Tarma: Rock Art, Forest and Regional Cuisine

In Tarma, discoveries range from cave paintings to an ancient cedar tree along a waymarked hiking trail. There are also archaeological traces, a museum with collections from Huaricolca’s history, and regional dishes. You can shape your trip around whether you would rather experience nature, explore past cultures or sample local cuisine.

Cave and archaeological traces

The Gruta de Huagapo brings together two remarkable features: inside are stalactites and stalagmites, as well as rock paintings depicting animals and hunting scenes. These paintings are dated to approximately 10,000 to 6,000 BC. For anyone interested in the cave, both geological formations and early pictorial representations offer tangible points of interest during a visit.

The Cañon de Ushto and the Gruta de Huagapo form a combined visitor route. The connecting paths between them were developed by the municipal government of Palcamayo. This means you can consider the two sites as linked stops rather than planning them as separate destinations.

Another archaeological trace is Anashpata, a 5.44-hectare settlement at the foot of Cerro Shayoc-Shayoc. Its architecture and the pottery found on the surface suggest that it may be associated with the Taruma or Tarama culture. This culture is dated to the Late Intermediate Period, from approximately 1000 to 1450 AD. The tentative attribution makes Anashpata especially interesting for visitors who want to explore archaeological sites and the evidence used to interpret their history. The settlement is currently part of the “Ruta del zorro,” promoted by the Municipalidad Provincial de Tarma, the Municipalidad Distrital de Palcamayo and local travel agencies.

Forest trail and viewpoint

In the Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa, the tourist and recreational area in the Pampa de los Cedros Centenarios sector is open to visitors. There you’ll find Cedro El Abuelo: the tree is over 600 years old, 51 metres tall and 3.5 metres in diameter. A 2-kilometre waymarked hiking trail leads to it; the walk takes approximately 2 hours. These details can help you plan a visit as a nature experience in its own right, separate from trips to the cave or archaeological sites.

In Tarma, you can walk from the main square to Mirador San Cristóbal via a 0.3-kilometre route that takes 25 minutes. The starting point and stated walking time offer clear guidance for anyone who wants to include a walk in their plans.

History and flavour

The Museo Municipal de Huaricolca displays four collections of various objects found in the district. Together, they present a chronology spanning several periods of Huaricolca’s history. You can also request a guide at the museum to take you to archaeological sites. This means visitors can explore both the collections and archaeological sites with a guide.

The local cuisine offers another way to experience the region. Tarma is known for Manjar Blanco, a dessert made from cow’s milk. You can also try pachamanca here: this traditional dish includes various meats—poultry, beef, pork and lamb—as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, corn and aromatic herbs. It is prepared together with humitas. If you enjoy discovering regional dishes, you can include these foods in your trip, while nature and culture enthusiasts may devote more time to the hiking trail, cave or archaeological sites.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Tarma, use these different interests to guide your trip planning: would you like nature and the trail to Cedro El Abuelo to shape your stay, are you mainly interested in rock art and archaeology, or would you like to sample regional dishes?

Discover more places

You can also visit the pages for Tarma and La Merced, Provincia de Tarma, Satipo, Concepción, Huancayo and Chanchamayo.

For the overview of the wider region, see: Junín.