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 notable sites in the Huanta province.

First stop: Piquimachay cave, a cavern that's over 20,000 years old. In Quechua, Piquimachay means flea. To reach the cave, we'll take a 30-minute walk. Once there, we will explore the cave and the grotto discovered by Richard MacNeish, an archeologist from the United States.

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 exploring the cave, we'll head back to the town of Huanta, known as the Emerald of the Andes. The tour will cover sites such as Plaza Mayor, Matriz Church, and the venerated Obispo de Piedra. We'll conclude this guided tour of Huanta with a tasting of regionally special fruit liqueurs like coca, lúcuma, muña, and algarrobina.

Finally, we will stop at the Aqocacha waterfall before returning to your pickup location for transfer back to your hotel.