Huancabamba and Las Huaringas

The Huancabamba province reaches into the department's southeastern highlands, between 1,930 and 3,957 m above sea level in the Piuran Andean páramo.

The glacial lagoons of Las Huaringas, including Shimbe and Negra, are the stage for South America's largest complex of traditional ethnomedicine and healing: the region's master healers lead ancestral cleansing and healing rites that draw pilgrims and travellers from across the continent, in a living tradition blending Andean heritage and plant knowledge.

The páramo surroundings offer highland hikes among lagoons, frailejón plants and misty landscapes, with rich high-Andean birdlife. The city of Huancabamba serves as the service base for excursions to the lagoons, which require a local guide, warm clothing and acclimatisation to the altitude.

The climate is cold highland weather with seasonal rains; the dry season offers the most accessible trails and clear skies.