Lunahuaná

Lunahuaná sits at about 480 metres in the Cañete valley, above the coastal cloud that covers Lima for half the year, which is the main reason Limeños drive out for weekends. The Cañete river runs through it, and rafting operates on grades that vary sharply with the season - fast and demanding from December to April when the water is high, gentle and family-oriented the rest of the year - alongside zip lines, quad bikes and canoeing. The valley grows grapes, and small bodegas along the road make pisco and wine, offering tastings and selling directly; the harvest festival in March brings crowds. There are Inca remains at Incahuasi up the valley. Weekends are busy with Lima traffic; weekdays are quiet enough that some places do not open. It is a straightforward, unpretentious weekend valley rather than a destination in itself.

History

The first settlers arrived between 6000 and 2000 BC, and the Guarco people later held the valley; the Inca campaigns against them took three to four years because of the wild Cañete River, and the ruins of the Inka Wasi fortress still stand. Lunahuaná was officially founded in 1821 as a market town by José de San Martín (Wikipedia, Lunahuaná).

What to look for

• The rafting - Cañete river runs from demanding in high water to gentle in low.
• The bodegas - small producers along the valley making pisco and wine.
• The sun - a valley above the cloud that covers Lima from June to October.
• The activities - zip lines, quads and canoeing alongside the river.

When to go

December to April for serious rafting and for the March harvest festival; year-round for sun. A day trip or a weekend. Weekdays are quiet.

What to expect

Rafting grades drop sharply outside the wet months - check what you are actually booking. Weekend traffic from Lima is heavy and prices rise. Safety standards among operators vary; check equipment and guides. Quiet midweek, with places closed.

Nearby

Incahuasi is up the valley; Cañete and the coast are west.

Key facts