San Ramón & La Merced

San Ramón is 295km east of Lima, and La Merced is 11km further along. Chanchamayo’s two key settlements are quite likable in a languid sort of way. Resistance to colonists by the local Asháninka people meant that these towns were not founded until the 19th century. Today they are popular Peruvian holiday destinations, good for cooling off with many swimming pools and natural swimming holes in the vicinity, and great bases for exploring the luxuriant countryside nearby. The lush surrounds are characterized by photogenic forested hills and waterfalls that tumble into the Río Chanchamayo valley.