The Top 7 Things to See and Do in Lunahuaná, Peru

River running is the main attraction that drives people to Lunahuaná. Ask any outdoorsman in Peru and they’ll invariably recommend Lunahuaná, especially considering its proximity to Lima, making it only a day trip away. During the winter months (June, July and August) the river is relativaeely calm when compared to the swelled river you’ll find during the summer months (December, January and February). You’ll find a spot for whatever you want to do, even for the most experienced river runners.

Like a lot of the areas south of Lima, you’ll find an abundance of wineries specializing in both wine and pisco, Peru’s national drink. Lunahuaná has both options for you. At bodega Santa Maria, you can do tours of their property and then, of course, a tasting.

In the pueblito Catapalla, just outside of Lunahuaná, there is one of the regions oldest wineries called La Reyna de Lunahuaná. Here, too, you’ll get a tour of the grounds and be able to participate in a tasting of pisco and their artisanal wine. Just remember that Peruvian wine is very sweet, so make sure to specify what type of wines you like. They might be able to find something that suits your taste buds.

Along the south coast you’ll find plenty of ruins, but unfortunately for the most part they are almost entirely destroyed, like the ruins you’ll find in Cerro Azul. However, Incahuasi is one of the rare finds that is still largely intact. The site is a military base of the Inca king Túpac Yupanqui. The ruins date back to the 15th century and are located on the outskirts of town. Taxis to the site are the easiest option.

These lines are some of the longest in all of Peru and traverse over Rio Cañete. The five full lines cost around 100 soles (US$30) and covers over 2,500 meters. If you’re looking to get your adrenaline going again after river running, these lines are your best bet to accomplish that.

Lunahuaná is full of activities for lovers of the outdoors and repelling a cliff side certainly qualifies. You’ll drop down the face of a cliff side and slowly descend, as you stare at the ground below getting increasingly larger.

Bike rides through the town and the surrounding area is a perfect way to see all that the town has to offer. You can ride through the plaza and check out all the buildings as you make your way to the Inca ruin, saving you some money on the price of a taxi. You can rent bikes in town from agencies for around 20 soles (US$6) an hour. You can always bargain, as fixed prices aren’t always the norm.