In recent years, the Millpu pools have become one of the most sought-after destinations in the Ayacucho region, and it is not hard to understand why. Truly, those who get there find a landscape of waters that seems taken from another part of the world, hidden right in the mountains.
Likewise, the place is inside the farming community of Circamarca, in the Huancaraylla district, Victor Fajardo province, at 3,600 meters above sea level and about 125 kilometers from Huamanga. Thus, most travelers visit it as a day trip from the Ayacucho capital, which works as a perfect base to organize the departure.
Therefore, to arrive without complications, the most recommended option is to approach the formal tourism agencies in the Main Square of Huamanga. For no more than 75 soles per person, they offer packages that include round-trip transport and a guide, who, besides explaining the history of the place, is in charge of giving the necessary safety instructions to explore the terrain without problems. A small investment for an experience that is worth much more.
The Turquoise Waters of Millpu are in the southern highlands of Peru, within the department of Ayacucho. More specifically, in the rural community of Circamarca, district of Huancaraylla, province of Victor Fajardo.
Additionally, the canyon is located at about 3,600 meters above sea level and 125 kilometers south of Huamanga, the regional capital and the most convenient starting point to organize the visit.
Therefore, having this location clear is not just a geographical fact: it is useful information to plan the trip well. The altitude demands proper acclimatization, especially if you arrive from sea level, and the travel times from Huamanga must be calculated with extra time, especially in the second half of the year when the weather conditions in the area are more demanding.
From Lima, there are two options to get to Ayacucho. The fastest and most comfortable is the direct flight, which takes just 45 minutes to the Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendivil Duarte Airport. If you prefer the bus, there are night departures from interprovincial companies between 20:00 and 22:00 hours, with a journey of about 9 hours.
The trip to Millpu takes three and a half hours in a private vehicle, while in organized tours it takes an average of four hours. The attraction is located about 116 kilometers from the capital, Huamanga. Once there, there are 116 kilometers south to the pools. In a private vehicle, the journey takes about three and a half hours; in an organized tour with an agency, around four hours.
Almost 90% of the route is paved. The road follows the Ayacucho-Andahuaylas highway to the Toccto sector, continues toward the Cangallo province, and before reaching Huancapi-Fajardo, you must take a detour to the right to enter Huancaraylla.
Upon arriving in the district, the signs point the way along a dirt trail to the center of Circamarca, specifically to the Pataqocha sector, where you leave the vehicle. From there, it is about a 20-minute walk to the main viewpoint.
From above, you can see the complete canyon: 20 stepped pools with that turquoise color that comes from the concentration of minerals in the river and the way the Andean light hits the water. The best time to see them in all their glory is from May onwards, when the dry season begins.
An important rule: Since 2019, the Dircetur of Ayacucho bans entering the water. It is not allowed to swim in the pools. The measure exists to protect the ecosystem and preserve the natural colors of the place, and it must be respected.
The best time to see the pools in all their splendor is between May and August, when the water reaches that intense turquoise color that makes them famous. From September to December the tone turns to a duller green, as a result of the lower amount of rain in the mountain range.
Between January and mid-April the rainy season arrives, and the canyon changes completely: the water flow rises, access to the pools is closed and the water becomes cloudy. But there is something to see anyway: the waterfalls at their peak and the formation of the so-called "Devil's Throat", that natural dam that appears when the crack cannot cope with the volume of water coming down from the highlands.
Millpu has a mostly dry climate, with temperatures around 11°C and 14°C. The driest month is June, with barely 4 mm of accumulated rain. The rainiest is February, with an average of 167 mm. The average annual temperature in Huancaraylla is 11.9°C.
Since November 2018 it is forbidden to bathe in the pools. You can reach the shores and take photos, but entering the water is not allowed. The measure exists to protect the ecosystem and preserve the natural colors of the river.
The entrance fees, valid since April 2023, are the following:
The discovery of the Turquoise Waters of Millpu is officially attributed to Mr. Javier Huillcahuari Arotoma, recognized by resolution N° 075-2017-MDH/A of the District Municipality of Huancaraylla and the records of the Community of Circamarca.
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