17,5º C (24º C maximum and 11º C minimum). Rainy season:
November to March.
Access Routes
By land
The most recommended route is Lima-Pisco-Ayacucho
(573 km), via Los Libertadores, with a duration of about
9 h by car.
Other routes include: Cusco-Abancay-Ayacucho (598 km) with a duration
of about 19 h. Huancayo-Ayacucho (257 km) with a duration of
about 6 h.
By air
There are flights from the city of Lima (about 45
minutes).
Historical Overview
The first vestiges of human presence in Ayacucho are
found in the Pikimachay cave and date from 20 000 BC.
Later on, during the formative period (between 2 000 BC
and the first years of our era), other settlements
appeared in Rancha, Chupas and Wichqana. The Wari empire
flourished between the sixth and seventh centuries with
its capital city in the Ayacucho region. After its
declining came the Chanca Regional State, and finally,
the region was conquered by the Incas, who founded an
administrative provincial center of great importance in
the area of Vilcashuamán.
In 1 539 Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Ayacucho
and gave it the name of San Juan de la Frontera de
Huamanga. This city was created with strategic purposes
because it share borders with the territories dominated
by the Vilcabamba rebel indians. Once the rebel redoubt
of Vilcabamba was defeated, Ayacucho gained economic and
cultural importance. Already in the seventeenth century,
Ayacucho had an important textile industry, it was the
seat of the Archbishopric and home to a university,
which made it one of the most important cities in the
Viceroyship
Today Ayacucho, land of peace and hope, still surprises
visitors for its colonial flavor. Ayacucho is called the
Peruvian Capital of Handicrafts and has spread its art
all over the world.
Attractions in the City
The Cathedral
Huamanga Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 17:00-19:00.
Its construction began in 1 632 and was completed in 1
672. It has three naves containing the most important
altars, which remain as evidence of the richness of past
times.
San Cristóbal Temple
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 7 s/n.
Visits: only on the day of its anniversary.
It was the first temple built in the city in 1 540.
Santo Domingo Temple
Jr. 9 de Diciembre cdra. 2 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 548, it features an altar with Baroque
Solomonic columns. A brick belfry with arches crossed by
huge wooden beams stands beside the temple.
San Francisco de Asís Temple and Convent
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 2 s/n.
Phone: (064) 81-2099.
Visits: during mass hours
Founded in 1 552, it has oil paintings, altarpieces of
great quality and a Greco-Roman facade.
Santa Clara Temple and Monastery
Jr. Grau cdra. 3 s/n.
Open during mass hours.
Founded in 1 568, one of its most noted elements is the
coffered ceiling over the presbytery. Jesus of Nazareth,
the Patron of Huamanga is venerated in this temple.
La Compañía de Jesús Temple
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 1 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 605. Its façade displays a rose colored
stone frieze featuring carved flowers.
Santa Teresa Temple and Monastery
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 6 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 603, its main altar is a sample of the
Churrigueresque style. The Morisco style grid of its
high choir is a beautiful piece of wood carving with
inlaid pearl and nacre.
La Merced Temple
Jr. 2 de Mayo cdra 2 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
The second oldest church in the city (1 541). Its side
frontispiece has sculptures on gray stone with high
relief images and columns in a compound style.
The Town Hall
Portal Municipal 48.
Founded in 1 540. Its side door features a stone
frontispiece that used to decorate the Quinta La
Glorieta del Marqués de Feria.
Boza y Solís Mansion
Portal Constitución 15 at Main Square.
Phone: (064) 81-2229.
Visits: Monday to Friday: 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00.
One of the most important examples of old Huamanga
mansions. It dates from 1 740.
Chacón Mansion
Portal Unión 28.
Phone: (064) 81-4102.
Visits: Monday to Friday 9:30-13:00 and 16:00-18:30.
This seventeenth century mansion currently houses the
Joaquín López Antay Popular Regional Arts Museum. Its
two ample patios are surrounded by sturdy, sumptuous
stone arches.
Castilla y Zamora Mansion
Portal Municipal 50, Plaza de Armas.
Phone: (064) 81-2230.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:15-15:45.
This mansion belonged to Don Cristóbal Castilla y
Zamora, the founder of the Cathedral and the University
of Huamanga.
Vivanco Mansion
Jr. 28 de Julio 508.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00.
This mansion dates from the sixteenth century. This is
the seat of Cáceres Museum.
Ruiz de Ochoa Mansion
Jr. Dos de Mayo 210.
Phone: (064) 81-8020.
Seat of Banco Wiese, it features art, culture and
history exhibition galleries.
Outskirts of the City
Wari Pre-Inca citadel, located 22 km northeast of the
city of Ayacucho and about 45 minutes drive. It was the
capital of the Wari empire that flourished between the
6th and 12th century. It was an urban center with a
population of about 50 000 inhabitants. Today, visitors
can admire its walls, tombs, channels, etc.
Town of Quinua and Pampa de Ayacucho Town of potters, located 37 km from Ayacucho and
about 50 minutes drive. Distant 1 km from the town is
the Pampa de Ayacucho, a historical location where the
Battle of Ayacucho that sealed the Independence of South
America was held on December 9th, 1 824.
Pikimachay Located 24 km from the city of Ayacucho and
approximately 30 minutes drive. Bone and lithic remains
thought to be the oldest in South America and dating
back some 20 000 years were found in this location.
Vilcashuamán Located 120 km south of Ayacucho and about 4 h
drive. It was an Inca administrative center. Its main
buildings include the Temple of the Sun and the Moon and
the Ushno or ceremonial pyramid.
