Piquimachay Cave + Ayacucho Grotto Excursion

Discover this hidden treasure in the Peruvian province of Huanta on this excursion to the Piquimachay cave, where you'll find a magical grotto inside that's over 20,000 years old.

Destination

Meeting at Plaza de Armas de Ayacucho, we'll start this full-day tour by visiting various places in the Huanta province.

First stop: Piquimachay cave, a cavern over 20,000 years old. In Quechua, Piquimachay means flea. To reach the cave, we'll take a 30-minute walk and then explore the cave and its grotto, discovered by Richard MacNeish, an American archeologist.

Inside the cave, we'll traverse its different levels. The deepest, called Paracaisa, dates back to the Lithic period, while the other levels are from the Pleistocene and Archaic periods.

After learning the cave's secrets, we’ll return to Huanta, known as the Emerald of the Andes. The tour includes sites like Plaza Mayor, Matriz Church, and the venerated figure of Obispo de Piedra. The guided tour concludes with a tasting of regional fruit liqueurs made from coca, lúcuma, muña, and algarrobina.

To end the day, we'll stop at the Aqocacha waterfall before returning to your pickup location for hotel drop-off.