Matucana, Peru

Matucana is a town in the central Andes of Peru, the capital of Matucana District in Huarochiri Province, in the Department of Lima. It sits east of the national capital at about 2,378 metres above sea level, beside the Central Highway at kilometre 74, on the route that climbs from the coast toward the high passes. The town was founded in 1647 by Miguel de Castro y Garcia, a descendant of one of Francisco Pizarro's conquistadores, who found gold in the hills above it at a place that had been an Inca shrine; a huge avalanche set off by the Santa Ursula earthquake of 21 October 1756 later buried the mine. Matucana has a semi-arid climate with mild temperatures and almost no rain from May to September. Today it is known to visitors for its waterfalls, hiking trails and a yearly bicycle race to Lima.