Lomas de Lúcumo

The lomas are the coastal fog ecosystem of Peru and Chile: hills close enough to the sea that the winter garúa condenses on them, supporting plant growth on ground that gets no rain. Lúcumo, above the village of Quebrada Verde in Pachacámac district, is the most accessible example from Lima - an hour's drive from the city, with a marked trail network of several kilometres run by the community, who charge entry, provide guides and maintain the paths. From roughly July to October the hills turn green with grasses, flowers, tara trees, tillandsia and cacti; outside those months they are brown and bare. Along the trails are rock formations, viewpoints over the Lurín valley and petroglyphs. The community management is the substantive part - the association was formed to protect the lomas from land invasion and quarrying, both of which have destroyed comparable sites around Lima.

The landscape

• The seasonal green - hills covered in growth on fog alone, July to October.
• The community trails - several kilometres of marked paths, locally maintained.
• The petroglyphs - rock carvings along the routes.
• The valley views - over the Lurín valley toward the coast.

When to go

July to October, during the fog season - outside it the hills are bare and there is little to see. Weekends are busiest with Lima visitors.

What to expect

Entirely seasonal; a summer visit finds brown hills. The fog that makes it green also means poor visibility and damp cold. The trails climb and are steep in places. Community fee in cash.

Nearby

Pachacámac, the great pre-Hispanic sanctuary, is close; Lima is north.

Key facts