Jauja is a historic city in the central highlands of Peru, in the Junín region of South America. It is known as Peru's first capital during the colonial period, and that past shapes much of what a visitor encounters today. The city is also valued for its pleasant climate and its cultural heritage.
What a visit offers
- A stroll through a city with a colonial-era past, where the historic centre is the natural place to begin.
- A chance to experience the mild climate of the central highlands, which many travellers find agreeable.
- An introduction to the cultural traditions of the Junín area, rooted in its long history.
Planning your trip
Jauja suits visitors interested in history and in unhurried travel rather than large-scale attractions. Because it is a city in its own right, it works well as a base or a stop for those exploring the wider region of Junín, in the Peruvian Andes. Visitors who enjoy seeing how a place with a former capital's history has kept its character will find it rewarding.
If you are considering a visit, plan your time around the historic centre and the surrounding landscape, and allow for a slower pace than in Peru's larger cities.