Intiwatana Located 102 km from Ayacucho and about 3 h drive, it
is an archaeological complex featuring a palace, a tower,
the Inca bath (with a 13-corner stone) and a lagoon in
the middle of the archaeological complex at 2 300 masl.
Titancayoc Located 94 km south of Ayacucho, about 3 h drive,
followed by 2 h walk. Natural forest that shelters the
region's largest number of specimens of Titanca or Puya
Raimondi.
Huanta Valley Located 51 km from Ayacucho and about 50 minutes
drive, this is a privileged valley because of its
location and its rich flora and fauna.
Pampas Galeras Located in the province of Lucanas, 615 km from
Ayacucho taking the Ayacucho-San Clemente-Pisco-Nasca-Pampas
Galeras route, and about 11 h drive. It is the national
reserve where the vicuñas are reared in their natural
habitat.
Parinacochas Lagoon Located in the province of Parinacochas, 717 km from
Ayacucho and about 18 h drive. Beautiful lagoon that
houses many birds, notably the flamingos or parihuanas,
on its banks. The Sara Sara and the Achatayhua volcanoes
are close to the lagoon.
Handicrafts
Ayacucho's handicrafts are particularly rich due to the
presence of several cultures, notably the Spanish and
Indian, which mingled several expressions, including:
The Retablos Miniature altar boxes which, with the passing of
time, have incorporated Andean folk scenes. The Huamanga Stone Stone carved figurines are the most representative
symbols of Ayacucho handicrafts. These figurines depict
traditional scenes from daily life. Silver and filigree work The quality of silver work preserves the standard
achieved since Colonial times.
Gastronomy
Typical dishes: - Qapchi or Hapchi (salad based on fresh potato
with Cachipa or soft unripened cheese, hot chili, oil
and chopped onions). - Caldo de mondongo (soup prepared with tripe,
maize, mint and giblets). - Patachi (soup based on wheat, beans, bacon and
meat). - Puca picante (pork cracklings in peanut sauce). - Uman caldo or caldo de cabeza (Broth prepared
with lamb head, mint and chili). - Cuy chaktado (guinea pig fried on a frying pan
under a flat, heavy stone). - Pachamanca (assorted meats, potatoes and tender
corn or maize cooked underground amid hot stones and
aromatic herbs, pre-Hispanic style). - Tecte (casserole based on lima beans, algae,
peas, chili, garlic, soft unripened cheese, milk and
eggs). - Pushla (soup prepared with ground barley, herbs,
eggs and species). - Adobo ayacuchano (meat marinated casserole with
chili and species.)
Its traditional drinks include: chicha de jora, chicha
de molle, and chicha de siete semillas
Festivities
Holy Week in Ayacucho (March
/ April)
The Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, with Jesus entering
the city riding on a white donkey. Other processions
take place during the week: on Monday, the Garden Prayer,
on Tuesday, the Lord of the Sentence and, on Wednesday,
a representation of Jesus taking the Cross to the
Calvary. This dramatic scene that depicts the encounter
of the Mother and her Son (Mary and Jesus), moves all
participants deeply. On Holy Thursday, the people visit
the temples to gain indulgences. In the evening of Good
Friday, the lights of the city are turned off to leave
the way clear to the Lord of the Holy Sepulcher. The
magnificence of the portable platform full with white
candles moves the faithful deeply. Later comes a vigil
with chants and prayers that lasts until the three-hour
Sermon that is delivered on Saturday. Joy returns after
these days of grief, on Easter Sunday, when the image of
Jesus raised from the dead is taken out in procession
throughout the streets.
Services
Airports
Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendivil Duarte.
Av. del Ejercito 950.
Tel (064) 81-2088.
Open: Monday to Sunday 6:00-10:00.
Transport By land
There are no land terminals, however, transportation
companies may be found at:
Av. Mariscal Cáceres blocks 7-12.
Av. Manco Capac blocks 2-4.
Health Centers
Sub Región de Salud Ayacucho.
Av. Independencia 355.
Tel. (064) 81-2180.
24 hour service
Police Stations
Sede Central Policía Nacional del Perú.
Jr. 28 de Julio 325.
Phone: (064) 81-2332.
24 hour service
Policía Nacional de Turismo.
Jr. Dos de Mayo 100.
Open: Monday to Sunday 7:30-20:00.
Handicrafts Markets
There are no handicrafts markets, however most of
the shops are located at:
Plazoleta Santa Ana.
Jr. Libertad blocks 7-9.
Jr. París block 1.
Pasaje Bolognesi block 2.
Jr. Asamblea blocks 1 and 2.
Post Office
Jr. Asamblea 295, Ayacucho.
Phone: (064) 81-2224.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00.
tourist information and assistance
Peru features a tourist information and assistance
service called iPerú where visitors can ask about
official tourist information on Peru, as well as
assistance if the tourist feels the service paid for was
not provided as advertised.
E-mail:
iperu@promperu.gob.pe
Ayacucho Portal Municipal 48, Plaza de Armas, Ayacucho.
Phone: (064) 81-8305
Open: Monday to Sunday 09:00-19:00
Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez
Arrival lounge / main hall
Phone/fax: (01) 574-8000 / 574-6900
24-hour service
E-mail:
sptijch@indecopi.gob.pe
San Isidro Jorge Basadre 610, Lima 27.
Phone: (01) 421-1583 / 421-1227 / 421-1627 / 421-1546.
Open: Monday to Sunday 9:00-18:00
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