Oxapampa is the capital of the province of the same name, located in the Pasco region. Surrounded by unique mountains, the Valley of Oxapampa or Ocshapampa offers a different experience where you will observe the Austro-German heritage of the area, which is reflected in its architecture and customs. The name Oxapampa comes from Quechua "ocsha" which means "straw" and "pampa" which means "plain".
Oxapampa belongs to the high jungle because it is 1,814 meters above sea level. It is an ideal place to enjoy nature and adventure while enjoying beautiful landscapes and a warm and homely town. You can practice canopy in some sectors.
Do not forget to walk through the Plaza de Armas of Oxapampa, the center of commerce in the area. There you will also find several restaurants and craft shops. On the outskirts of Oxapampa is the first Lutheran church of Peru.
You will have a wide variety of activities to do in the area such as visiting the different waterfalls that it houses. One of them is the Tigre River waterfall, a waterfall of almost 30 meters located in the sector of La Cañera; the artificial cataract in Chontabamba, which has thousands of orchid plants around it and; the salt water pool, a beach in the middle of the jungle. If you want to get away from the city, you can visit the Yanachaga Chemillén National Park, located 25 kilometers north of Oxapampa.
The town of Pozuzo is another of the main attractions of Oxapampa, which maintains the tradition of the Austro-German settlers. Visit the Chapel of San José, built in 1875 of noble material and wood finishes. To get there you must continue on the route at least 2 hours from Oxapampa, 87 kilometers.
When to go
The best time to visit Oxapampa is in summer, between the months of November to January. Here temperatures range from 20 ° C to 25 ° C.
Climate
The climate in Oxapampa is humid, semi-warm and rainy, with average temperatures of 15 ° C to 35 ° C. The rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 mm.
Gastronomy
Being a livestock province, beef is the main ingredient in its recipes, as well as sausages such as bacon, ham, cecina, chorizo and cabanossi. Also highlights the trout.
The star fruit of Oxapampa is the quito quito, which has a sweet flavor and orange shape.
How to get there
Airway: Francisco Carlé Airport, located in the city of Jauja, in the department of Junín. This airport receives flights from the main cities of Peru and from there you can take a transport service to get to your destination. They are about 3 hours by bus to the city of Oxapampa.
Land route: it is 385 kilometers east of the city of Lima (takes 8 hours) and if you leave from Junín it takes 3 hours. You must take the Central road.
Recommendations
Wear light clothes for the day and warm for the night. It is also recommended to bring swimwear, trekking shoes for walks, waterproof jacket, hat, sunscreen, repellent and water.
