Central Sierra (Peru)

The Central Sierra is the region of Peru that includes the departments of Junin, Huancavelica and Pasco. This is a mountainous region east of in the center of Peru.

• -9.048333-77.8108331 Caraz — near the Cordillera Blanca and the famous Santa Cruz trek, it's a good place for preparing a multiday trek or doing some day hikes
• -10.686389-76.26252 Cerro de Pasco — the capital of the Pasco region, it is one of the highest cities in the world
• -10.151-77.1563 Chiquiá — northern gateway to the Huayhuash.
• -9.929444-76.2397224 Huánuco — near Kotosh, an archaeological site containing a temple of the Late Archaic period
• -9.533333-77.5333335 Huaraz — a great starting point for getting supplies for expeditions, and for visiting the Wari ruin of Wilcawain
• -10.58-75.46 Oxapampa — where the Selvamonos Music and Arts Festival is held
• -10.069606-75.5506817 Pozuzo — traces of the German and Austrian settlers remain in the architecture and culture of the district
• -10.73506-75.2688 Villa Rica — close to the Mountain of Salt which pre-Columbian and colonial Peru indigenous people exploited to transported salt downriver by raft to people in the Amazon Basin

• -9.592775-77.1784531 Chavín de Huántar - The ruins of Chavín de Huantar are one of the earliest and best-known pre-Columbian sites - dating from 1500 to 300 BC. They are a striking complex of terraces and squares, surrounded by structures of dressed stone with zoomorphic ornamentation. It can be reached by public transportation or a tour (around S/20). The entrance is S/11 and there is a 50% discount for students. There is a small site museum.
• -9.4-77.42 Huascarán National Park — a park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers almost all of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, with trekking and outdoor recreation opportunities
• -10.3-76.93 Cordillera Huayhuash — a mountain range south of the Cordillera Blanca, also popular with trekkers and climbers, best accessed from Chiquián.

Central Sierra is a mountainous region of Peru located in the central Andes. It includes the departments of Junín, Huancavelica and Pasco, and is known for its high-altitude landscapes, Andean culture, lakes, valleys and historic mining towns. It has a population of about 1.5 million people in the departments of Junín, Huancavelica and Pasco.

The region is characterised by rugged mountains, deep valleys, high plateaus and elevations that often exceed 3,000 metres above sea level. Many communities in the Central Sierra maintain strong Quechua cultural traditions, including traditional farming, festivals, music and crafts.

The economy of the region has traditionally been based on agriculture, livestock raising and mining. Important crops include potatoes, maize and other highland products, while mining has played a major role in the development of towns such as Cerro de Pasco.

The Central Sierra offers visitors a different experience from Peru's more famous destinations. It is less visited by international tourists but provides opportunities to experience authentic Andean communities, archaeological sites, nature reserves and spectacular mountain scenery.

• Lima — Peru's capital and the main international gateway.
• Cusco — A historic Andean city and gateway to Machu Picchu.
• Central Coast — Explore the Pacific coast and cities west of the Andes.
• Peruvian Amazon — Discover rainforest landscapes east of the Andes.