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 significant locations in the Huanta province.

First stop: Piquimachay cave, over 20,000 years old. The name Piquimachay means flea in Quechua. To reach the cave, there will be a short walk of about 30 minutes, followed by an exploration of its grotto, discovered by Richard MacNeish, an archeologist.

Inside, we will explore different levels of the cave. The deepest level, called Paracaisa, dates back to the Lithic period, while the other levels belong to the Pleistocene and Archaic periods.

After exploring the cave, we will return to the town of Huanta, known as the Emerald of the Andes. The tour includes visits to Plaza Mayor, Matriz Church, and the venerated figure of Obispo de Piedra. The tour concludes with a tasting of regional fruit liqueurs such as coca, lúcuma, muña, and algarrobina.

We will make our final stop at the Aqocacha waterfall before returning you to your pickup location for hotel drop-off.