Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve
Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
1 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
217 reviews
Excellent
158
Very good
45
Average
11
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Jules H
Miraflores, Peru176 contributions
From Lima to Yauyos the trip is pretty rough (7 hours away and the road is not still good) but the landscape worth the sacrifice to get there.
I do not recomend Mystical Trekking operator because most of the time we spent unpleasant moments and they did not offer everything we read at their web page.
After all the negative situations we had, I definetely recomend this spot the most if you like to camp and spend some time with nature and breathe fresh air far away from chaos and the traffic of Lima.
I do not recomend Mystical Trekking operator because most of the time we spent unpleasant moments and they did not offer everything we read at their web page.
After all the negative situations we had, I definetely recomend this spot the most if you like to camp and spend some time with nature and breathe fresh air far away from chaos and the traffic of Lima.
Written 11 July 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victor C
Charlotte, NC24 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Tips to get there: apparently only one bus will get you close to Huancaya district, this is where you really want to go. The bus is called Rochaz, is located in a small office on the other side of the street from Flores bus service. The bus Rochaz (50 soles) will take you straight to Magdalena in a 7 to 8 hour trip, the bus is somewhat comfortable, very economic quality. Once it drops you in Magdalena, you can catch a ride to Huancaya for 20 soles or if in luck Rochaz will cover your ride to Huancaya. Huancaya is very small, it has local accommodations and 3 small hotels (30 soles a bed). From Huancaya you can catch a guide (70soles) that will take you to see some lakes and rivers. There's a local restaurant that almost every local will tell you to go to, a must try is the grill trucha (best fish ever meal). The lakes, rivers, mountains and wildlife, is spectacular. I went on Feb and during the day it was nice to walk around, but once the evening strikes, it gets freezing cold. I heard that in Summer is even colder at nights, so make sure you take winter jacket. I would have gladly stay a week, but due to my travel extend I only stayed 2 nights, which is enough to view the lagoons. Hotels offer warm water, but it only lasts 3 minutes, no wifi, no phone signal unless is claro (no data). I didn't need repellent, but for Summer maybe? - leave at 7 am or you won't be able to find cars from Magdalena to nearest location to catch a bus.
Written 22 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc v
Amsterdam, The Netherlands36 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
It was a bit difficult to get to Huancaya (car from Huancayo leaves only at 4.45 am from parque de los sombreros),but totally worth it! There are waterfalls everywhere just as well as beautiful lagoons. There are (cheap) hospedajes in Huancaya and you can take a rowing boat on one of the lagoons to get a better view of some waterfalls. Totally recommended!
Written 15 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pierre W
Brussels, Belgium23,502 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Combis leave to Nor Yauyos and Canete from Huancayo at 6 am 12 noon and 4 pm from Raez 1390 in El Tambo. There are also combis to Laraos from Los Manzanas 1035.
Part of the road from Huancayo is still unpaved, they are working on it, but it is a safe road on the altiplano.
At Vilca, the municipal hostel has OK rooms and trout meals.
It is well worth hiking corn the whole way from the upper lake 2 km above Vilca to the road junction at Tinco Alis, 35 km, as the views and environment are magnificent all along.
Laraos is an interesting village, good rooms from the Hospedaje Katita. An excellent steep hike climbing above the Yuncalara waterfall through the canyon then further up a quenual forest.
From Magdalena combis depart regularly to Canete. But they drive way too fast along the (new, paved) dangerous road. The terminal is in Imperial not San Vicente de Canete.
Part of the road from Huancayo is still unpaved, they are working on it, but it is a safe road on the altiplano.
At Vilca, the municipal hostel has OK rooms and trout meals.
It is well worth hiking corn the whole way from the upper lake 2 km above Vilca to the road junction at Tinco Alis, 35 km, as the views and environment are magnificent all along.
Laraos is an interesting village, good rooms from the Hospedaje Katita. An excellent steep hike climbing above the Yuncalara waterfall through the canyon then further up a quenual forest.
From Magdalena combis depart regularly to Canete. But they drive way too fast along the (new, paved) dangerous road. The terminal is in Imperial not San Vicente de Canete.
