Matucana is Awesome!!

MATUCANA IS AWESOME

Matucana has everything with WATERFALLS, NATURE, and amazing landscapes! And it has a great advantage in that it is VERY CLOSE TO LIMA! Only 2 hours, using the Carretera Central (Central Highway)!

TO ARRIVE: There are two ways

ROUTE	HOW	TIME	COST
Private Car	You arrive in Chosica, and from there take the Carretera Central until kilometer marker 75. You will pass towns such as Ricardo Palma, Corcona, Cocachacra, San Bartolome, Songos, and Surco (which has two bridges)	From Chosica this should take 45 minutes	Gas!!!
Public Bus or Colectivo	Take the quickest way to Chosica, to the main Plaza. Two blocks from there is the street Jr. Arica, where the cars for San Mateo begin, and can drop you off in Matucana.	This will take an hour, more or less.	S/ 4.00 Nuevos Soles (S/2.5 for students and others who can receive Medio Pasaje).
	You may also choose to go to Parque Echenique, which is several blocks from the main Plaza. Across is the spot where the buses for Matucana leave.	This will take an hour, more or less.	S/ 4.00 Nuevos Soles (S/2.5 for students and others who can receive Medio Pasaje).

You should know that Matucana is located at 2,398 meters above sea level (7,867 feet). The climate is very different from Lima; when it is cold and wintertime in Lima it is summer and warm all day in Matucana!

When you visit the waterfalls or cascades you can also take a dip! So remember to bring your BATHING SUIT.

CLIMATE:

SEASON	TEMPERATURE	CHARACTERISTICS
Autumn-Winter	13 °C  to 22 °C, Or 55 °F to 71 °F	Mornings are lightly clouded until intense sun begins around 11 am. Later on it rains, daily.
Spring-Summer	13 °C a 26°C,  Or 55 °F to 79 °F	Sunny all day!

WHAT TO BRING???

ü  Summer clothes for DAYTIME (short, capris, t-shirt, dress, baseball hat, sneakers, etc.)

ü  Winter clothes for NIGHTTIME (sweater, jacket, gloves, pants, warm hat, etc.)

WHERE TO STAY?? There are 5 places you can stay at in Matucana, four of which are hotels, and one, a bungalow!

HOSPEDAJE
OFFICAL NAME			BUNGALOWS LOS OLIVOS	HOSTAL GRAU	HOSTAL MATUCANA	HOSTAL MILLENNIUM	HOTEL PK2 SECRETOS
ADDRESS			Jr. Los Olivos 229 - Matucana	Jr. Tacna 550 - Matucana	Jr. Lima 363 - Matucana	Jr. Cacachaqui Nicolas Ayllon S/N	Jr. Lima
CAPACITY			4 Bungalows (4 people in each)	14 rooms	28 rooms	26 rooms	18 rooms
TYPE OF ROOMS			Mini apartments	Singles, Doubles, Triples, Quadruples, Matrimonials	Singles, Doubles, Triples, Matrimonials	Singles, Doubles, Matrimonials	Only Single Rooms
FACILITIES			Hot water, Private parking, Security, Space for recreation	Attention 24/7, Tourist information, Located right next to the main plaza, Outside public patio, TV, Private bath (not all rooms)	TV, Private bath (not all rooms), Attention 24/7, Parking, Hot water, Tourist information, Great views	Attention 24/7, Cable TV, Private bath (not all rooms), Hot water, Parking	Attention 24/7, Outside public patio, Large beds, TV, Private bath (not all rooms)
CONTACT	TELEPHONE		473-2068 / 990221025 (RPM)	984890019 / #773239 (RPM)	244 3104 / 224 2801	774 7432	7763848
	E-MAI L		bungalowslosolivos.blogspot.com		hostalmatucana@yahoo.com
PRICE		Prices available for 4 people from 80 soles and up		Prices available for 15 soles and up	Prices available for 12 soles and up. Great value	Prices available from 30 soles and up. Quality service	Varies
PERSON IN CHARGE		Sra. Martha Villalobos			Srta. Ammy	Sra. Jovita Martinez	Sra. Alejandrina Meza
SPECIAL OFFERS		250 soles for Fiestas Patrias (the days around July 28)			All the commodities for a great price	Matrimonials with TV, Private bath, Hot water, Cable, and quality service for 50 soles

But…. What to ask for???

Typical dishes for anyone who visits MATUCANA: CAN’T MISS!!!

DISH	TYPE	CHARACTERISTICS
ISHCUAPI	PORRIDGE	It is a porridge of an interesting taste, but it is said to be good for avoiding sicknesses
PACHAMANCA	MEAL	Nothing to say except you simply must try it!
PATASCA	SOUP	Also called Mote, a soup with meat, corn, and a unique flavor
PICANTE DE CUY	MAIN DISH	One of the most recommended dishes in Matucana
PICARONES	DESSERT	A typical Peruvian dessert, well-known and in Matucana it is said to be the most delicious
SANCOCHADO	SOUP	Soup with beef, patatoe, and some vegetables
TAMAL	MAIN DISH	Very good! Made with corn and meat
TRUCHA (TROUT)	MAIN DISH	Normally sold fried, you can also ask for it grilled. Always delicious!

