Pasco Region
Discovering the
Pasco Region
Where the high Andes descend into Peru’s central jungle, Pasco is a region of dramatic contrasts. From the green valleys and cloud forests of Oxapampa to coffee country, waterfalls, historic settlements and the extraordinary rock formations of Huayllay, it offers a side of Peru many international travellers have yet to discover.
Oxapampa is the natural base for exploring the region’s warmer eastern valleys. Surrounded by forested mountains, farms and waterfalls, the town is known for its distinctive wooden architecture and a cultural heritage shaped by Indigenous communities alongside generations of European settlers.
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Nearby, Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park protects an exceptional landscape of cloud forest, mountains and deep valleys. Walking trails lead through forests rich in orchids, bromeliads and birdlife, with the possibility of encountering wildlife such as monkeys, deer and the spectacled bear.
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Further south, Villa Rica is at the heart of one of Peru’s best-known coffee-growing areas. Its plantations, surrounding forests and relaxed atmosphere make it an appealing stop for travellers interested in local produce, nature and rural life.
North of Oxapampa lies Pozuzo, one of Pasco’s most distinctive destinations. Founded by Austrian and German settlers in the nineteenth century, the town retains elements of this heritage in its architecture, food and traditions, all surrounded by the lush landscapes of Peru’s central jungle.
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Pasco’s western highlands reveal a completely different environment. At more than 4,000 metres above sea level, the Huayllay National Sanctuary protects an extraordinary “stone forest” of volcanic formations shaped over time by wind and weather. Walking routes pass among towering rocks, high-Andean grasslands and wetlands in one of the region’s most unusual landscapes.
Pasco’s food reflects its geography and cultural mix. Around Oxapampa and Pozuzo, visitors will find local cheeses, sausages, breads and dishes influenced by the area’s European heritage, alongside traditional jungle ingredients. Villa Rica adds excellent locally grown coffee, while tropical fruits and regional produce appear throughout the warmer valleys.
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What makes Pasco particularly rewarding is its variety. In a single region, travellers can explore mist-covered forests, visit coffee farms, discover unusual cultural traditions and walk among immense rock formations high in the Andes.
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For those looking beyond Peru’s best-known routes, Pasco offers nature, culture and adventure in abundance, with Oxapampa providing the perfect gateway to one of the country’s most fascinating and unexpectedly diverse regions.
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Malena x
