Peru: Apurimac department

Location: Southeast of Central Andes of Perú.
Extension: 20 891 km2.m)
Capital: Abancay (2378 masl).
Altitude:
Minimum: 2378 masl (Abancay)
Maximum: 3952 masl (Pataycampa).

Abancay

Abancay, "the Valley of the White Lilies" in the Quechua language, needs no further arguments to entice the traveler.

Nature

Ampay National Sanctuary | The Apurímac Canyon and Valley

Traditional festivities

Festival of the Crosses| Yawar Fiesta | Virgen de Cocharcas | Virgen del Rosario | Scissors Dancers

Apurimac Region Tourism

This circuit along the south coast provides a combination of sun, sea, beaches, history and traditions. But above all, the area features marvelous landscapes, making it a major attraction for a different kind of adventure.

The area is reached from Lima by road down the South Pan-American Highway. First stop is the city of Chincha (202 km, two-and-a-half hours), the cradle of Afro-Peruvian culture.

Next stop is the Bay of Paracas (50 km, 30 minutes from Chincha), home to the Paracas Reserve, which harbors a large variety of bird species, sea lion colonies, penguins and many other species, making the areas one of the country's richest in terms of biodiversity. The area is ideal for adventure sports, eco-tourism and sailing. We recommend the early morning boatrides around the Ballestas Islands.

Ica, (50 km/40 minutes from Paracas), a festive region steeped in religious traditions, is the next stop on the tour. Here, visitors can take in the Ica Cathedral and the shrine of the Señor de Luren, the patron image of the city. Further inland in the desert lies Lake Huacachina, an oasis surrounded by vast, wind-sculpted sand dunes.

From Ica, visitors can board light planes and fly over the Nazca Lines or continue along the road down to the city of Nazca (140 km / 2 hours from Ica); by the road in the Pampas de San José plains is a lookout tower from where one can see part of the lines. Before returning, visitors should not miss a tour of the traditional local vineyards and taste some of Peru's finest wines and pisco, the country's national beverage, particularly in the month of March, when the area celebrates the Ica Wine Festival.