And…. Drinks? What to get??

·         CALIENTITO

·         CHICHA DE JORA

In Matucana it is understood that everyone is young at heart and we all want to have fun, enjoy time with friends, converse, laugh, and walk around town while the moon and stars shine down on you, but… it is so cold… sooo cold at night… so the locals have a drink perfect for this situation, which is CALIENTITO…

But WHAT IS IT?

SIMPLE! It’s a drink with a base made of chamomile, Hierba Luisa, orange peels, passion fruit, sugar and, best of all, Pisco. (Which is why the drink works so well!!!)

Highly recommended!!

CHICHA DE JORA???

A drink made with a base of fermented maiz, a traditional beverage which comes from centuries ago and is well known in Peru

And now…. WHAT PLACES SHOULD YOU VISIT????  You have many options, but we recommend three places to begin with.

ANTANKALLO

MATUCANA

PLAN

FOR GETTING TO ANTANKALLO  

   

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU GO TO ANTANKALLO

·         Duration of trek :           1 hr, 20 minutes

But it depends on how fast or slow you walk. This should be the maximum amount of time needed to arrive… if you take longer, something’s wrong!!

·         Type of tourism :           Trekking

It starts at the arch at the entrances of Matucana (Street name Huarochiri, which has beautiful, grand murals with facts and images of areas from all over Matucana and Huarochiri!). From here, keep going straight, and you pass through Los Olivos, the site with most of the murals. A MUST SEE!!

Then you will pass through the dairy farms, great spots to buy CHEESE, MILK, BUTTER, MANJAR BLANCO, AVOCADOS, ETC. Immediately afterwards begins the path towards Antankallo!

What to Bring???

·         Verrry Important: WATER! Sneakers or boots adequate for mountain trekking (so you don’t fall), snacks or something to eat while walking, swimsuit in case you want to enter the waterfall and enjoy it even more, hat, sunglasses, light clothes, sunblock, and anything else you want!

·        What will you see on the Path???

o    Many amazing natural landscapes

o    Waterfalls among the hills

o    A hill in the shape of a Lion’s Head (very easy to recognize)

o    Rock Forest (very interesting, comes with a sudden change of landscape)

o    You will also pass through a Hanging Bridge

·         And you’ll find much more!!!

CHAYAPE : HUARIQUIÑA

SOME MORE…

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU GO TO CHAYAPE

How to get there???

·         There are two ways to arrive:

1)     Walking, you will need about 40 minutes from Matucana. Pass through the town of Huariquiña, over the train tracks (also an interesting trek), where you will see many natural landscapes. The walk is flat, so you won’t get too tired!!

 

2)     You can take a 15-minute car ride from Matucana to Huariquiña, and from there take the path to the train bridge. From the bridge it is a short walk down to the waterfall!

·         Duration of Trek            :           40 minutes

The route is simple and flat, and you can easily converse while trekking without a problem.

·         Type of Route   :           Trek, or half auto/half trek

What to Bring???

·         Very Important: Water! Sneakers are all that is needed for this simple trek, and you may want to bring along snacks and a bathing suit. Also a hat, sunglasses, light clothes, and sunblock are recommended. After those, bring anything else you wish!!

REMEMBER: DON’T LITTER!!! ONLY THROW TRASH IN THE DESIGNATED RECEPTICLES!! Show that you are educated, we don’t want to be wrong about you.

  What will you see on the path???

o    Many natural landscapes.

o    The train route.

o    The Comunidad Campesina of Huariquiña

o    And much more!!!

HUANCHACARA   :     COLLANA

BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL!!!

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU GO TO HUANCHACARA

How to get there??

·         There are two ways to arrive:

1)     Walking, you leave Matucana headed towards Puente (“Bridge”) Collana, which is 15 minutes down the Carretera Central (“Central Highway”) west (towards Chosica/Lima). The path at the end of the bridge leads up to Collana. It’s a GREAT option since you can spot many different natural landscapes and there is YET ANOTHER waterfall near the path! After arriving to Collana, the path to Huanchacara is all downhill.

 

2)     You can also take a car to the grifo (gas station) next to Puente Collana, about a 5 minute drive. From there it’s a 30 minute drive up the road to Collana. Then the path to Huanchacara is all downhill!

·         Duration of Trek            :           1 hr, 20 minutes (Walking)

The path from Puente Collana is steep, but really is worth it!!! It’s beautiful.

·         Type of Route   :           Trekking or half auto/half trekking

What to bring???

·        

REMEMBER: DON’T LITTER!!! ONLY THROW YOUR TRASH IN DESIGNATED RECEPTICLES!! We think you are educated, please don’t prove us wrong!

Verrrrry Important: Water! Sneakers will do the job, although hiking boots are best. You should also bring snacks, a hat, sunblock, sunglasses, and light clothes. You may also choose to bring a swimsuit!

What will you see on the path???

o    Many natural landscapres.

o    All types of native trees.

o    Native animals.

o    Natural groves where you can sit and rest.

o    And much more!!!

HUANCHACARA

It’s one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Matucana, coming out of its water source inside the mountain. It’s surrounded with myths and legends. Don’t be afraid to ask locals about these stories! Some of these stories will be posted on this blog soon enough!