Geological Wonders – The stone forest of Huayllay
At first glance, the Stone Forest of Huayllay looks a bit artificial, like Stonehenge’s peruvian cousin. But these strange formations arose naturally, the result of thousands of years of natural erosion. Wind, water and ancient glaciers contributed to this unique landscape.
The locals call it “Bosque de Piedras” – a forest of stone. Travel to the Pasco region to hike (or climb) through these natural formations. The area of the Stony Forest covers approximately 16,815 hectares and is located at an altitude of 4,310 meters above sea level.
The rock formations date back to the beginning of the Cenozoic. Although they are stable, some of the stones have a very precarious appearance. Huge boulders were cut into small columns. Other stones are in the shape of a bow. These large, oddly shaped rocks are a popular destination for climbers. It is challenging terrain, and climbers need to adjust to the altitude before trying to climb the rocks.
They were initially formed when volcanic activity deposited layers of volcanic ash or ignimbrite on the landscape, forming a plateau on layers of sandstone, limestone and conglomerate. The ignimbrite is a very porous rock, so it is particularly susceptible to erosion. In the recent ice age, about 20,000 years ago, the processes of freezing, thawing and re-freezing snow on the plateau caused meltwater to penetrate and enlarge the cracks in the rock. This eventually led to large parts of the rock crumbling away leaving behind the deeply eroded formations that make up the Bosque de Piedras today.
Where is the stone forest of Huayllay?
The Huayllay Stone Forest is located in the Huayllay district, Pasco province and department. It is located 40 kilometers from the province of Cerro de Pasco, which is located in the highest level of Peru: the Plateau del Bombón at 4,310 meters above sea level. It is protected by the establishment of the National Shrine of Huayllay.How do you come from Lima to the Huayllay Stone Forest?
To get there, there are three options from Lima, ranging from conventional driving to backpacking.
1st possibility: Lima – Cerro de Pasco – Huayllay
By car or bus from Lima to Cerro de Pasco on the main road. The journey takes about seven hours. If you go by bus at 21.45, you are almost in the city at dawn. From Cerro de Pasco you can take a shared taxi to Huayllay, which takes half an hour to drive.
2nd possibility: Lima – Huaral – Huayllay
One of the ways to reach Huayllay from Lima is to travel from Terrapuerto de Plaza Norte or from Acho via the Panamericana Nord to Huaral. At the petrol station in Pinasco, the coasters or minivans climb up to 4,600 meters above sea level and then descend to Huayllay. Please be prepared to protect yourself with altitude sickness medication and, if necessary, use earplugs to prevent the height from affecting you.
3rd possibility: Lima – Canta – Huayllay
Another backpacker trail leads from Lima to Canta on the Panamericana Nord, which leads through the Cordillera de la Viuda to Huayllay. The entire journey takes about 9 hours.
What can you do and see in the Stone Forest of Huayllay?
There are eleven well-marked routes available, the simplest of which may take three to four hours. You can see curious shapes, fauna, cave paintings and archaeological remains. The Stone Forest has so many attractions that visitors can stay for many days and always do something different. Just looking at the different figures takes a long time. Surrounded by more than 4,000 rock formations between volcanic rock and sediments, the feeling of always being accompanied from all sides arises.