The province of Abancay, capital of the Apurímac region, celebrates its Tourist Week and awaits visitors with open arms so that they can live a wonderful experience appreciating its attractions full of scenic beauty, biodiversity, ancestral history and succulent gastronomy, enough reasons to travel and return more than once.
The city is located at 2,500 meters above sea level, north of the Pachachaca river valley and at the foot of the snow-capped Ampay. The city covers the districts of Abancay and Tamburco and has a population of more than 72,000 inhabitants according to data from the 2017 National Census.
Abancay was founded on November 3, 1574 and was part of the department of Cusco until the creation of the department of Apurímac, becoming its capital on April 28, 1873.
Since July of this year, the Abancay destination officially has the Safe Travels seal that accredits it as bioinsurance for national and international tourism.
The circuits certified with this international distinction granted in our country by the Mincetur are the Abancay Valley city tour that includes the Plaza Micaela Bastidas de Abancay; the Plaza de Armas of Abancay; the Casa Hacienda Illanya, headquarters of the Archaeological and Anthropological Museum of Apurimac.
Also the archaeological complex of Saywite, made up of visits to the Plaza de Armas of Tamburco and the Archaeological complex of Saywite. And finally, the National Sanctuary of Ampay.
Next, let's get to know these emblematic tourist attractions.
Located in the center of the city of Abancay, near the Plaza de Armas. It bears the name of the heroine Micaela Bastidas, who together with her husband Tupac Amaru II fought against Spanish rule and was one of the first cries for emancipation in Peru and America.
In the center of the square stands a monument with the full-length effigy of the heroine that measures about four meters high and was built of steel, concrete and pearl gray marble, and weighs approximately three tons.
It is located in the facilities of what was Casa Hacienda Illanya, built at the beginning of the 17th century and located seven kilometers from the center of the city of Abancay. The first owner was Doña Isabel Junco y Estrada, and later it was the seat of the convent of Santa Catalina de Abancay.
The museum exhibits archaeological objects, lithics and bone remains found in the area. Pictorial exhibitions of regional artists are also held.
Archaeological zone located in the district of Curahuasi, within the former Saywite hacienda, owned by the Valer family, at kilometer 45 of the road that leads from Abancay to Cusco and at more than 2,400 meters of altitude. Scholars maintain that Saywite has the characteristics of a ceremonial center where water and nature were worshipped.
The complex is made up of six well-defined areas. One shows the existence of an 'ushno' or elevated platform where astronomical observation was practiced. A few meters away is the famous stone monolith that gives its name to the archaeological site, four meters in diameter and two and a half meters high. It is a kind of model in high relief, carved in the rock, in which scale figures of platforms, irrigation canals and temples stand out, as well as pumas, lizards, amphibians, crustaceans, monkeys and human figures.
Protected natural area created on July 23, 1987 and located in the district of Tamburco, province of Abancay. The objective of the sanctuary is to ensure the intangibility of the intimpa tree (tree of the sun, in Spanish), unique in its kind. Currently there are only 600 hectares of intimpas left, protected from the threat of indiscriminate logging that it suffered in the past.
The Sanctuary houses the Angascocha lagoon, located a 45-minute walk from the entrance to the protected area. The water mirror is ideal for birds to perch to drink and feed on the little fish and allows other animals, such as vizcachas, foxes, pumas, tarukas and white-tailed deer, to restore energy.
It is one of the most important tourist spots in Abancay where medicinal tourism is practiced, given the properties of its hot springs to treat various ailments of the body.
The typical dishes of Abancay are homemade noodles served with chicken stew, chuño kapchi, fried trout, chactado guinea pig, pork rinds, stuffed hot pepper and guinea pig pepián.
To go from cities like Lima to Abancay, you can travel by bus with companies like Wari Palomino. The ticket price starts at S/85 soles. The average travel time is 17 hours. Traveling to Abancay by bus is a very convenient option that many travelers choose, you can take advantage of the journey to rest, watch movies, read a book or listen to your favorite music.
You can start your tour of Abancay by visiting its main square. It is located between the shreds of Lima and Puno. Here you will be able to observe both locals and tourists strolling and enjoying a break while having a drink or eating a sandwich. Formerly, there was a cemetery in the same place, later it was a bullring and, later, a space for the celebration of religious and civil activities. Currently, the square is a meeting space from where you can visit the Cathedral. Take the opportunity to take photos with the beautiful palm trees in the background to remember.
The Cathedral of Abancay Virgen del Rosario began to be built in 1645, during the Spanish colony. The architecture of the church is simple and very beautiful, it also has only one bell tower. Here every year the festivities are celebrated in honor of the Virgin Mary in her dedication to the Rosary, as well as other religious events. The building has been restored and improved on several occasions, having a complete remodeling in 1970.
Continue your visit to Abancay by going to the Mirador de Quisapata. From here you can have a panoramic view of the city, as well as the Pachachaca valley, the Rontoccocha micro-basin and a fraction of the Ampay mountain. It is definitely a plan worth doing, especially if you like landscape photography. You can include this stop in your itinerary since it is located near the city center, in the southern area.
Miscabamba Street is located on the left side of Micaela Bastidas Park, four blocks from the central square of Abancay. It is the oldest street in Abancay, so you can travel back in time as you walk along it and see its mansions with tile roofs and wooden doors. Take the opportunity to take photos to remember this magical moment.
This is an archaeological site located in the district of Tamburco, in the first block of Micaela Bastidas street. Here you can see the remains of an Inca construction made of stone and mud, belonging to the ancient Inca trail that comes from Ayacucho and continues to Cusco. In the investigations of the place, ceramics, pieces of spondylus and gold were found. Some experts suggest that this space could be part of the Qhapaq Ñan of Chinchaysuyo. Definitely, if you are interested in learning more about the history of Abancay, you should go to this attraction.
During your visit to Abancay you cannot miss the Pachachaca Bridge. It is a colonial construction located on the Pachachaca River. It is 16 kilometers from the city. Due to its historical and cultural value, it was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 1974. The bridge was built under the direction of Viceroy Count Salvatierra in 1654. This bridge, which in Quechua means "Bridge over the world" has a unique beauty that contrasts with the landscape, so take some time to get to know it. You'll love it!
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