Gateway to the Amazonas

The city Huánuco was founded on 15th august 1539 by the spanish conquistador Gómez de Alvarado y Contreras under the name “La muy noble y leal ciudad de los Caballeros del León de Huánuco” on the site of the Inca city Yarowilca. Later, the settlement of Pedro Barroso was relocated to the valley of the Río Huallaga to escape the attacks by Illa Túpac and his army. Since 1865 Huánuco is a bishopric.

During the colonial period, Huánuco was considered an important center, where churches, haciendas and villas were built in an area that had been inhabited for centuries. a. from the people of Lauricocha and other cultures who have left their mark in the Templo de las Manos Cruzadas, the Temple of the Crossed Hands, in Kotosh. The beautiful area includes fertile forests with coveted fruits such as coffee and cocoa beans, and has a diverse flora and fauna that is protected in the Tingo María National Park.

How to get to Huánuco

By plane from Lima

To fly from Lima to Huánuco there are daily flights from Jorge Chavez International Airport in Callao. Within 5 minutes you can drive from the airport to the city, which is 5 km away. Flights from Lima to Huanuco take about 40 minutes.

By bus

To travel by bus from Lima to Huánuco, you will follow the road of the Central Highway to go through Lima – Matucana – San Mateo – Ticlio – La Oroya – Junín – Cerro de Paso – San Rafael – Ambo – Huánuco. The bus trip covers 410 km and takes approximately 8 hours. Currently there is a good offer of land transport services, so there are several transport companies in Lima that make daily departures at different times.

By car

If you have rental or own car, you have different alternatives that you can use to get to the City of Huánuco. The recommended route is following the Central Highway, and includes: Lima – Matucana – San Mateo – Ticlio – La Oroya – Junín – Cerro de Paso – San Rafael – Ambo – Huánuco. In 5 hours traveling by car you will have traveled 410 km and you will have arrived in Huánuco.

Points of interest

High mountains, hot springs, caves, lagoons and an extraordinary stone formation known as Bella Durmiente make Huánuco a place of Andean soul in rainforest robes.

The most visited attractions are the traditional Calicanto Bridge, the Cathedral and the 5 km from the city archaeological complex Kotosh, also known as the Temple of the Crossed Hands. From Huánuco you can also travel to Tingo María, the gateway to the Amazon region and habitat of various flora and fauna species.

Two celebrations are at the top of the calendar in Huánuco: Fiesta de los Negritos (Feast of the Negroes) in January and the feast of the Patron Saint Señor de Burgos at the end of October.

Church of San Francisco

This temple was initially built in the year 1560. Its facade and interior structures have been rebuilt several times, especially during the twentieth century. Its exterior has a neoclassical style, while its interior walls and ornaments belong to the baroque style, typical of the seventeenth century. The golden altars preserve their colonial and mestizo baroque style. Inside it has paintings and colonial sculptures, including the works of the Spanish priest Lorenzo Valentino. The San Francisco Church is located at Jáma Dámaso Beraún N ° 391.

Church of La Merced

It is also known as the Temple of Mercy or Church of Our Lady of Mercedes, is the oldest church in Huánuco. In 1991 it was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation by the National Institute of Culture. It is said that in 1611 it began to function as a parish. Its architecture has a Romanesque style. Inside you can see the main altar in neoclassical style, below which is the image of the Virgen de las Mercedes. Its tabernacle is made of silver from the colonial era. There are also two paintings from the Cusqueña School, two images of the Immaculate Virgin and the Heart of Jesus given by King Felipe II, an altarpiece bathed in gold leaf, and a Renaissance painting with the face of Christ painted in copper foil . The Church of La Merced is located 3 blocks from the Plaza de Armas, on the Jr. Hermilio Valdizán cdra. Four.

Leoncio Prado Regional Museum

This museum is under the direction of the National University Hermilio Valdizán, and was created with the purpose of exposing and making known to visitors the archaeological, historical and natural wealth of the territory of Huánuco. It has three representative rooms: Kotosh Shillaqoto, regional and local manors, and Leoncio Prado Hall. The Museo Leoactualidad ncio Prado is located at Jr. Dos de Mayo Nº 680.

Calicanto Bridge

This old bridge began to be built in 1879, and it was finished building 5 years later. To build this magnificent work, granite stone, carved and united with mortar made of sand, lime and egg white was used. It has an extension of 60 meters, is formed by two columns that end in semicircular balconies, and has a design with three arches and two central stirrups. This bridge serves as a link between the city of Huánuco and the road to Tingo María. The Calicanto Bridge is located four blocks from the Plaza de Huanuco, on the majestic Huallaga River.

Archaeological Complex of Kotosh (Temple of the Crossed Hands)

This archaeological complex is one of the most important in Peru, and has more than 4,000 years old, making it one of the oldest in America. Among the highlights is the Temple of the Crossed Hands of Kotosh, archaeological wonder of Huánuco, which is the best known of the ceremonial precincts in Kotosh, whose name is due to two mud-reliefs in the form of crossed arms. The Archaeological Complex of Kotosh is located 5 kilometers west of the city of Huánuco (7 minutes by car), in the region of the same name, on the right bank of the Higueras River.

Municipal Museum of History and Art of Churubamba

This museum exhibits a collection of mummies that were found in the Papahuasi Archaeological Complex, several of them corresponding to children presumed to have been sacrificed. In addition, there are several prehispanic objects, ceramic and lithic pieces, and panels with information about the archaeological zone of Papahuasi. The Municipal Museum of History and Art of Churubamba is located at Jr. Javier Lindo Zárate 110 – Churubamba, 22.5 km from the City of Huánuco (30 min by car).

Hacienda Shismay

This hacienda, known as the jewel of Amarilis, was built by the German colony during its migration to Pozuzo (Oxapampa – Pasco). The Hacienda Shismay House, declared a “Historical Monument”, is also a Site Museum, and its Chapel houses a beautiful colonial altar. The atmosphere of peace and tranquility that surrounds the property is ideal for experiential tourism, where you can also stay. Casa Hacienda Shismay is located in the Malconga Town Center, just 17 km from the city of Huánuco.