What to Bring
- Warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Flashlight
- Warm outerwear for night time
- Toilet paper
- Pocket knife with can and bottle opener
- Fruit (makes a good gift for visits, and hard to get locally)
- Longjohns and/or warm pajamas
- Towel and bathing suit (if you visit Huancahuasi hot springs)
Language
Rapacinos speak Spanish and Quechua. Don’t expect to find anyone who knows foreign languages. If you’re weak in Spanish, travel with someone who knows it.
Public Transportation
It’s possible to reach Rapaz from Lima in one day, but it’s a somewhat tiring trip.
First leg
Bus to Churín. Several buses leave for Churín daily from the 100 block of Avda. Carlos Zavala in downtown Lima. Take an early departure such as 6:00 or 6:30 AM. Seats can be reserved by phone. The firms that make this run are Estrella Polar (telephones 426-0329, 426-5490, 332-8924), Beteta Junior, Espadín, and Apóstol Santiago. Fares are around 15 soles. Be sure to watch your gear carefully as bus depots attract thieves. The bus stops for a late breakfast in Sayán.
Second leg
This leg varies depending on the days of the week in which you travel:
If you travel on Saturday or Tuesday, you can get off the bus at Puente Tingo, a junction just before Churín. Ask the driver to call the stop. There you´ll find vans (combis) that go up to the Checras Valley villages. Ask for the one to Rapaz. They wait to pick up passengers from Lima until about noon or 1:00 PM. (That’s why you need an early bus.) You’ll arrive in the late afternoon.
If you travel any other day, you need to go to Churín and look for a taxi to Rapaz. Churín has a lot of taxis but not all of the drivers like this route because it’s long and hard on the cars. Ask around. A correct fare is in the range of 80 to 100 soles. Taxis are only slightly faster than vans.
Lodging
Rapaz doesn’t have a hotel. The Community maintains a couple of bare rooms for travelers, called the “hostal.” Bedding and furniture may be scarce or absent. A good sleeping bag and a pad help. When you arrive, ask for the treasurer (tesorero) of the community, who keeps the key. Before dark be sure to have someone show you where the community latrine is.
If you have time to make a multi-day trip, the community hostal in Huancahuasi is recommended. Huancahuasi is the last village before Rapaz. Its hostal is modern and well-maintained, with furniture, blankets, running water, lights, and a lovely view of the Checras valley.
Food
The Community maintains a comedor or public dining room. The designated cook varies. When you arrive, ask who is in charge and arrange for your meals. It’s a good idea to have basic supplies of your own. Some foodstuffs can be bought at part-time stores: soda pop (but not usually mineral water), eggs, tuna, noodles, a few vegetables, crackers, sometimes bread.
Along the Way
The road to Rapaz goes through Chiuchín, where there are couple of very good rustic restaurants; ask where you can get the local specialties such as fresh trout, roast lamb, or pachamanca (earth-cooked meat and potatoes).
The village of Picoy has a lovely and peculiar church. It is baroque in miniature, with toy-like charm.
The village of Huancahuasi is notable for its splendid public hot springs. There are two comfortable, modern bath houses. Just the thing for feet worn out from Andean hiking.