Huancavelica: Andean Culture, Heritage and Lagoons
Accommodation in Huancavelica
Huancavelica brings vibrant religious traditions together with archaeological remains and a highland landscape where lagoons and striking rock formations shape distinctive travel experiences. If you are looking for a holiday rental in the region, you can first consider whether your trip will focus more on the city’s culture, historic places such as Sacsamarca, or nature and water experiences.
Religious Festivals and Culture in Huancavelica
The Semana Santa celebrations in the city of Huancavelica combine Andean and Catholic elements. Because of their religious character and importance to the people of the district, province and department, they were declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation of Peru. The celebrations include processions and floral displays along the procession routes. The Feria de Semana Santa is also held on Sábado de Gloria, where traditional foods and handicrafts are sold.
Another distinctive custom is the Baile de los Negritos. A comparsa of 20 couples dances through the main streets, led by Waqrasenqa and María Rosa. The festival lasted five days and was associated with the second week of January. These specific elements give the festival tradition its own character and set it apart from the Semana Santa processions.
The Museo Regional Daniel Hernández Morillo also offers insight into the region’s cultural history: its archaeological hall includes ceramic and textile objects from the Middle and Late Horizon periods. Those especially interested in early cultures and archaeological sites can also consider visiting the Uchkus Inkañan complex. It was a ceremonial center dependent on the Chavinoid administrative center of Atalla.
Sacsamarca: Heritage and Highland Cuisine
From Huancavelica’s main square, Sacsamarca can be reached on foot via a 4 km mule trail in about 40 minutes. The main square and stone bridge in the town are protected as national cultural heritage. The dates of their recognition differ: the main square was recognized on February 28, 2003, the monumental urban environment on January 28, 2005, and the stone bridge on February 28, 2002. This makes it possible to discover several clearly distinct examples of built heritage in Sacsamarca.
The culinary experience includes the foods and drinks consumed or served at village festivals in Sacsamarca: Picante de Papa, wheat, grilled trout, chicharrones and mondongo, as well as Chicha de Jora, Maní, and refreshments made with Airampo and Tumbo. Sacsamarca is also part of the Azogue or Santa Bárbara tourist circuit. Casa Hacienda Santa Rosa is part of the Uchkus Inkañan and Ccaccasiri circuit.
Lagoons, Wildlife and Rock Formations
Laguna de Pultocc is part of the tourist route of the mirror lagoons. Wetlands along its shores are home to Huallatas, wild ducks and Ujujuy; there are also numerous alpacas and llamas in the surrounding area. Vizcachas find habitat on the rock ledges nearby. For travelers who want to combine scenery and wildlife watching on a tour, Pultocc offers a different focus from the region’s festivals and cultural sites.
Laguna Orccococha is part of the Ruta de los Espejos, a circuit that connects it with lagoons including Choclococha and Pultocc. Boat trips and trout fishing are offered at Orccococha. The lagoon lies in the provinces of Castrovirreyna and Huaytará and was restored after 27 years of pollution. The local community sells handicrafts at Laguna de Choclococha. Trout have been raised there in floating cages for two decades, and boat trips are also available.
Another natural setting is Bosque de Piedras Cceroncancha, east of the city of Huancavelica, between Centro Poblado Sachapite and the community of Chacarilla. The 15-hectare area lies in the Suni region at an altitude of 4,030 m. Its consolidated volcanic tuff formations include shapes resembling a fist, a couple, a turtle, a nun, a llama and a tourist. These unusual formations give the place a very different character from the lagoon landscapes.
When choosing a holiday rental in Huancavelica, you can use the interests described here as a guide: festival culture and museums, the heritage of Sacsamarca, or the lagoons and rock formations. To explore other areas within the department, see the subregions Huancavelica and Pampas.
For an overview of the wider destination, see: Peru.
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