Huanuco Department

Best places to visit in Huanuco Department

Huánuco Essentials

Huánuco bridges the gap between the snowy peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash and the lush Amazonian high jungle. This collection features the high-altitude lakes of Lauricocha and Carhuacocha alongside the distinct pre-Inca architecture of Piruro and T'akaq. Near Tingo María, the landscape shifts to limestone formations like the Cueva de las Lechuzas, home to colonies of oilbirds, and the multi-tiered Velo de las Ninfas waterfall. These sites represent the region's unique transition from Andean glacial valleys to tropical biodiversity.

Huánuco Essentials — Map

Pitxiquin / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Cueva de las Lechuzas

A massive limestone cavern located within Tingo María National Park. Despite its name, it primarily houses colonies of oilbirds (guacharos) and several species of bats. The cave features impressive stalactites and stalagmites formed within the lush Monzón mountain range.

NASA / Public domain

B

Jirishanca

Jirishanca is a 6,094-metre-high mountain in the Huayhuash mountain range in west central Peru, part of the Andes.

NASA / Public domain

C

Lake Carhuacocha

Lake Carhuacocha is a lake in Peru located in the Huanuco Region, Lauricocha Province, on the border of the districts of Jesús and…

D

Piruro

An archaeological site of the Tantamayo culture, featuring multi-story stone structures reaching up to six levels. These pre-Inca buildings are constructed from flat stones and sit at 3,800 meters overlooking the Marañón River valley.

Eniol / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

T'akaq

T'akaq, Takaq or T'aqaq is a nearly 4,000-metre-high mountain with an archaeological site of the same name in Peru.

F

Lake Lauricocha

Lake Lauricocha is a lake in the Andes mountains of central Peru, within Huánuco Region.

G

Catarata Velo de las Ninfas

A multi-tiered waterfall located near Tingo María. Reaching the falls involves a trek through dense high jungle, passing through several natural pools and rock formations often used for climbing and rappelling.

H

Pichcacocha Lakes

Pichcacocha Lakes or Pichgacocha Lakes is a group of five lakes in Peru. They lie in the Huánuco Region, Ambo Province, Conchamarca District.

I

Jardín Botanico

Managed by the Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, this botanical garden in Tingo María preserves over 2,000 species of tropical plants, including native orchids, medicinal herbs, and timber trees from the Peruvian Amazon.