Welcome to Ayacucho
Travelers are only just rediscovering Ayacucho's treasures. Richly decorated churches dominate the vivid cityscape alongside peach- and pastel-colored colonial buildings hung with wooden balconies. Among numerous festivities, Ayacucho boasts Peru’s premier Semana Santa celebrations, while in the surrounding mountains lie some of the country’s most significant archaeological attractions.
Top experiences in Ayacucho
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Ayacucho activities
Paracas to Tambo Colorado Guided Half-Day Tour with Admission
At the designated time, our guide will pick you up from your hotel in Paracas town. Then will drive towards to Tambo Colorado in private vehicle. This site was an Inca settlement and was most likely built at the end of the 15th century and was ruled by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec. Tambo Colorado was known as Puka Tampu, Pucallacta or Pucahuasi and its buildings are typical Wary (Ayacucho) and Inca (Cusco) culture influences, have buildings of ceremonial plazas, houses, ceremonial platforms and the main building known as La Fortaleza. It is believed that Tambo Colorado was used as an administrative/ceremonial and military place to control the main road from the coast to the highlands also this place was to service as resting place for the Inca and his army across the Inca territory. The site consists of several structure around a large central plaza. The central plaza is shaped like a trapezoid with its largest side being 150m long. The main structure are grouped together in a northern and southern Palaces, plus some ceremonial platforms. Because of local environmental conditions, many of the buildings original colors have been preserved, helping experts reconstruct the site. After your visit you will return to your hotel.
San Martin Port to Ballestas Islands and Tambo Colorado Tour
You will be met by our guide at 9:15am at San Martin Port, then you will be transferred to Paracas town, at this point you will meet the rest of the group and board our speedboat to begin the adventure to the stunning Ballestas Island. On the way you will stop at the Paracas peninsula to see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. Nobody knows for sure who did it or why. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. Afterwards, you'll head off to Ballestas Island, where you will see a stunning world filled with birds and sea lions. Here, you'll visit the three islands at a distance allowed, navigating inside some caves, depending on the condition of the sea. On your return to the port, you will board our vehicle to drive towards Pisco town for a sightseeing tour where you will visit the main square, Municipal Palace and among others places of interest. Afterwards we all be travelling east for 35 minutes to finally arrive to the well preserve Inca Fortress of Tambo Colorado. Tambo Colorado was an Inca settlement and was most likely built at the end of the 15th century and was ruled by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec. It was known as Puka Tampu, Pucallacta or Pucahuasi and its buildings are typical Wary (Ayacucho) and Inca (Cusco) culture influences, have buildings of ceremonial plazas, houses, ceremonial platforms and the main building known as La Fortaleza. It is believed that Tambo Colorado was used as an administrative/ceremonial and military place to control the main road from the coast to the highlands also this place was to service as resting place for the Inca and his army across the Inca territory. The site consists of several structure around a large central plaza. The central plaza is shaped like a trapezoid with its largest side being 492-ft (150-m) long. The main structure is grouped together in a northern and southern Palaces, plus some ceremonial platforms. Because of local environmental conditions, many of the buildings original colours have been preserved, helping experts reconstruct the site. Finally, you will return to San Martin Port to re-join your ship.
Tambo Colorado and Pisco Valley Tour with Small Group
You will be met by our guide at 9:15am at San Martin Port, then you will be transferred to Paracas town, at this point, you will board our shared vehicle to drive towards Pisco town for a sightseeing tour where you will visit the main square, Municipal Palace and among others places of interest. Afterwards we all be travelling east for 35 minutes to finally arrive to the well preserve Inca Fortress of Tambo Colorado. Tambo Colorado was an Inca settlement and was most likely built at the end of the 15th century and was ruled by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec. It was known as Puka Tampu, Pucallacta or Pucahuasi and its buildings are typical Wary (Ayacucho) and Inca (Cusco) culture influences, have buildings of ceremonial plazas, houses, ceremonial platforms and the main building known as La Fortaleza. It is believed that Tambo Colorado was used as an administrative/ceremonial and military place to control the main road from the coast to the highlands also this place was to service as resting place for the Inca and his army across the Inca territory. The site consists of several structure around a large central plaza. The central plaza is shaped like a trapezoid with its largest side being 492-ft (150-m) long. The main structure is grouped together in a northern and southern Palaces, plus some ceremonial platforms. Because of local environmental conditions, many of the buildings original colours have been preserved, helping experts reconstruct the site. Finally, you will return to San Martin Port to re-join your ship.