Written 25 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mariedragon
Huaraz, Peru335 contributions
Oct 2019
We came to Nor Yauyos Cochas Reserve from Huancayo, roughly a 4-hour drive (with many photo stops) to get to the village of Huancaya, located at the heart of the reserve. We decided to go on a tour and not public transport as we wanted to be able to make stops and photos along the way, which was totally worth it. The drive is now easier as the road is paved almost all the way, except from the turn off to Huancaya and Vilca. We crossed two high passes at 4600m and 4700m, the scenery along the way was spectacular with many lakes, llama herds, scenic villages (especially Tomas) and incredible Uchco Canyon. As soon as you enter the Nor Yauyos Cochas reserve you enter a magical land of towering canyons and never-ending waterfalls.
We visited the areas of Huancaya and Vilca, spending two nights in the small scenic village of Huancaya. The only thing that lets the area down is the lack of proper accommodation, if we had found something comfortable we would certainly have stayed longer, unfortunately given my fragile back and awful mattresses, this was not an option.
We came on a week day when the area is deserted. I would not recommend coming at weekends and certainly not during national holidays as the area apparently gets jam packed with Peruvian tourists.
Strangely there is no entrance fee to enter the actual reserve, but you have to pay S/10 soles in Huancaya and another S/10 soles in Vilca. Both control points were closed though when we visited as there were virtually no other tourists around.
To get to Lima from Huancaya you first have to take a car/combi to Magdalena (1h30 of driving along magnificent scenery within a narrow canyon), which leaves between 6 and 7am, then another combi to Cañete (2h30 of hair-raising driving along the beautiful Cañete river). Apparently there are sometimes direct buses from Lima to Magdalena. From Cañete it is a 2-hour drive to Lima, many buses offer the journey.
The Nor Yauyos Cochas Reserve, despite being little-known to foreign tourists (as it is barely mentioned in most guidebooks) offers unique, magnificent scenery, which easily rivals that of any more famous sites in Peru. The scenery is truly spectacular and surprisingly varied from endless rows of cascades, to deep turquoise trout-filled lakes, huge canyons and quaint villages.
The boat ride on Lake Huallhua is definitely worth it, as well as the incredibly beautiful hike from there back to Huancaya (the opposite shore from the jetty is best).
Another highlight is the drive from Huancaya to Vilca, where the vastness of the landscape takes another dimension.
In the small village of Vilca you will find a series of cascades and some great viewpoints.
We visited the areas of Huancaya and Vilca, spending two nights in the small scenic village of Huancaya. The only thing that lets the area down is the lack of proper accommodation, if we had found something comfortable we would certainly have stayed longer, unfortunately given my fragile back and awful mattresses, this was not an option.
We came on a week day when the area is deserted. I would not recommend coming at weekends and certainly not during national holidays as the area apparently gets jam packed with Peruvian tourists.
Strangely there is no entrance fee to enter the actual reserve, but you have to pay S/10 soles in Huancaya and another S/10 soles in Vilca. Both control points were closed though when we visited as there were virtually no other tourists around.
To get to Lima from Huancaya you first have to take a car/combi to Magdalena (1h30 of driving along magnificent scenery within a narrow canyon), which leaves between 6 and 7am, then another combi to Cañete (2h30 of hair-raising driving along the beautiful Cañete river). Apparently there are sometimes direct buses from Lima to Magdalena. From Cañete it is a 2-hour drive to Lima, many buses offer the journey.
The Nor Yauyos Cochas Reserve, despite being little-known to foreign tourists (as it is barely mentioned in most guidebooks) offers unique, magnificent scenery, which easily rivals that of any more famous sites in Peru. The scenery is truly spectacular and surprisingly varied from endless rows of cascades, to deep turquoise trout-filled lakes, huge canyons and quaint villages.
The boat ride on Lake Huallhua is definitely worth it, as well as the incredibly beautiful hike from there back to Huancaya (the opposite shore from the jetty is best).
Another highlight is the drive from Huancaya to Vilca, where the vastness of the landscape takes another dimension.
In the small village of Vilca you will find a series of cascades and some great viewpoints.
Written 29 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
German t
Lima, Peru13 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
The place is really beautiful, but it is very far from any civilized place, and it is difficult to find a decent accommodation.
