San Ramón and La Merced View over San Ramón and the Chanchamayo Valley. Image © Antonio Bonora San Ramón and La Merced are also referred to as one city, since they are only 10 km from each other. Both cities are situated at 800 m in the beautiful Chanchamayo Valley, about 300 km east of Lima in the department of Junín. It is an important agricultural area known for its coffee, fruit and sugarcane. The sugarcane is locally processed into aguardiente, a strong liquor of excellent quality. San Ramón has a population of about 10,000. It is known as la puerta de oro de la selva (the golden entrance to the jungle). La Merced is slightly bigger, and is known as the coffee capital of Peru. Both cities are friendly and quiet, but important towns in this remote area. The area is connected with Lima by a direct road, which goes through the Andean city of Tarma. From La Merced, roads continue to the nearby city Satipo, or further to the North into the Amazon lowlands. The Chanchamayo river between San Ramón and La Merced. Image © Antonio Bonora