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Cataratas de Hornillos is one of our favorite waterfalls in Peru. The cascading water running into the river is a great place to cool off and enjoy the natural beauty that Peru has to offer, without all of the crowds. This hidden gem makes the perfect day trip if you are staying in Chimbote.

Where are Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru?

Cataratas de Hornillos are located in central Peru, just 100 km away from Chimbote. It take about a 2 1/2 hour drive to get there, making it the perfect day trip.. These secluded waterfalls in Peru aren't the easiest to get to, but are definitely worth the journey.

How to Get to Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru

Cataratas de Hornillos are a bit far from the city of Chimbote, but definitely reachable for anyone. In order to get to the waterfalls, you have a few different options:

1. Take a Tour

When we were in Chimbote it was a holiday, so there weren't any of the tour offices open. The city does not have a whole lot of tourism offered, but there are a few tourism offices that are the central square that offer tours there.

We suggest if you want to go with a group, to go to one of the offices on a week day and book upon arrival.

2. Rent a Car

Renting a car is definitely the easiest way to get to these waterfalls in Peru. As they are a bit off the beaten path, it will definitely cut out a chunk of time and energy. We didn't opt to rent a car in Peru, as we were on a tight budget. However, it definitely makes getting to hidden gems like this easier.

Car rentals will have to be made in a bigger city than Chimbote. Granted we went 5 years ago (April 2019). At the time there were not any rental companies. Check in advance, or opt for renting a car in Trujillo or Lima, depending on where you're actually coming from.

3. Public Transportation

The easiest way to make it to Cataratas de Hornillos is definitely by car, but because we weren't able to find any rental car companies inside the city, we had to find another way. There is however, public transportation, which is the way that we ended up having to go.

It is certainly a trek to get to Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru, but we really loved this little slice of paradise, and found the journey to be worth it. Keep reading to learn how we got there.

Cataratas de Hornillos on your Own

Want to make it Hornillos waterfalls in Peru on your own? Well, here is the cheapest way to get there.

Step 1: Take the Colectivo to Moro

In order to get to Cataras de Hornillos, you will need to take a colectivo (small bus). The Colectivo will be towards Moro Dristrict, which is a very tiny village about 2 hours from Chimbote, and costs just 5 soles (about $1.50 USD).

Step 2: Getting from Moro to the Falls

After arriving in Moro there are a few ways you can make it over to the waterfalls. You can either try to hire a taxi, a tuk tuk, or hitch hike. We were told that there was a public bus, but every person had a different answer about when the buses departed, so unfortunately we don't have any concrete information on that.

Hitch hiking

We gave it a go with hitch hiking, and while we found it particularly easy in most of Peru, we didn't have any luck in this area. We figured because there is literally only one highway running through the town that it would be easy finding someone going in that direction, but it didn't work out that way.

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Taxi

Taxis weren't necessarily easy to come by either, but there were some that were far and few between. A police officer told us that we should pay less than half of what the drivers were offering, but we never found such a deal.

Tuk Tuk

Tuk tuk was what we ended up taking, and had to negotiate just a bit in order to come to an agreement. The drive is pretty rough for a tuk tuk, being that the road is very hilly, and its a tiresome and long journey. We settled on just 40 soles roundtrip (about $12 USD).

It took an hour and change to get to the falls, but would have taken about 45 in a regular taxi. We realized after that even the offers for a higher rate were pretty good considering the journey, and the fact that the driver waited with us the entire time, without rushing us.

Enjoying Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru

You can easily spend a couple of hours bathing in the cool waters and admiring the cascades of this beautiful place! We spent one hour, as we did have a driver waiting on us, and we definitely wouldn't have found another one on the way back.

The area itself is small and picturesque, and we were the only ones there when we went. We definitely think that these waterfalls in Peru are a true hidden gem, and should be added to your bucket list while traveling through the country!

Tips For Visiting Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru

Now that you know how to get there, here are a few other tips for visiting these waterfalls in Peru:

• Leave as early as you can, so you don't get stuck in Moro.
• Pack a lunch. There are no restaurants near the falls, nor anything for that matter.
• Make sure you bring a bathing suit, towel, and sunscreen
• Stop for the bathroom in Moro, as there aren't any remotely close to the waterfalls.

We hope you enjoy visiting Cataratas de Hornillos Waterfalls in Peru! One thing that we specialize in is finding hidden gems, and we have plenty more to share with you.

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