Ayacucho Region

Peru

Located 22 kilometres north-east of Ayacucho, on the road to Quinua, the Wari ruins cover some 16 square kilometres in an isolated, elevated location in the middle of the biggest cactus forest I’ve ever seen. The Wari were an ancient civilisation who flourished between 600 AD and 1100 AD, long before the Incas arrived. Their empire extended north beyond Chiclayo and south as far as Lake Titicaca (that’s the majority of the length of the entire country), with its capital on the pampa above Ayacucho. Once home to some 50,000 people, there is now possibly the same number of cactus plants in their place. A fantastic place if you love cacti, nature, ruins, and isolation :-)
Condor photographed in the Peruvian Andes, in the department of Ayacucho. #Blue
20km north east of Ayacucho, on the road to Quinua (not sure if the position on the map is EXACTLY correct) are the ruins of the capital of the Wari empire. The Wari ruled from 600AD to 1100AD and therefore pre-date the Incas. The extensive ruins are scattered among endless fields of Opuntia cacti and Prickly Pear, and these were more of a fascination to me than the ruins themselves. Despite being so exposed, the site felt quite mysterious and strangely eerie: we didn't see a single other tourist there, but we did see swarms of locusts (which, at first we mistook for birds). It's a beautiful spot, the views are amazing on a clear day and you'll see plenty of colourful butterflies and flowers. But remember to bring water, as the site is literally in the middle of nowhere, so there are no opportunities to purchase any nearby. You can catch a local bus, combi or shared taxi to the ruins, but be wary of stopping too late. We stayed until dusk, and ended up having to hitch a ride back to Ayacucho because - I assume - we'd missed the last lot of public transportation heading that way.
At 4000msnm altiplanos with hundreds of wild Vicuñas. Amazing views.

Popular cities in Ayacucho Region

The Intiwatana and Pumacocha archaeological site, Ayacucho, Peru
Ayacucho
Known for Walking, Rivers and Mountains
Love rivers, mountain views, and museums? Get away to Ayacucho!

Reasons to visit

  • Ayacucho Plaza de Armas
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San Francisco de Ravacayco
San Francisco de Ravacayco
Enjoy access to sights and activities in the surrounding area during your stay in San Francisco de Ravacayco.
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Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray
Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray
Venture to Ayacucho Plaza de Armas and Ayacucho Popular Art Museum—just two of the sights around Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray.
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Jesús Nazareno
Jesús Nazareno
Check out Ayacucho Plaza de Armas and Ayacucho Popular Art Museum—just a couple of the sights around Jesús Nazareno.
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Canaria
Canaria
During your stay in Canaria, you can discover things to see and do in the local area.
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Coracora
Coracora
Plan your trip to Coracora and take advantage of the sights and activities in the area.
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