Ayacucho Things to See and Do

Ayacucho is a great place to explore on foot. With an abundance of Renaissance and Baroque churches, colonial homes and interesting museums, Ayacucho is sure to keep you busy. To see everything the city has to offer, it is best to rise early, eat a hearty breakfast and be sure to put on your walking shoes. Ayacucho is centered around the beautiful Plaza de Armas (also known as Plaza Mayor de Huamanga), from which several pedestrian-only streets head both north and south, where dining and shopping can be found.

Highlights of any city walk include: Santo Domingo, Santa Teresa, San Cristóbal, La Universidad San Cristobal de Huamanga, Museo de Arte Popular, and Museo Arqueológico Hipólito Unanue. The lookout at Cerro Acuchimay also offers excellent views of the city. Even if you cannot cover all the sites above, you should definitely head to Barrio Santa Ana, a bustling artisan community graced with cobblestone streets and plenty of craft workshops.

When you've had your fill of Ayacucho's seemingly infinite sites, you can head to the Inca ruins of Vilcashuamán, once an important provincial capital. The ruins at Huari also make for an interesting day trip, and can be combined with a visit to La Quinua, a small village 37 kilometers (23 mi) northeast of Ayacucho, which boasts some excellent handicrafts.

Other Activity pages in Ayacucho that may be of interest: Near Ayacucho,