Chanchamayo: Waterfalls, Wildlife and Culture

The attractions in Chanchamayo offer a range of experiences: waterfalls and river landscapes, wildlife watching, traditional music and dances, and a tour described as an adventure route. If you’re looking for a hotel in Chanchamayo, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your trip. The following examples show the variety of landscape and cultural experiences available.

Waterfalls and Trails in Chanchamayo

A visitor trail equipped with stairs and railings leads to Catarata Bayoz. Conditions on the trail may change, so check them before your visit. Catarata Velo de la Novia de Bayoz plunges 55 meters and joins the Río Yurinaki. A few meters farther on, the waterfall and river form the 2-kilometer-long Cañón de Yurinaki. This landscape brings the waterfall, river and canyon together in a specific setting.

Catarata La Borgoña is part of the “Ruta Indiana Jones” adventure tourism circuit. Its described features include hikes along nature trails, crossing streams, and ascending and descending uneven terrain with dense vegetation and rock formations. This gives the route a different focus from the height of Velo de la Novia: here, the route and changing terrain shape the experience.

Wildlife Watching and Culture

At El Perezoso Botanical Garden, you can observe wild three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus). This specific connection to an animal species gives the visit its own focus. If you’d like to include wildlife watching in your travel plans, the garden is a distinct point of interest alongside waterfalls and hiking trails.

At Comunidad Nativa Pampa Michi, traditional music and dances are part of the cultural and experiential tourism offerings. This provides a cultural experience alongside the landscape-focused attractions. When choosing what to visit, you can therefore decide whether to focus more on river landscapes and trails or on traditional performances.

More Attractions in the Wider Junín Destination

The wider destination of Junín also encompasses its own natural and cultural attractions. These belong to Junín and are not features of Chanchamayo. Laguna de Paca in Jauja Province covers 470.39 hectares. It is the only lagoon in the Junín region where the endemic Peruvian frog Telmatobius jelskii occurs, and it is recognized as a fragile ecosystem. Entry to the Reserva Nacional de Junín is available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; check the hours before visiting, as schedules may change.

One cultural landmark in Junín is the Fiesta Patronal de Santa Rosa de Ocopa. It is celebrated every year on August 30 in Santa Rosa de Ocopa, Concepción Province, and includes the traditional Chonguinada. The festival also features a market where lechón, chicharrón colorado and trout prepared in various ways are sold on August 30. The details about the festival date, dance and food offer different insights into the celebration.

The Santuario Histórico de Chacamarca encompasses the Qhapaq Ñan and archaeological remains connected with the Battle of Junín. The Centro de Interpretación Cultural de Chacamarca displays infographics, uniforms, models, busts, commemorative plaques and murals related to the battle; the exhibition may change. The wider Junín destination thus ranges from a lagoon landscape and an annual festival to historic sites.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Santa Clara, La Merced, Provincia de Tarma, Satipo, Tarma, Huancayo, Concepción.

Back to the wider travel guide: Junín.