Roaming South America

Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Perú

July 28, 2025

Pedro Ruiz Gallo sits in north-central Perú, tucked in the mountains between Cajamarca and the Ecuadorian border. With a population somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000, it’s a small town, for sure. There is one bank here, and two bank agencies, and one ATM. The town offers several hotels and hostels, plenty of restaurants, and a wide mix of small businesses where you can find just about anything you need. At 1,313 meters (4,307 feet) in elevation, the climate is quite pleasant, and the steep mountains surrounding the valley give rise to some truly spectacular waterfalls. The town has not typical town center. PRG sprang up at the intersection of two highways.

The area around town offers quite a few worthwhile places to visit, including:

-Catarata Corontachaqa: An 80 m waterfall about 5 km (10 minutes) from town, located along the highway. Warm, sulfurous springs nearby bubble at 25 °C (77 °F).

-Lagunas Pacaymonte: Two small green-water lagoons near the village of Cuchulia (~1 km away), at about 1,470–1,490 m elevation. Carp and kingfishers are common here.

-Other attractions: Tambo Viejo waterfall, Cerro Golorque sanctuary, ancient rock art in San Jerónimo and Chumoc, and sarcophagi at El Tigre.

-Yumbilla Falls: Just 9 km from town, this 895 m (2,936 ft) cascade is one of the tallest in the world and part of the "Ruta de las Cataratas."

Pedro Ruiz Gallo also acts as a regional hub. Buses, colectivos (shared taxis), and mototaxis (those noisy, smoke-belching three-wheelers) crisscross both sides of the Andes from here. The town feels livelier than others its size, probably because it sits at the junction of two major highways.

I arrived early afternoon and stayed just one night—my days in Perú are numbered, thanks to the nearing end of my entry stamp—so I stayed close to town. I did manage to walk out to La Represa, a park at the very east end of town. The main trailhead is just off Hwy 5N, on the road to Cuispes. The trail winds through the forest to what looks like a former dam, then continues until it eventually ends at a locked gate marked private property. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of great spots to cool off in the cold, clear stream. A log footbridge crosses the water, leading to a dirt road, which connects to another, and eventually a paved road that brings you back into town. You’ll pass the cathedral on your way back.

Aside from La Represa, I only found one park in town—and oddly, no central plaza. This isn’t a place I’d go out of my way to visit, but it’s a perfectly good base for exploring the region’s waterfalls and nearby mountain trails. If you’re headed between the Andes and the jungle, this makes a decent overnight stop.