Perhaps the most interesting excursion on the east side is a visit to the twin villages of Cochas Grande and Cochas Chico , about 11km from Huancayo. These villages are the major production centers for the incised gourds that have made the district famous. Oddly enough, the gourds are grown mainly on the coast, in the Chiclayo and Ica areas. Once transported into the highlands, they are dried and scorched, then decorated using woodworking tools. The house of Señor Alejandro Cipriano is recommended for seeing the finished products.
