Roaming South America

Tingo María, Perú

July 10, 2025

Tucked in the heart of Perú's Selva Central, Tingo María is where the Andes exhale, and the Amazon begins. This lively town, capital of Leoncio Prado Province in the Huánuco region, was officially founded in 1938 as part of a government colonization effort. Thanks to its strategic location along the Huallaga River and the central highway, it quickly grew into a hub of agricultural trade. Today, it has a population of around 46,000 and serves as a vibrant crossroads between jungle and highland.

Pozuzo and Codo del Pozuzo, Perú

July 7, 2025

Pozuzo and Codo del Pozuzo are both located on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains in central Per?. After my visit to Huancabamba I went to Pozuzo. Pozuzo is a very nice town, apparently more on the high-middle class level, as was Huancabamba. But, the big difference here is the people - they do not say 'buenos dias' or 'buenas tardes' etc. When I say those the few that respond give little more than a mumble. The town itself is pretty, the plaza, the valley around. I like it here, it's just the people - they are not as friendly as the previous couple of towns.

Huancabamba, Perú

July 3, 2025

Huancabamba is a tiny town and district of Oxapampa Province. This mountain town sits at around 1,666 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains with orchids scattered all throughout and the crystal-clear waters of the Huancabamba River.

With just around 1,000 inhabitants, it's only about five blocks square, compact, peaceful, and refreshingly unpretentious in a region better known for bigger stops like Oxapampa or Pozuzo.

There's not a lot to the town, obviously, considering its tiny size, but they do have a nice central plaza. It's a simple, quiet main square with a gazebo and a replica of a sailing ship, and lots of shade trees and benches.

Villa Rica, Perú

July 2, 2025

Almost hidden off the main highway, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, Villa Rica sits at1,460 meters above sea level in the Oxapampa Province of the Pasco department in central Perú. ItsWikipedia entry outlines the essentials - founding in 1925 by German immigrants, it gained its status for its coffee,and 2017's 18,763 population - it doesn't capture the texture of daily life, cultural collisions, or why this placestays in your mind long after you've left.

We know the Franciscan mission at Cerro de la Sal began in 1635 and faced rebellion under JuanSantos Atahualpa in the 1740s, it's less known how local Yánesha communities bypassed Spanish control for morethan a century afterward.

San Martín de Pangoa, Perú

June 28, 2025

I'm in San Martín de Pangoa, Perú. This is a town in "La Selva Central" region - the central part of Perú on the Amazon side of the Andes Mtns. I hiked from Mazamari to Pangoa, it took 3 hours and 22 minutes, hotel to hotel. That was with my backpack of about 17 kilos (37 pounds), and two stops for snacks and drinks. My backpack isn't so heavy because I am not carrying camping gear, I stay in hotels/hostels/residencias/hospedajes. In South America those are all basically the same, the only real difference is in the cost per night. Residendencias and hospedajes are the least expensive, and most basic. But today I got a room for 30 Soles (less than US$10) per night and it has a queen-size bed, nightstand, desk/chair, 40" TV. I've had hotel rooms with less for more money. This place is called Hostal El Encanto de la Selva, it's one black from the main plaza.