If you like adventure tourism , don`t miss "Huancaya" it is one of best attractions of the Andes in Lima region. And it is full of fat trouts too .
If you like adventure tourism , don`t miss "Huancaya" it is one of best attractions of the Andes in Lima region. And it is full of fat trouts too .
Written 13 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose V
Palma de Mallorca, Spain7 contributions
Jul 2015 • Business
Few places in Peru, have this amazing natural beauty & landscape. A little hard to get there (about 8 hours from Lima), but the place is breathtaking. Great for camping, and some outdoors... go between april and november (dry season)
Written 7 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allen T
Washington DC, DC162 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
The Yauyos National Reserve is a really beautiful area of Peru. The main city is Huancaya, about 7 hours from Lima, and 4-5 from Lunahuana. I recommend this trip, but you need at least 3 days given all the driving, and I think a 4 day trip is ideal. You will see sweeping views of the valley, waterfalls, lakes, and ancient rice terraces.
The roads are mostly asphalt, but there are areas that are dirt and I think you need a 4x4, or at least an SUV. Although it’s possible to go with a sedan, I don’t recommend it at all.
You will not have cell service for most of the drive, so plan your route in advance so you won’t need to depend on GPS or google.
I recommend you stay in Lunahuana the first night to break up the drive, but you can also proceed to Hotel Villa de Armas. It’s the nicest, cleanest hotel in the area with WiFi and a nice restaurant.
Keep in mind that the southern tip of the reserve, near the terraces of Laraos, is about a 4.5 hour drive to the stunning “Pelo del novio”. Most attractions and lookouts are 1-2 hours away from each other, so even if you drive 7 hrs to get there, you will spend more time in the car. I think to see the whole reserve, you’ll want to drive with key staging points and stay at different hotels. If you stay at the southern tip, and drive 4-5 hrs to the north, you’d have to drive another 4-5 hrs to return. So, maybe work your way through with a mix of hotels and hostels. There will not be luxury options so you might have to rough it.
Keep your gas tank full because there are not many gas stations, although most small towns will sell gas by the gallon and you can hand pour the old fashioned way.
Despite the hassles, the trip is worth it and you will see a part of Peru that few people venture to.
The Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve is a protected area in Peru located in the Lima Region, Yauyos Province and in the Junín Region, Jauja Province. It lies with the Peruvian Yungas and Central Andean wet puna ecoregions.
The roads are mostly asphalt, but there are areas that are dirt and I think you need a 4x4, or at least an SUV. Although it’s possible to go with a sedan, I don’t recommend it at all.
You will not have cell service for most of the drive, so plan your route in advance so you won’t need to depend on GPS or google.
I recommend you stay in Lunahuana the first night to break up the drive, but you can also proceed to Hotel Villa de Armas. It’s the nicest, cleanest hotel in the area with WiFi and a nice restaurant.
Keep in mind that the southern tip of the reserve, near the terraces of Laraos, is about a 4.5 hour drive to the stunning “Pelo del novio”. Most attractions and lookouts are 1-2 hours away from each other, so even if you drive 7 hrs to get there, you will spend more time in the car. I think to see the whole reserve, you’ll want to drive with key staging points and stay at different hotels. If you stay at the southern tip, and drive 4-5 hrs to the north, you’d have to drive another 4-5 hrs to return. So, maybe work your way through with a mix of hotels and hostels. There will not be luxury options so you might have to rough it.
Keep your gas tank full because there are not many gas stations, although most small towns will sell gas by the gallon and you can hand pour the old fashioned way.
Despite the hassles, the trip is worth it and you will see a part of Peru that few people venture to.
The Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve is a protected area in Peru located in the Lima Region, Yauyos Province and in the Junín Region, Jauja Province. It lies with the Peruvian Yungas and Central Andean wet puna ecoregions.
Written 2 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ValvaMG
Toronto, Canada284 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
I've read it was the best landscape in Lima province, so we went there camping last weekend: it was amazing! It was extremly cold at night but if you have the appropiate gear or you stay in a house, it'll not be a problem.
