The Halfway Spot Between Cusco and Lima

Located roughly halfway between Cusco and Lima, Ayacucho is one of Peru’s most attractive Andean cities and has valleys teeming with archaeological importance. The colonial buildings and churches fill the town’s skyline with the Andes as a picturesque backdrop. The surrounding hills are covered with cacti, broom bushes, and agave plants. At 2800m, the climate manages to be pleasant all year round with dry and temperate blue skies nearly every day.

Despite its excellent weather, archaeological splendors, and beautiful colonial presence, the town does not have a large traveler presence. The central Andes are one of Peru’s least visited areas, but travelers that step off the beaten path learn that this is a special region. Today, most visitors to Ayacucho arrive from Lima or Cusco either on a thirty-minute flight, or overland by bus. The first road that linked the Peruvian coast to Ayacucho was not finished until 1924 and in 1960 there were only two buses and a few dozen vehicles in the city. After a road was paved to Lima in 1999, Ayacucho entered the 21st century but the past remains an important part of the town’s daily life.

You’ll find that few people in the town speak any English, as Quechua is the city’s first language, although most of the town’s inhabitants can also speak some Spanish. Around 700 AD, Ayacucho was the center of the Huari culture which spread its powerful religious symbolism throughout most of Peru for the next 300 or 400 years. After the fall of the Huari, the ancient city became an important Inca administrative center. Ayacucho’s strategic location meant that the city grew very wealthy as miners and administrators settled here. The city’s churches were built from the wealth of this time and demonstrate the high level of Masonic and woodworking skills of the local people. The Battle of Ayacucho, took place near here on the Pampa de Quinoa in 1924, and freed Peru from the shackles of Spain. Ayacucho was the last place to be released from colonial power. Today, Ayacucho is a radical university town with a long standing left-wing tradition.

Don’t miss…
1) Plaza de Armas: The lovely churches and mansions are mostly packed tightly together in the blocks around the main plaza. The monument to Mariscal José Sucre stands in the middle. Just off of the plaza is the cathedral, built of red and grey stone between 1612 and 1671.
2) Complejo Turistico San Cristobal: This courtyard complex is full of excellent cafés and shops. Try the food and nightlife, which are both excellent in the area. Try the distinctive cuisine, or listen to live music at one of Ayacucho’s penas.
3) Iglesia de Santo Domingo: Founded in 1548, this beautiful church has one of the most striking facades in the city. Admire the three arches of brick and lime, the Baroque and Churrigueresque gold-leaf altar, and images of El Senor del Santo Sepulcro and the Virgen Dolorosa.
4) Casona Jauregui: This exquisite 17th-century mansion was built by Don Cayetano Ruiz de Ochon. The grand house has a fabulous patio and balcony with two lion statutes and a stone shield of Indian influence displaying a two-headed eagle.
5) The craft workshops: Located just uphill from the Plaza de Armas in the barrio of Santa Ana, these craft workshops welcome visitors. You can buy more interesting and less expensive crafts from the actual artisans here than in the shops in town. Alabaster carvings, known in Peru as Huamanga stone carvings, are a specialty of Ayacucho artisans. If you don’t have time to venture up hill, check out the artesian markets around the Plazoleta Maria Pardo de Bellido.



This guide to Ayacucho was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Peru Vacation.