By Sophia Guida
Known for its churches, Andean scenery and Semana Santa celebrations, laid-back Ayacucho is the perfect choice for a short getaway from Lima.
Located in the south-central Andes about 500 km from Lima, Ayacucho is just high enough in the mountains to give you incredible scenery, but won’t slay you with soroche, being at 2,700 meters.
Aside from taking your pick of the no less than 33 churches to visit, here are a few other things to see in this beautiful region.
1. See a physical reminder of brutish colonialism at Vilcashuaman
In the village of Vicashuaman, meaning “sacred falcon” in Quechua, you can see a Catholic church built on top of Inca ruins. The temple, dedicated to the sun, is situated next to a five-tier pyramid, called an usnu, which you can climb up in order to get a nice, bird’s eye view of the town.
2. Visit the National Sanctuary of Titankayuq
The National Sanctuary of Titankayuq is home to the largest number of puya raimondii, a species of shrub that is the world’s tallest flowering plant. Their tall green spikes can hold upwards of 1000 tiny flowers at one time. It is found exclusively in Peru and Bolivia, at elevations above 3000 meters. Called “Seussical” by my traveling companion, these bizarre plants make for an interesting accent to the mountain landscape. It is about an hour’s walk from the village of Vishongo.
3. Explore the Huari / Wari Ruins
Located on the way to the village of Quinua, the Huari Ruins are still under excavation. You can see stunning views of the tangled maze of stone walls with the mountains in the background. There is also a small museum on the grounds.
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