Source: Wikimedia Commons
There is a corner of Peru where it seems that time has stopped. A hidden place on Ande with a succession of natural pools with turquoise waters that dazzle. It's lagoon of Millpu, near Ayacucho, about twenty small jumps hidden between very high cliffs and dense vegetation.
They can be reached by taking a short trek in the middle of nature starting from the village of Circamarca, among waterfalls and other natural pools. It's not difficult, but because of the altitude – it reaches up to 3.500 meters – where you find yourself can still be tiring.
The population of this area, mainly farmers who speak only the Quechua language, have kept this secret for centuries and only for a couple of years have they allowed visitors to enter the forest and reach the lagoons. To enter the path you need to pay an entrance ticket
in icy waters of the lagoon of course you can dive. Being of glacial origin they are decidedly regenerating. Most tourists simply admire this spectacle of nature. The best time to visit the lagoons is in the dry season from April to November.
“Millpu” in Quechua means “to swallow” and, according to a local legend, the rugged rock formations and cold waters represent the devil's throat. Which is why the swimming pools have never been frequented by the local population and have remained intact and unexplored.
Although visitors are arriving in ever greater numbers, the altitude and distance of this remote place make the lagoon still a virgin corner.
The Ayacucho region, almost four hours from Lima, the capital, has a lot to offer tourists from a naturalistic point of view. The city itself is a destination. It is located at 2.700 meters above sea level, but is characterized by a mild climate all year round.
For those who love beautiful landscapes, the Millpu lagoons will not disappoint at all. On the contrary, they will leave breathless.