Full Day Tour to the South Valley of Cusco
We will pick you up at 08:30 am at your hotel in Cusco and start our journey while driving through the city, passing the new areas that the locals call Modern Cusco as well as San Sebastian and San Jeronimo. Leaving Cusco towards the south, we will see smaller towns at both sides of the valley and then arrive at the archaeological site of Tipón. This Inca city is a great place to observe an impressive hydraulic engineering system! Even in spite of the years, the channel constructions and the liturgical sources are still intact. The great temple of Tipon was very important for the Andean cosmos and religion. You will also enjoy the sound of the water designed for religion matters, as well as discover several royal chambers that were used by the famous Inca Wiraqocha. The type of architecture you will see here is well known for its imperial style. Apart from the architecture, you will have some time to enjoy the amazing mountain scenery! After this, we will continue our journey to the pre-Inca metropolis Pikillaqta. This city was one of the most impressive regional centers of the Wari Empire from in Ayacucho (in the north of Cusco). The Waris, well-known as very brave warriors, extended their domain up to these areas, constructing Pikillacta as their center of politics, religion and admiration in the south of their empire.Afterwards we will visit Andahuaylillas, a small colonial village which is located on the street to Puno.This town in particular has the pride to have a colonial catholic church, The San Pedro Church of Andahuaylillas. It was constructed for the Jesuits at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. Its architectural structure is typical for small towns’ churches: its walls are wide, typical for the colonial buildings, and made with mad bricks called adobe. The facade is decorated with murals and two stone columns projected towards the main entrance. We will observe a picture of the “Virgin of the Asunción”, painted by the Spanish painter Esteban Murillo. The paintings that decorate the bases, as well as a notable oil painting of the archangel San Miguel, are attributed to Luís de Riaño (17th century). As well, we will see a majestic organ, a silver goldsmith and a baroque altar inside the church.After that, we will visit the immense Plaza de Armas of Andahuaylillas which is surrounded by leafy pisonay trees (choral trees) and palm trees. It is considered as one of the most beautiful places of the region!On our way back, we will stop by a small town, for example Huaro, where the wizards lived during the Inca’s times. Again, we will stop in Tipon where you may try one of the main traditional dishes of the region, the famous ‘Roasted Guinea Pig’ (Cuy). Then we will return to Cusco around 02:00 pm.
Tour through the South Valley
You will start on this tour recognizing your hotel, around 08:30 a.m. Then we will take you to the south of Cusco, while observing the landscapes of the Sierra Andina, during your trip we will have our first stop in Tipón which was an Inca ceremonial center and has a flow of water that comes from the heights of the Pachatusan hill and even at present it continues crossing this ceremonial center, later it continues with our trip to an archaeological complex of Pikillacta or the famous city of the fleas, which is a walled city that dates from the epoch of the Wari history, that has its origins in Ayacucho , and to finish our incredible and beautiful church of Andahuaylillas, it is known as the Sistine Chapel of America, inside we will see beautiful murals, canvases, altarpieces covered in gold and more, we will be around the city of Cusco around 14 : 30 pm
Backroads & Highlands of Peru
Get off the beaten path in the highlands of Peru and discover stunning mountain scenery and remote cities few tourists visit. Getting to Cusco is half the adventure — travel by public bus keeps costs down and allows you to connect with the locals in the rarefied mountain air of the Andes. Climb the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." We operate our own treks in Peru and can ensure the fair treatment of our porters — and an exceptional experience for you.