Huancayo

July, November, December 1998

Trip Rating: 5/5 ( I went 3 times, you have to at least go once!)

Huancayo is a city located at 10,700 feet above sea level.    It is almost straight east of Lima which means that a trip to Huancayo   takes you straight over the Andes.   I went to Huancayo 3 times, once by bus and twice by train.   The train route just opened again for passengers in July of 1998.   It was closed in the early 1990's because of the terrorists.    It has been running minerals to and from La Oroya, a key  mining town in Peru, but passenger service was suspended. 

Jere hanging on for dear life on the side of a locomotive.

The aftermath of a derail on the railroad to Hauncayo.

Harvest time in the Rio Mantaro valley.

Mike and Jere enjoying some pineapple at 16,000 feet.   This mountain is above the city of Huancavelica.    This was after being chased by bulls, having rocks slung at us, and being bitten by a dog.   It seems

Llamas on the hillsides above Huancavelica.

Two curious llamas.

Jere in front of one of the tunnels at the mercury mine.   To anyone who has the courage to take the mercury mine hike out of the Lonely Planet Guide Book, good luck.   We hiked around for hours looking for that silly mine, but never could find it.  It was a cool hike though.

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This page last updated on 10/25/99.