this
convent is among others its library that holds over 20,000 books.
Furthermore the Museo de Historia Natural de la Selva displays scientific
papers of the monks written about flora and fauna of the rainforest
as well as studies about its inhabitants.
Before the foundation of Lima, this town, founded in 1534, served as provisional capital of Peru. Besides this historic significance, Jauja is nowadays mostly known as a destination for Limeños. Here you can, far enough from the capital (and the garua) enjoy fresh air and sunshine. There is even a museum of the Wari culture and in the locality, the Laguna de Paca.
180 km North-East from Huancayo is situated the nature reserve Junín, spread over 53 hectares. The Lake Junín, Peru´s second largest lake is home to many species of birds and mammals, such as the Andean fox. The reserve is an oasis of peace and tranquility where visitors have the possibility to explore the nature here by foot, bike or with a guided climbing tour.
3000 years ago this region was settled
by hunter gatherers, then later the Wari people lived here, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape. The town Huancavelica was finally founded in 1571.
In former times it was of high significance due to its
deposits of mercury and maintained commercial relations with Potosí in Bolivia.
Today its main attraction is the marvellous cathedral on the Plaza
de Armas as well as the thermal baths of San Cristóbal. |
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