The Chanchamayo Valley

View over the Chanchamayo Valley, with San Ramón in the background
and the Chanchamayo river in front. Image © Antonio Bonora

The Chanchamayo Valley is a beautiful jungle area in the department of Junín. It is situated 300 km east of Lima and is only one day driving from Lima. During that spectacular journey you will see all natural regions of Peru in just one day: Costa, Sierra and Selva; from the dry deserts outside Lima to high snowcapped mountains and crystal clear mountain lakes, sleepy Andean towns, through tropical cloudforests until you reach the edge of the Amazon basin: Chanchamayo.

The cloudforest of Pampa Hermosa. Image © Antonio Bonora

There are two important cities in this region, San Ramón and La Merced. The Chanchamayo region is also called La Selva Central, central jungle. It is an important fruit and coffee producing area. The Chanchamayo region is situated in the eastern, jungle-covered foothills of the Andes. It is an area of exceptional natual beauty.