La Merced combines city history with destinations in the surrounding area. Around the Plaza Principal de La Merced are the city’s main Catholic church, restaurants, accommodations and tourism agencies; the specific services available may change. On the main square, Chanchamayo Highland Coffee runs a cafeteria where you can buy and drink coffee. Check in advance whether it is open. The plaza and its surroundings provide a clear focal point for a visit to the city, while waterfalls and a viewpoint are other things to consider when planning your trip.
Plaza Principal: City history and design
The Plaza Principal is considered the first square laid out in the Selva Central. Its architecture is simple and harmonious; marble benches, gardens shaded by acacia trees and a variety of flowers shape its appearance. A bust of Colonel José Manuel Pereyra, considered the city’s founder, stands in the square. The city’s founding is dated to September 24, 1869. In this way, the plaza’s design connects it to a specific point in La Merced’s history.
Parque de la Integración and festival days
The Parque de la Integración, also called Parque Integración, was established in 1998 as a symbol of the integration of the Asháninka people and the settlers of this part of the Peruvian Amazon. An official report by the electricity provider Electrocentro, dated August 12, 2023, listed the park among the most visited attractions in La Merced District. It also described lighting intended to allow visitors and local residents to spend more time there safely. A travel article dated November 8, 2020, described the park as the city’s main event venue.
La Merced’s patron saint celebrations center on September 24. The program includes a solemn thanksgiving Mass in honor of the patron saint, Virgen de las Mercedes, and other events. The described festivities also include raising the national flag and the flag of Chanchamayo, a flag procession and a parade along Avenida Circunvalación Capello. The exact program may vary. If you plan to time your trip around the celebrations, check the latest dates and schedule in advance.
Destinations in the surrounding area
The route to Catarata La Borgoña leads from the Plaza de La Merced via Puente Kimiri and Camino Herradura; a short stretch of road then leads to the waterfall. The stated distances are 3.6 km to the bridge, 1.8 km to Camino Herradura and 700 m to the waterfall. Route details may change, so it is worth checking the route before setting out.
West of La Merced is Mirador Cruz de Chanchamayo. The cross is ten meters tall and was inaugurated on September 24, 1989. The viewpoint has a recreation area, a rest area, children’s play equipment, and food and drink vendors. Most of these facilities operate only during peak season; check which ones are currently available when planning your visit.
Pampa Michi is an Indigenous Asháninka community on the main road, about 26 minutes from La Merced. Actual travel time depends on road conditions. Catarata El Tirol is near San Ramón; a walking trail of about 30 minutes leads to it. Trail and visitor conditions may change. Check them before visiting, especially if the walk is a fixed part of your plans.
The El Reino del Machetero wildlife conservation center keeps 16 macheteros (Dinomys branickii), a species considered the second-largest rodent in South America, and has SERFOR certification, whose status may change. The number of animals and the certification status may change; if this information is important to your plans, check the current status.
For the broader travel overview: La Merced.
