Ayacucho and the Sierra Central in Peru


Peru is a country of contrasts that gathers in its geography a great diversity landscapes, cultural and natural elements. Therefore, to get to know it, it takes more than a trip to Lima or the Amazon region. Today I propose you a walk through the Peruvian Central Sierra, an area of ​​the country quite unknown but that, nevertheless, is very authentic.

In addition to having some colonial cities of great beauty and with small towns brimming with charm, this part of the country, the most rural Peru, also hides outstanding archeological ruins.

Ayacucho, a sample of colonial architecture


The city of Ayacucho was founded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century and in it you can enjoy a mild and pleasant climate. Strolling through its streets discovering the many examples of colonial architecture that it hides is a pleasure.


The colonial atmosphere It has been preserved in a magnificent way in Ayacucho, for example, in its churches and in its impressive mansions. The city had a very hard time during the 1980s, when the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso was operating in the area, but in 1992 its leaders were arrested and today the group has almost completely disappeared.

A very rural area


This region of Peru is characterized by rural activity of its towns and its people, so knowing it will give you a very real vision of the country. There are some small towns of interest, such as Lircay or Huancayo. It is in the latter town that a market is organized every Sunday in which the local population sells cloth, crafts and food products. If you can, be sure to visit it.

Very close to Ayacucho, you will find the ruins of Huari, a settlement of about 10 km. squares, made up of buildings, streets, squares, tombs, trails, etc. The Huari were a civilization that was present in this area of ​​Peru between AD 600 and 1100. Although currently archaeological works They have been scarce, the importance of the findings makes it interesting to visit this place.

Algunos paisajes de Huancayo in Peru ( Sierra central de Peru ) (March 2024)


  • typical architecture, archaeological remains
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