Complejo Arqueologico de Vilcashuaman
Complejo Arqueologico de Vilcashuaman
Complejo Arqueologico de Vilcashuaman
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
63 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
17
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Ian D
Recife, PE113 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
The distance between Ayacucho and Vilcashuaman is comparatively short, about 120 Km. However the time taken to complete this journey will, most probably, be not less than four hours in duration. Leaving Ayacucho to the south the surfaced road climbs steeply until a pass, at over 4000 metres, is crossed. Almost certainly the traveller will then leave the asphalt road and take a secondary “firmed” dirt road in the direction of Vischongo. The reason for this roundabout route soon becomes clear as a small forest of Puya Raimondi comes into view.
A member of the bromeliad family, Puya Raimondi, is the world’s tallest flowering plant. Also nicknamed the Queen of the Andes this endangered species, a member of the pineapple family, grows slowly taking forty years or more to reach a height of about three meters. It then produces an extremely tall flowering spike, possibly as high as ten meters, which contains thousands of large, snow white flowers which, in turn, contain literally millions of seeds. After blooming only once the plant promptly dies. These plants once numerous are now extremely difficult to find; help from the local inhabitants, or a professional guide, will probably be required if the traveller wishes to search out and come within reach of these amazing plants.
After a bumpy dusty ride passing through surprisingly fertile land, where many varieties of potatoes are cultivated, the traveller arrives at Vischongo. The nearby Inca baths at Intihuatana cover a considerable area but cannot be considered as spectacular or comprehensive as those of, for example, Pisac. However their location is idyllic, the clear water lake and distant horizon providing an ideal backdrop for the remnants of long walls, and the baths.
After another hour or so the traveller arrives at the rather small and humble town of Vilcashuaman. Around 1400 A.D. Vilcashuaman was considered the geographical centre of the Inca Empire; it was here that the Inca road between Cusco and the Pacific coast intersected their principal highway running the length of the Andes. Clearly this must have been a major Inca administrative and commercial centre, but now very little remains to demonstrate its important past. The former Temple of the Sun, which has undergone extensive alterations, now serves as the foundation for the town’s Catholic Church. However Usnu, a substantial five-tiered pyramid with a stone double throne on top, remains intact and may be climbed. Surprisingly Usnu is remarkably well-preserved or, possible, may have been heavily restored.
Having explored Vilcashuaman it is advisable for the traveller to then return directly to Ayacucho; Vilcashuaman has very limited selection of tolerable hotels or restaurants. On arrival at Ayacucho after what will have been a very long day the traveller will undoubtedly feel dirty, tired, slightly deaf and, most probably, have a rather painful derriere; the result of having spent several hours on very bumpy roads.
It is the opinion of this reviewer that this extended one day excursion is best made with one of the tour companies based in Ayacucho. Local transport in this region is best described as problematic. Furthermore the majority of the local inhabitants do not converse in, and may not understand, Spanish and the roads are of poor quality and not signposted. A few Military checkpoints still exist, as a sad reminder of the war against the Shining Path guerrillas, and being requested to stop by a young recruit who is armed with a powerful weapon, and with whom you cannot communicate, is................ an interesting experience.
Nevertheless the independent traveller who wishes to discover Peru and is, therefore, not mesmerised by, or focused upon, visiting the better known tourist sites will undoubtedly appreciate such a day as this.
A member of the bromeliad family, Puya Raimondi, is the world’s tallest flowering plant. Also nicknamed the Queen of the Andes this endangered species, a member of the pineapple family, grows slowly taking forty years or more to reach a height of about three meters. It then produces an extremely tall flowering spike, possibly as high as ten meters, which contains thousands of large, snow white flowers which, in turn, contain literally millions of seeds. After blooming only once the plant promptly dies. These plants once numerous are now extremely difficult to find; help from the local inhabitants, or a professional guide, will probably be required if the traveller wishes to search out and come within reach of these amazing plants.
After a bumpy dusty ride passing through surprisingly fertile land, where many varieties of potatoes are cultivated, the traveller arrives at Vischongo. The nearby Inca baths at Intihuatana cover a considerable area but cannot be considered as spectacular or comprehensive as those of, for example, Pisac. However their location is idyllic, the clear water lake and distant horizon providing an ideal backdrop for the remnants of long walls, and the baths.
