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Experience Jauja

Jauja at a glance

HOW TO REACH JAUJA
Access
Jauja is one of the nine provinces of the Junin Region and is divided into twenty-four districts.

The capital city with the same name is located 252 km from Lima, the capital of Peru. The access roads, which are all paved and in very good condition, are: Lima-Jauja, 252 km. Huancayo-Jauja, 45 km. Tarma Jauja, 56 km.

Geographical Location
The city of Jauja is 3,410 meters above sea level, with a latitude south of 11°46'31” and a longitude west 75°30'00”. It offers a series of ecological zones, from the snowcapped mountains, which go up to 5,750 meters above sea level, to the jungle. These characteristics make Jauja a great tourist area in which visitors can enjoy the beauty of the temperate Mantaro Valley, the tropical areas of Ricran and Monobamba, and the snowcapped mountains of Pariacaca and Tunsho.

Jauja is one of the few cities in Peru with more history than the others, dating thousands of years. In fact, the cultural origin of Jauja is one of the most ancient of the Central Region of Peru, influencing the rest of the region. According to recent archeological studies, Jauja was also the center of the first organized agricultural and artisan-ceramic society, established around 800 BC in Ataura Pata, now known as San Juan Pata.

The most important pre-Columbian stage in the history of Jauja belongs to the ethnic groups of the Xauxas and Huancas. The former group established itself in the extreme north of the valley, which includes Yanamarca, while the latter settled in the southern regions. Both groups are usually merged in archeological literature because of the similarities in their culture and ceramics, as well as the circular stone structure of their houses, typically located at the top of mountains and in high areas of the valley.

The arrival of the Incas to the valley interrupted the regional development of the area by Xauxas, now reflected in the ruins of Tunanmarca, Huajlasmarca, and Pueblo Viejo. The establishment of the Incan administrative center of Hatun Xauxa, approximately in 1460 AD, is one of the most transcendental facts in the history of the Central Region of Peru. According to historians, it was the most important administrative center and second only after Cuzco, which was predominantly used for warehousing. The large number of “Colcas,” or food warehouses, seen today around Jauja and in neighboring areas, is proof of the importance of the valley for the Incan Empire, a fertile area for agriculture and livestock.

Spanish historians emphasize the wealth of gold and silver in Hatún Xauxa. This may explain why Huayna Capac, one of the last Incan Emperors, received special attention for building a palace with a garden made of golden plants and statues, resembling the famous garden of Coricancha in Cuzco. When Spaniards arrived to the valley in 1533 AD, they liked the palace and garden so much that they established a city around it in October of the same year. The establishment of the city was completed in April 25, 1534, and subsequently named the “very noble city of Jauja.” It was the second city founded by the Spaniards in the “Nueva Castilla,” and established as the capital of the government. All the documents recognizing Jauja as the first capital of Peru are located in the General Indies Archives in Seville, Spain.

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