In recent years, the turquoise waters of Millpu have become one of the main tourist attractions in the Ayacucho region. Many who visited were fascinated by the captivating scenic beauty that this destination offers.
The Turquoise Waters Millpu, is a tourist destination located in the peasant community of Circamarca, Huancaraylla District, Víctor Fajardo Province of the Department of Ayacucho – Peru. Located at 3600 meters above sea level and approximately 125 km from the city of Huamanga.
Tourists who come to the city of Huamanga, for the most part, take advantage of the opportunity to visit the turquoise waters of Millpu, located in the district of Huancaraylla, in the province of Víctor Fajardo.
Given this, it is important to take into account some recommendations, to have a good experience and not have complications.
The ideal is to go to the different formal tourism agencies that are located in the Plaza Mayor of the city of Huamanga and that offer the visitor a complete tourist package for an amount that should not exceed 75 soles per person.
You will have a guide available, who will be in charge of explaining the entire history of said attraction, at the same time giving you some guidelines in order to avoid possible accidents.
Millpu comes from a Quechua word “Millpuy” which means to swallow or devour. Whose name is attributed to him because about 300 meters from “Ñahuin” (the eye where the river is born), there is an underground crack where the river disappears, giving the sensation that the earth would swallow it, and then appear in ñahuin.
Some also know it as the devil's throat since in the rainy season an immense natural dam forms because the crack is too small for the amount of water that comes from the rains in the punas.
Turquoise Waters is the name given to the cascade of natural pools found along the canyon, which have an intense turquoise color between the months of May and August, due to the mineral component of the rocks found at the base of the canyon. river, make it turn turquoise with the reflection of the radiant sun.
The main source of the Turquoise Waters of Millpu are the springs or puquios that are called “Pichqa-puquio”, translated into Spanish it would be “five springs”. Indeed, 1.3 km uphill from Ñahuin we find these puquiales that leak a considerable amount of water all the time.
By flight to Ayacucho it only takes 45 minutes from Lima. (Recommendable). Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendívil Duarte Airport (IATA:AYP, ICAO:SPHO)
By Interprovincial Bus from 8:00 p.m. and the last bus leaving at 10:00 p.m. It takes approximately 9 hours to travel to Ayacucho.
Once in Ayacucho, another 3.5 hours of travel to the south of Ayacucho await you. Normally with a tourism agency, failing which land terminal in the southern area.
The trip to Millpu is 3 and a half hours by private vehicle, while on tours it is an average of 4 hours; The attraction is located approximately 116 kilometers from the capital of Huamanga.
Almost 90% of the road is paved, in which the driver uses the Ayacucho-Andahuaylas route until reaching the Toccto sector, then continues his journey towards the province of Cangallo; and before arriving at Huancapi-Fajardo there is a turn to the right that leads to Huancaraylla.
Upon reaching the aforementioned district there are directional signs that lead to the turquoise waters, to do so the tourist will have to go through a motorable trail to the town center of Circamarca, exactly at the whereabouts of Pataqocha, the area where all the transport units are parked.
The person will have to walk about 20 minutes on foot until they reach the main viewpoint from where they can contemplate the panoramic view of the entire canyon with turquoise waters.
This attraction has a total of 20 turquoise pools that originate due to sunlight and the minerals carried by the river. Starting in May is the best season to visit.
Since 2019, the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Ayacucho (Dircetur) prohibited tourists from entering the pools to bathe, as they harm the preservation of their natural colors.
It is worth pointing out that in the same town of Circamarca there are several restaurants or food outlets. The cheapest is the fried trout with its native potatoes and rice, whose price is 15 soles.
They also serve hotels or lodgings that charge a minimum of 40 soles per night, depending on the comfort desired by the user or visitor.
It is known that the tour offered by the companies is also to visit other attractions that are found along the way.
The perfect season to appreciate the turquoise color of Millpu is from May to August of each year, between the months of September to December it becomes slightly greenish because there is little rainfall. Between January and mid-April is the high rainy season. Therefore, the canyon of turquoise waters will be very full and murky, forming a beautiful panorama to appreciate the immense Millpu waterfalls. Likewise, you can see the immense natural dam that is formed in Millpu or Devil's Throat.
The climate in Millpu is dry with average temperatures between 11 and 14°C.
Summers are much rainier than winters. The climate here is classified as Cwb by the Köppen-Geiger system. The average annual temperature in Huancaraylla is 11.9 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 747 mm.
The driest month is June, with 4 mm of rain. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in February, with an average of 167 mm.
As of November 2018, bathing in the Turquoise Waters of Millpu is prohibited. Entry into the water is no longer allowed to preserve the turquoise color of the river. They will only be able to reach the shores to take photographs.
Mr. Javier Huillcahuari Arotoma is attributed as the discoverer of the Millpu Turquoise Waters, as detailed in resolution No. 075-2017-MDH/A granted by the District Municipality of Huancaraylla. Likewise, the document delivered by the Community of Circamarca.
Since April 2023, the Adult ticket is S/10.00, children S/5.00 and foreigners S/15.00.
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu entrance tickets in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
