Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Toledo 230; mains S10-15; 9am-2pm & 5-10pm)
Been around ages, this place: they
must be doing something right, and it's unlikely to be the Beetles paraphernalia alone.
Good grilled trout.
Shopping
There are small daily markets, but Sunday is market day, and the best day to see locals in
traditional dress. The main market snakes up Barranca then continues along Torre Tagle
behind the cathedral. Handicrafts are sold almost every day on the north side of the Plaza
de Armas and also by the Municipalidad. Colorful wool leggings are especially popular.
Information
More than a dozen central places provide internet access.
Cielo Azul
(
www.turismocieloazul.com
)
Run by the tourist office; offers tours to sur-
rounding sites including the mines for a reasonable S20.
Hospital de Huancavelica
( 45-3369; Av Andrés Céceres)
your gear washed.
Main post office
(Pasaje Ferrua 105)
Near Iglesia de Santa Ana.
9am-1pm & 2-7pm Mon)
Provides good directions (in Spanish) for local hikes such as the
6km hike to the ghostly deserted mine of Santa Barbara, as well as transport information.
Getting There & Away
Huancavelica now sports a paved road connecting it to Huancayo (the easiest means of
approach). This is a beautiful route that ascends on mountain contours then loops down to
a narrow river valley and Izcuchaca before opening out again into lush alpine meadow-
land with thatched-roof settlements (some prettily painted) and wandering herds of lla-
mas. You can also reach Huancavelica directly from Pisco via a 4850m pass and from Ay-
acucho via Rumichaca. Buses ply all these routes but are of the ponderous local variety -
filled with locals and their goods.