After another hour or so the traveller arrives at the rather small and humble town of Vilcashuaman. Around 1400 A.D. Vilcashuaman was considered the geographical centre of the Inca Empire; it was here that the Inca road between Cusco and the Pacific coast intersected their principal highway running the length of the Andes. Clearly this must have been a major Inca administrative and commercial centre, but now very little remains to demonstrate its important past. The former Temple of the Sun, which has undergone extensive alterations, now serves as the foundation for the town’s Catholic Church. However Usnu, a substantial five-tiered pyramid with a stone double throne on top, remains intact and may be climbed. Surprisingly Usnu is remarkably well-preserved or, possible, may have been heavily restored.
Having explored Vilcashuaman it is advisable for the traveller to then return directly to Ayacucho; Vilcashuaman has very limited selection of tolerable hotels or restaurants. On arrival at Ayacucho after what will have been a very long day the traveller will undoubtedly feel dirty, tired, slightly deaf and, most probably, have a rather painful derriere; the result of having spent several hours on very bumpy roads.
It is the opinion of this reviewer that this extended one day excursion is best made with one of the tour companies based in Ayacucho. Local transport in this region is best described as problematic. Furthermore the majority of the local inhabitants do not converse in, and may not understand, Spanish and the roads are of poor quality and not signposted. A few Military checkpoints still exist, as a sad reminder of the war against the Shining Path guerrillas, and being requested to stop by a young recruit who is armed with a powerful weapon, and with whom you cannot communicate, is................ an interesting experience.
Nevertheless the independent traveller who wishes to discover Peru and is, therefore, not mesmerised by, or focused upon, visiting the better known tourist sites will undoubtedly appreciate such a day as this.
Written January 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny C
4 contributions
To get there from Huamanga at least take 4 hours, the distance is not the problem but bumpy roads make the trip slow and at the same time give you the opportunity to admire the amazing scenery, nature, and the famous puya Raymondi. It's not a big city; nevertheless, it has a colonial church, Central Park, and also the pyramid called Ushno which you can climb until the top
Written June 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
j0anne222
Canberra, Australia9 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Yes, it's a long way from Ayacucho, but I think it's worth it. If I could have my time over, I'd go alone. There were shared colectivos there that go back to Ayacucho.
I went with a tour and it stops a heap of times on the way to Vilcas and only arrives at 2 or 3, to have lunch, then there was only about a 15 minute description and then 30 minutes to explore on your own. This is not much considering the tour is called "vilcashuaman" and it is about an 11 hour tour.
Also, the guide said there is a short 1-2 hour hike up the hill to some other ruins. We did not do this. We spent all day stopping at less interesting places, just to spend little time in Vilcas.
Go, but go independently! Just Google it and you'll find a blog post of a girl who did it alone and describes how.
I went with a tour and it stops a heap of times on the way to Vilcas and only arrives at 2 or 3, to have lunch, then there was only about a 15 minute description and then 30 minutes to explore on your own. This is not much considering the tour is called "vilcashuaman" and it is about an 11 hour tour.
Also, the guide said there is a short 1-2 hour hike up the hill to some other ruins. We did not do this. We spent all day stopping at less interesting places, just to spend little time in Vilcas.
Go, but go independently! Just Google it and you'll find a blog post of a girl who did it alone and describes how.
Written September 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, se puede llegar en transporte público? o existe algún otro medio que no sea el tour?
Written December 5, 2017
In June 2015 I took a small collectivo from Ayacucho. It did not operate on a schedule but ran daily. The iPeru office can tell you where to catch it. If you go on your own you will probably want to stay overnight. It takes at least four hours, each way. There are very simple hostels on the main square.
Written April 9, 2019
Hola, sabés si hay transporte público en algún horario o bien alguna forma de llegar sin contratar el tour de 65 soles? espero tu rta. saludos
Written December 5, 2017
Dónde contrato el Tour Ayacucho Vilcashuamán y cuánto cuesta? Gracias
Written October 17, 2016
Voy a estar en Ayacucho, quisiera saber si fueron solo por el dia a Vilcashuaman o se quedaron a dormir y recorrer la zona, en que lugar se alojaron?
Written April 15, 2015
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