Pasco is a land of contrasts where the mountains and the Peruvian jungle meet. You will fall in love with its mountains and great diversity of flora and fauna.
Pasco is a land of contrasts, where the mountains and jungle come together to form a chain of cold mountains and dense vegetation thanks to its location in the central part of Peru, specifically east of the Western Cordillera. Its capital is Cerro de Pasco, considered the highest city in Peru to be located at 4,338 meters above sea level.
This region is characterized by having a large amount of native communities and picturesque cities such as Huancabamba, Oxapampa, Pozuzo and Villa Rica. They stand out for their cultural mix since in 1853 the first Austro-German settlers arrived in the central jungle, who fused their culture with local traditions, so that both historically and gastronomically, this area is influenced by this multiculturalism.
When you visit this area you should take a tour of the Huayllay Stone Forest, a forest of rock formations and multiple lagoons, and also relax in the thermal baths of La Calera or those of Conoc. In addition, in the region you will find a great diversity of flora and fauna, along with numerous waterfalls that adorn the landscape of the central jungle. It is a perfect destination for lovers of adventure and nature because they can practice rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and enjoy bird watching.
Near Villa Rica you can visit coffee farms to learn about the coffee production process, from planting to the cup. A must for fans of this brew!
When to go
The climate of Pasco is cold and rainy almost all year round. Avoid the coldest months that are June and July, while the rainiest months go from December to March.
Climate
The climate of the Andean towns of the provinces of Daniel Alcides Carrión and Cerro de Pasco is frigid and rainy, with average atmospheric humidity. On the other hand, the towns of Pozuzo, Villa Rica and Huancabamba have a temperate and rainy climate. The locality of Oxapampa has a warm and very rainy climate with high atmospheric humidity.
The maximum temperature is 12 ° C and the minimum temperature is -6 ° C.
Minimum altitude
450 meters above sea level (Puerto Bermúdez)
Maximum: 4,380 meters above sea level (Chaupimarca and Yanacancha)
Gastronomy
Gastronomy in the mountains of Pasco stands out for its dishes such as pachamanca, patasca, ram head broth and spicy guinea pig . On the other hand, in the jungle you can taste beef, pork and chicken, as well as yucca, cheese and banana. Here dishes of Austro-German origin are popular, such as brend suppe (toasted cornmeal soup), meatballs and kasekuchen (cheesecake). The drink par excellence is the maca punch, which is also highly energizing.
If you want to buy food, in each locality you will find their specialties:
Oxapampa: cheeses, blancmange, yoghurts, fresh milk, coffee and sugarcane derivatives (such as brandy and cane honey).
Pasco: cheeses, yoghurts and products made from maca.
How to get there
Land: to enter Cerro de Pasco you must take the Central Highway, via La Oroya. If you travel from Lima you travel more than 295 kilometers, so the journey takes at least 7 hours by car or bus.
Recommendations
Visit the city during the Anniversary of the arrival of the Austro-German settlers, which is between July 24 and July 31. Another must-see celebration is the Festival de la Leche and Agroganadero, from October 13 to 14.
Drink water or coca tea or consume some medication to avoid the punching, soroche or altitude sickness.
The city of Pasco has a cold climate and presence of rains in autumn, spring and summer so it is recommended to bring warm clothes and a raincoat.
