Abancay is in the department of Apurimac, Peru in a valley over the Pachachaca river. The population is roughly estimated nearly 90.000 !!, altitude ca. 2,340 m.

Abancay is part of Peru's Southern Sierra.

Understand

The '''Tourist Office''' is next to the Plaza de Armas.

Get in

All buses on the '''Lima-Nazca-Cuzco''' line pass through Abancay. The road is well paved.

There are daily '''buses''' from and to Andahuaylas, the closest '''airport '''. This journey takes 5 to 6 h hours on a unpaved road.

Get around

Distances are short, so walking is your best options for getting around. If you need a taxi, don't pay more than 3 Soles (0,80 US$) in the city.

See

  • '''AMPAY''' (mountain and tree species) protected area (sanctuary)
  • Do

  • Swimming in natural water pool
  • Cock fights
  • Eat

    Local specialities include astonishing expensive chicken grills.

    Sleep

  • '''El Dorado''', Av. Arenas, good and safe, ca. US$ 5.
  • '''Hotel Turistas (old hacienda)''',splurge with hot water and dining-room.
  • '''Hotel Paraiso''', across from the bus terminal. 30 soles for a matrimonial with bano privado. Nice place, television, but lacked hot water despite the claims.
  • Get out

    You can visit the '''Canyon of Apurimac (Canon de Apurimac)''' and cross it on a hanging bridge. Take a bus towards Cuzco and exit after ca. 1h at the village of Curuahuasi. Then go to Cachora - you can rent mules,horses and guides (canyon depth approx. 1000 m - one of the deepest in the world)

    If you have 3 days, you can climb the canyon at the other side and visit the recently discovered and only 30% excavated ruins of an Inca city (Choquequirao). Guides can be easily found via the tourist office in Abancay.

    The long trip to Cusco from Nasca can be broken up into three legs if you don_Lt mind being called "gringo" or having locals stare at you when hanging out here in Abancay and Puquio. From Abancay to Puquio the bus costs 40 soles and the first one of the day leaves at 12 noon (Palamino). The views and country along this route are great, but it is windy. Once in Puquio your hostal options are limited but do exist. There are three within a block or two of the main plaza. We paid 18 soles for a matrimonial with private bath in fair shape (no toilet seat as usual, no hot water). Good pollo a la brasa on main square for dinner. There is internet, a Banco Nacional, etc in Puquio. To get to Nasca, hourly colectivos (at the main bus intersection/offices) ply the paved, but rough and curvacious, road to Nasca. It is a 5 hour ride that costs 15 soles. If you don_Lt like mini buses, sometimes a station wagon is in the que for Nasca. Have fun being stared at!