Chuck & LorenaChuck & Lorena
Things To Do, See, & Eat!Things To Do, See, & Eat!
Eat - Mario's CaféEat - Mario's Café
Small evening cafe that sells coffee, cakes, and other snacks near the central Plaza.
See - Plaza de Armas of JaujaSee - Plaza de Armas of Jauja
- Shop in the town's center for local handicrafts and clothing. The region hosts very colorful (agricultural) festivals, and the masks used there are available for purchase. - There are many bakeries around town serving local dulces and rich cakes. - Street vendors offer different types of cheap food all day long.
See - Laguna de PacaSee - Laguna de Paca
Just outside the north of Jauja, there is quite a big navigable lake with an abundance of restaurants all lining up at the beginning of the lake. They serve tasty, fresh trout (expect to pay 10-15 S/.) and offer boat rides. Swimming is prohibited, although you can spot some local kids having fun in the water. You can take a moto taxi there for about S/. 3 or walk down from Pueblo Viejo ruins. Further down the lake, you'll find Parque Ecologico de Paca with various animal statues and flowers.
Do - Hike the Tunanmarca RuinsDo - Hike the Tunanmarca Ruins
Tunanmarca ruins are one of the best preserved structures of the Xauxa culture which thrived in this region before the Incas. The site served as a living town; you can still recognize the outer walls, family compounds with a central plaza, and some well-preserved houses. A small museum is open Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. Entry is S/. 1, and Chasqui, the guide, will happily show you around. Expect to walk about 1,5 hours to the ruins on the hill through a beautiful agricultural landscape. Alternatively, you can take a direct taxi to the ruins, saving you about an hour's walk, but you will still have to hike for about 15 minutes to the compound.
Do - Explore the Shujto CanyonDo - Explore the Shujto Canyon
It is located in the district of Canchayllo, Jauja, Junín. This incredible tourist attraction is a rock formation (generated over millions of years) product of the erosion of the Piñascocha River, which is privileged by having gigantic walls that manage to measure up to 60 meters high. The Shucto Canyon is located within the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve. It is an ideal place for lovers of adventure sports, where they can practice abseiling and rock climbing.
Eat - El Mesón, Pollos y ParrillasEat - El Mesón, Pollos y Parrillas
Serves Peruvian style grilled chicken and meat variations in a clean and friendly environment. The main dishes include salad and fries.
See - Huacachina OasisSee - Huacachina Oasis
Huacachina is a desert oasis and tiny village just west of the city of Ica in southwestern Peru. It is ~4 1/2 hours away from Lima by car.
See - Nazca LinesSee - Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines in southern Peru are a group of pre-Columbian geoglyphs etched into desert sands. Covering an area of nearly 1,000 sq. kilometers, there are about 300 different figures, including animals and plants. Composed of over 10,000 lines, some of which measure 30 meters wide and stretch more than 9 kilometers, the figures are most visible from the air or nearby hilltops. 6 Hour Drive from Lima