Written 3 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Enrique M
London, UK15 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
Like most of Peru the landscape is grand but the infrastructure dire. Nor Yauyos is a stone's throw away from Lima but you might have to drive back to Lunahuana to get a decent bed for the night. It is a shame, really. Don't stay in Huancaya, too long. Keep going to Vilca; a true gem. The village is on the foothills of a small mount that blocks the flow of the river forming a forest on the waterfall that has formed around it. You can go for a swim in the ponds formed under the trees or explore the surroundings. But don't expect places to eat or sleep.
Written 24 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gostaria de saber que empresa de turismo faz esta excursão e se existe alguma pousada lá onde eu possa pernoitar e aproveitar melhor o passeio por dois dias.
Written 30 October 2018
Do you need a 4 wheel drive to get to Yauyos or is it just a matter of swerving around potholes. Is the road paved or dirt?
Thanks for your help
Martin
Written 18 March 2018
Hi, it is not necessary a 4 wheel drive to get to Yauyos, I went in a Chevrolet AVEO, but you need to be careful with the road, because has much bends
Written 26 March 2018
Buen día quisiera hacer un tour por Nor Yauyos-Cochas, dónde lo contrato y cuanto cuesta? Gracias
Written 22 January 2018
Hola, dentro de mi opinión muestra como hicimos el tour sin contratar una agencia, pero puedes contactarte con Dviaje Perù - en su pagina de face esta toda la información o al numero 993242968 quienes ofrecen este tour. Espero te sirva la información.
Written 23 January 2018
is there a a private bus or tour that goes there just for the day?
Written 20 April 2017
Hello, If you travel to Huancayo from Lima, there is a tour company can provide you one day private tour with English speaking tour guide and van driver. I just came back from Peru and find Nor Yauyos Cochas is stunning beautiful. It is worth the effort to get there.
Written 22 May 2017
Ingridvb
Lima, Peru
Hola q tal, pienso salir para huancaya en auto propio, que recomendaciones me das y cuanfo este alla como puedo conocer los lugares mas lindos, es necesario contratar una agencia turista o puedes hacerlo solo??
Written 29 May 2016
Gabriela Ramos
Itaborai, RJ
Como faço para ir com vcs? Quanto custa? Tem alguma agência no centro de lima ?
Written 15 May 2016
Hola, es el lugar mas importante en mi visita a Peru, y sin embargo me ha costado recibir información seria acerca del lugar por parte de mi agencia de tours, alguien me podría decir como llegar por cuenta propia sin rentar coche?
Gracias!!!
Written 4 May 2016
ESTA Aproximadamente ha 8 horas de lima... el recorrido es el siguiente.
Lima-CAÑETE....125 kms. autopista..hay buses precio aprox...us.4 dolares
EN cañete tomar bus a YAUYOS...8 horas de viaje aprox us 5 dolares.
lo mas conveniente es alquilar un colectivo en cañete que te lleve directamente es un viaje de 5 horas que te costara..aprox us 50 dolares pero tienes la ventaja que podras parar por diversas partes y apreciar el paisaje.
para mayor informacion te dejo mi email
mi nombre es SENEN
LOS paisajes son bellisimos, en huarcaya no hay mucha disponibilidad de alojamiento
Written 5 May 2016
Hola, Quisiera saber como hacer para llegar, es necesario transporte propio o guia o servicio turistico? Tambien como es el clima en julio, porque quisiera ir como para fines de ese mes.
gracias
Written 13 April 2016
No es sencillo acceder ya que no es parte del circuito rutinario de turismo, podrias tomar uno de los tours eventuales en Lima o averiguar en Cañete si hay alguno, viajando sola es posible aunque te tomara mas tiempo, debes tener claro que te interesaria conocer ya que la reserva es muy grande y normalmente no se visita toda por ej: el pueblo de Vilca, Tanta, el nevado Pariacaca o los andenes de Laraos etc, todo tiene distancia y sin un vehiculo es bastante complicado.
Respecto al clima este es seco por la altura con un aire muy limpio caluroso y soleado en el dia y muy frio por la noche (por los factores anteriores y la altura mas de 3000 msnm). La logistica existente es minima tanto para uno como para el vehiculo y los servicios turisticos son basicos.
Saludos
Miguel M.
Written 5 May 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 13
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing