ÍNDICE
The region of Junín is located in the central zone of the country and has many of the most beautiful cities in the Peruvian highlands. This department stands out for its different natural and archaeological attractions. From any point in its towns you can see beautiful landscapes, so much so that it has come to be called by many as “Peruvian Switzerland”. In addition, they embrace various religious customs that attract many tourists and, in other of their notable producing sectors, are metallurgy and mining.
Map of the Junín area
Below I show you the map of the region of Junín, including its 9 provinces. Below you can find out the name of these 9 provinces.
For more information about the map and orography of Junín I highly recommend watching this video.
Location and geographic boundaries
To better locate ourselves, we begin by knowing its geographical limits: the department of Junín borders with Pasco and Uyacali to the north, with Ayacucho and Huancavelica to the south, with Cusco to the east and with Lima, the capital of the country, to the west.
It is not among the largest departments of Peru, however, it has an area of 44,197.23 km2, which would be 3.4% of the total national territory. In turn, it is divided into nine provinces, Huancayo being the most important, and 123 districts.
Geography and Population
The Junín area owes a large part of its diversity and attractiveness to the fact that its terrain shares two natural regions: the mountains and the jungle. In addition, it is crossed by the Andes Mountains, which gives it a very rugged topography with many hydrographic variations.
In the last population census, a number of 1,246,038 inhabitants were registered, although, for 2020, the INEI calculated an increase in this figure to 1,361,467.
Tourist Attractions in the Department of Junín
The region of Junín is an excellent place to visit and learn about. If you have the opportunity to visit these beautiful lands, take advantage of taking a walk through all or at least some of the places that I am going to talk about next.
Constitution Square
The “Plaza de la Constitución” is an emblematic place. It is located in the city of Huancayo and is considered the historical and cultural heart of the region.
The square is a meeting point for locals and visitors, surrounded by significant buildings such as the Huancayo Cathedral and other historic structures. It is a vibrant and busy public space, where events, fairs and cultural activities are held that reflect the identity and traditions of the Juninense community. The Plaza de la Constitución is a symbol of the history and social life of the department, and a place of great importance for its population.
Huanca Identity Park
Located in the city of Huancayo, this park has established itself as a meeting place for locals and tourists interested in Huanca culture. In the park, you can find artistic representations and sculptures that highlight the history and traditions of this ethnic group.
In addition, the place is home to cultural events and activities that promote and preserve the Huanca identity, becoming an important center for dissemination and recognition of the rich cultural heritage of the Junín region.
Huancayo Cathedral
The Huancayo Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is a prominent place of worship also located in the city of Huancayo.
Its construction began in 1861 and was completed in 1952, although it has undergone various renovations and improvements over time. This imposing neoclassical church is considered one of the main architectural icons of the city. It has Corinthian columns that flank the main entrance and a rose window that adorns the top.
Shucto Canyon
It really is an impressive natural canyon. A huge groove in the earth that can be visited and scrutinized to the bottom. In cases like this, the truth is that rather than summarizing it I prefer to attach a good video, where you will be able to better see how impressive this site is. I have been able to visit it and the truth is that I loved it.
The Snowy Mountain of Huaytapallana
It is one of the most prominent snow-capped peaks in the Peruvian Central Andes and is part of the Cordillera Huaytapallana, which extends around the city of Huancayo. With an altitude of approximately 5,557 meters above sea level, the Nevado de Huaytapallana is an important source of water for the region, since it feeds numerous rivers and lagoons on its slopes.
It is an environmentally protected area. I recommend your visit.
The town of Jauja
The town of Jauja is a historic town. It is one of the oldest and most emblematic places in the country, with a history that dates back to pre-Inca times. Jauja is believed to have been founded in 1534 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. This town mainly has colonial style architecture.
Chanchamayo
⛰️ Chanchamayo has an impressive landscape, characterized by extensive coffee, cocoa and tropical fruit plantations. Travelers can enjoy hiking along trails surrounded by jungle, relaxing in natural pools and contemplating impressive waterfalls, such as the Tirol Falls and the Bayoz Waterfall.
➡️ It is known as the “Coffee Capital” in Peru, and coffee lovers can explore the plantations, learn about the coffee growing and production process, and taste fresh, high-quality coffee.
The City of Concepción
⛰️ It is the capital of the province of Concepción and is located in a mountainous area surrounded by exuberant nature and picturesque landscapes.
➡️ Concepción is known for its rich history and well-preserved colonial architecture. The “Plaza de Armas” is the nerve center of the city and is surrounded by historic buildings, such as the main church and the town hall.
The Paca Lagoon
It is located in the province of Concepción, in a mountainous area of the Peruvian Andes. This lagoon is known for its stunning natural beauty and picturesque surroundings.
La Laguna stands out for its calm, crystal-clear waters, which reflect the peaks of the surrounding mountains, creating an impressive landscape. The lagoon is surrounded by vegetation and green areas, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy nature.
To reach Laguna de Paca, you can hike through natural trails, allowing visitors to appreciate the biodiversity of the region and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountainous landscape.
Tarmatambo
It is about old ruins with archaeological interest. It has been declared a cultural heritage and may be interesting for tourists from Peru or from abroad who are interested in remains of this type. Its origin dates back to the Incas.
The Pichiluli Natural Park
An impressive natural park. As you have seen throughout the different sites that we have named you to see in the region of Junín, we have highlighted many natural sites. This Natural Park is one more option if you want to include nature. It offers similar things, hiking and so on, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. I show you some photos.
Flora and fauna
As you have seen, the places to visit in the region are varied. Its natural and landscape diversity clearly also encompasses the regional flora and fauna.
Although it is distributed throughout the region, most of its richness and diversity is found in the Junín National Reserve, which is located in the districts of Junín, condores and Carhuamayo, and shares land with other districts of the department of Cerro. from Pasco.
This reserve has a lot to offer since, in addition to being located in the Central Andes and containing mostly Lake Junín (the second longest in the country), it is surrounded by small and numerous lagoons such as Chacacancha, Tauli, Lulicocha, Cusicocha, Rusquicocha and Ahuascocha.
Lake Junín is home to numerous waterfowl (both resident, endemic and migratory). Among the species that can be found are the pimpollo grebe, the tilefish grebe, the puna duck, the sutro duck, the frog duck, the jarga duck, the huallata, the flamingo, the black rockfish, and other species unique in their genus such as the Junín grebe and the Junín coot, which are the most representative of the lake. Likewise, the Junín frogs and fish such as callhuas are also very well known in the lake.
Regarding its vegetation, the plant species that are most abundant are wetlands, the famous cattails, dense high altitude grasslands, wetlands and puna grass.
The weather in the region
Regarding its weather, it varies a little depending on the altitude, however, it is generally quite pleasant.
As we mentioned previously, Junín is divided into nine provinces: Junín, Huancayo, Yauli, Chupaca, Tarma, Jauja and Concepción, which share a temperate, dry and cold climate, and Chanchamayo and Satipo, with a warm and humid climate, whose temperatures. They usually range from 25°C during the day and 5°C at night.
Typical Food of the Junín Region
In the gastronomic area, there are several dishes or dishes for which the Department of Junín stands out.
Papa Huancaína
Papa a la Huancaína, in addition to deeply identifying Junín, has become one of the most emblematic in all of Peru. It is mostly served as an appetizer and consists of portions of white potatoes and boiled eggs bathed in a delicious yellow chili cream. A very rich and super typical dish of this area of Peru.
Pachamanca
La Pachamanca, about which we have already spoken on multiple occasions in different posts about departments of Peru, is a very popular Peruvian dish which is cooked with guinea pig, pork, lamb, rabbit, or alpaca meat and accompanied by potatoes, broad beans, sweet potato and corn, this is one of the strongest, most representative and valuable dishes of the region.
Trucha Frita
Fried trout is usually prepared mainly during the carnival season, although it can usually be found in almost all restaurants in Junín, it is a fairly typical and common dish. Served with potatoes, salad and Creole sauce.
Ram on stick
It consists of a whole lamb or mutton, seasoned with various spices and herbs, and slowly roasted on a stick over a wood fire. This cooking technique gives a smoky and juicy flavor to the dish.
Human Broth
Basically it is a lamb head soup. The soup itself includes meat or pieces of shredded lamb’s head. If you don’t like this type of dishes, because eating lamb’s head gives you a little respect, then this is not your best choice.
Patasca
It is a thick and flavorful broth that is made mainly with mote (peeled corn), beef or pork, and aromatic herbs.
To prepare Pataca, mote is boiled in a meat broth until tender and pieces of meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, are added to give flavor and texture to the dish. In addition, ingredients such as chili, garlic, onion and herbs such as cilantro are usually added to enhance the flavor.
These are not the only typical dishes from the department of Junín but they are some of the ones that, from my point of view, are the most popular in the area and it will not be difficult for you to find them if you visit any city in the department.
Economy of the Junín area
The region of Junín has agriculture and mining as its main economic activities.
In the agricultural area, they have different valleys and areas dedicated to the sector, among them, the tropical valley of Chanchamayo, where they produce coffee, wood and high-quality fruit, and the Mantaro valley, where beans, corn and potatoes are harvested.
In this same valley there are also areas of cattle and wool raising, as well as an industrial community of textile, weaving, crafts and dairy products.
There is also La Merced, a center where citrus, avocados and different fruits are grown, but mainly dedicated to the cultivation of “cat’s claw”, a world-famous medicinal plant useful for the treatment of different diseases and ailments.
In the mining area, there is La Oroya, with one of the largest mineral smelters not only in the department but in the entire country.
Most important festival in the Junín Region
In the region of Junín, festivities and special dates are not lacking. One of the most important are the carnivals, in which each town comes together to participate in the “tumbamonte” and share several of their typical traditional dances.
Likewise, they celebrate with great enthusiasm the first week of January, when they celebrate the “Huaconada” and many other religious festivals such as the festivities for Holy Week, for the Lord of Muruhuay, for San Roque, for the Virgin of Cocharcas and, regarding their history, the parade of the Battle of Junín is highly respected.