Created in 2001, Nor Yauyos - Cochas Landscape Reserve is a stunning protected area to be found in the Andes Mountains, 145 km (90 miles) east of the city of Lima, within the Departments of Junin and Lima.

The Reserve covers 221,268 ha (546,765 acre), with a height range from 2,500m (8,202 ft) to 5,700m (18,700 ft) above sea level.

The reserve protects the headwaters of two rivers: the Cañete, which flows 215km (134 miles) into the Pacific Ocean; and the Cochas-Pachacayo, which flows into the Mantaro River … and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean, via the Amazon!

As these waterways make their way downhill, they form the numerous waterfalls, cataracts and mirror-like lagoons for which Nor Yauyos’ landscape is renowned.

Like so many of Peru’s national parks, the size and changes of elevation result in a mind-boggling variety of eco-systems, including glaciers, cloud forest and tundra.

This in turn leads to a high level of biodiversity, with a number of Andean and regionally endemic species of fauna to be found in the Reserve, such as the Andean goose (Chloephaga melanoptera), condor (Vultur Gryphus), Andean fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), puma (Felis concolor), Pampas cat (Felis colocolo), Andean cat (Felis jacobita), alpaca (Lama glama pacos), llama (Lama glama), and vicuña (Vicugna vicugna).

Human habitation can be traced back to Inca times and beyond, with a number of archaeological ruins, including elements of the Qhapaq Ñan - the system of Inca trails that criss-crossed their empire - that are still in use today.

Meanwhile, many of the modern-day inhabitants of Nor Yauyos-Cochas continue to live an agrarian lifestyle, with plenty of ties to the past, such as in the speaking of Quechua and the continued use of ancient terracing for the raising of crops.

The main hub of the Reserve is Huancaya, a quaint town with Colonial remnants, from where the highlights of the Cañete River basin, such as the beautiful Cabracancha and Bosque de Amor (Forest of Love) Waterfalls, or Lake Papacocha, can be visited.

Another tourism hub is the picturesque village of Laraos, with its Inca terracing, nearby Lake Cochapampa, and Sima Pumaqucha, a huge limestone cave that is one of the deepest in South America.

How to visit Nor Yauyos-Cochas Reserve:

Despite its relative proximity to Lima, it is still at least a 6-hour drive in private vehicle, down the coast and then inland, following the Cañete River past Lunahuana.

There are currently no direct buses that go from Lima to Huancaya, but you can take one of the many buses that go down the PanAmerican Highway to the town of Cañete, and from here there are minibuses that go inland.

It is precisely this difficulty of access that makes Nor Yauyos-Cochas Reserve such an undiscovered gem … and why PeruNorth offers a 3-day Nor Yauyos itinerary, using four-wheel-drive vehicles to take you to, from and around the Reserve.

It is also possible to access the eastern side of the Reserve from Huancayo, in Junin. And this is the start and end point of our sensational Nor Yauyos treks, which go into truly remote areas to enjoy the landscapes of two sacred mountains, Pariacaca and Ticlla.