Explore Huaral

1 The castle of Chancay

At 73 kilometers from Lima is the castle of Chancay, a magical place with medieval theme and beautiful landscapes to the sea. The entrance fee is 25 Peruvian soles.

The castle of Chancay

The province of Huaral

Huaral is the closest province to the north with the city of Lima. It also limits to the south with the province of Canta, to the east with the provinces of Pasco and the province of Yauli, to the west with the Pacific Ocean and to the north with the province of Huaura.

It has twelve districts: High Stage, Low Stage, Aucallama, Chancay, Huaral, Ihuarí, Lampian, Pacaraos, Santa Cruz de Andamarca, Sumbilca, San Miguel de Acos and Twenty-seven of November. The city of Huaral is the capital of the province.

The province is famous for its fruit production, especially the orange harvested at the Huando farm (today a famous tourist attraction in the area). Other of its most visited destinations are the Castle of Chancay and the archaeological site of Rúpac. The latter is known as the Lima Machu Picchu.

Your location

The province of Huaral is located on the central coast of Peru, 75 kilometers by road from the city of Lima.

Geographically it is close to the Pacific Ocean. Its territory of 3,655 square kilometers covers the coastal hills as well as the first Andean foothills. According to the 2012 census, it has 182,409 inhabitants.

The city of Huaral is its capital, which is only 177 meters above sea level..

How to get there?

To get to the city of Huaral from the city of Lima you must follow the following steps:

• From any part of the city of Lima you must take a bus or collective taxi to the bus terminal of Plaza Norte.
• In Plaza Norte you must board one of the buses that go to the city of Huaral. The cost of the trip is approximately 10 Peruvian soles.

History

The history of the province of Huaral goes back even before the Christian era, since the Chancay valley was inhabited by tribes of hunters and gatherers belonging to the lithic era. The culture that achieved the greatest cultural development in the place were the Chimús (1,000 AD – 1,470 AD).

The valley was also inhabited by the important Chancay culture (1,200 AD -1450 AD) who were annexed to the Inca empire. The name ‘Chancay’ is due to the fact that the Incas transferred a group of settlers from the Chanca culture to this territory.

During the colonial era, the town of Huaral was founded on March 21, 1551. In 1562, the town of Arnedo, the current city of Chancay, was founded. Hundreds of local inhabitants worked these lands considered beneficial for the Viceroyalty of Peru.

After the Independence of Peru in 1821, the province of Chancay was created. In the early years of the Republican era, this valley continued to be used for its fertile lands. Then the lands were administered by important landowners.

In the first years of the 20th century, the Chancay valley saw a boom due to the production of cotton. By then there was already an important Andean, Japanese and Chinese population that worked those lands.

In 1957 the province of Huaral was created, which included the valley and the town of Chancay. In 1988 the province of Huaura was created to replace the former province of Chancay.

In 1973, the agrarian reform undertaken by President Velasco Alvarado brought with it the fall of the landowners in said jurisdiction.

Its main tourist attractions

These are the main tourist attractions of Huaral:

• Huando Farm – This old hacienda is located only 8 kilometers from the city of Huaral. Until before the Peruvian agrarian reform (1973), it was part of the extensive properties of the Graña family. It covered an area of 1,479 hectares and was known for its orange cultivation. There are still small buildings such as the Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción Chapel today.
• Chancay Castle – This modern construction was designed following a medieval theme. The idea was taken by Consuelo Amat y León, the great-granddaughter of Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Juniet. It currently offers ten themed rooms on three levels where a replica of a ship overlooking the sea stands out. It is in the town of Chancay.
• Archaeological site of Rúpac – This archaeological complex was part of the Atavillos culture. It stands out for its towers (up to 15 meters), viewpoints, patios, warehouses, stairs and enclosures made of stone in a rustic way. Due to this characteristic it is compared to Machu Picchu. Rúpac is located in the highlands of Huaral. To get there, in addition to the trip by car, you must hike 6 kilometers.

Climate

The province of Huaral has a climate that varies according to the region and, mainly, the altitude at which it is located.

The city of Huaral is almost at sea level (177 meters above sea level). It has a pleasant climate that during the day can reach 27ºC. while at night it can drop to 16ºC.

The sun is present almost all year round. The cloudiest months are from May to August. The perfect months to enjoy the sun and beaches are January, February and March.

More information

The feast in honor of San Juan Bautista is the most important of Huaral. This celebration takes place on June 24 (central day).

During your visit to Huaral do not forget to buy fruit, especially its delicious tangerines and oranges. The main economic activity of the region is the production of fruit, cotton and sugar cane.

Among the main archaeological findings in Huaral are: Shicras, Pisquillo Chico, San Jacinto, Chiprac and the archaeological complex of Yaros. It also offers beautiful beaches such as: Chancayllo, Acapulco, La Viña, Chacra y Mar, Río Seco and Puerto Chancay.