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 several key sites in the Huanta province.

First stop: Piquimachay cave, a cavern aged over 20,000 years. In Quechua, Piquimachay means flea. We'll take a short walk of approximately 30 minutes to reach the cave, where we will explore the grotto discovered by Richard MacNeish, an American archeologist.

Inside the cave, we'll explore various levels. The deepest, known as Paracaisa, dates back to the Lithic period, while other levels are from the Pleistocene and Archaic periods.

After examining the cave, we'll return to Huanta, referred to as the Emerald of the Andes. The tour includes visits to Plaza Mayor, Matriz Church, and the esteemed Obispo de Piedra. The guided tour concludes with a tasting of regional fruit liqueurs, including coca, lúcuma, muña, and algarrobina.

We will make our final stop at the Aqocacha waterfall before returning to your hotel.