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AndahuaylasLocation: Rediscover Machu Picchu > Peru & the Andes > Andahuaylas -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Andahuaylas
The small city has 34.000 inhabitants and is known as the Pradera de los Celajes (The Prairie of Coloured Clouds). Indeed, the sky looks very beautiful here, especially at dusk and at dawn. Much of Andahuaylas is poor, but the people are known to be friendly.
The city falls out of the main lines on which travelers criss-cross Peru.
This is not like the
Sacred Valley area. Fewer
people come here, despite the wonderful mountain views and nearby ruins.
Andahuaylas is often confused with
Andahuaylillas, which is another town,
but further east, even further than
Cuzco. Interesting thing about Andahuaylas is that it has colourful mototaxis in which you can take rides around. If you pay them well, they might even take you closer to nearby ruins in the mountains. Of course, they cannot go off-road, these are three-wheeled vehicles, rather like motorcycles, but covered with a "box", which makes them resemble cars...
These vehicles are found in many other parts of
Peru, though... Plaza Central (Central Square)
A statue representing a bull with a condor standing on its back is an
attraction that stands out. Laguna Pacucha
Laguna Pachuca is about 18 km (11.18 mi) from Andahuaylas. It is a mountain lake.
Hikers who take trips in the area are recommended to visit this lagoon. The
views are splendid! Unfortunately there is intensive pollution going on. Rivers bring toxic substances that are used in agriculture, slowly contaminating the beautiful lagoon.
The Pacucha Lagoon is famous for its beautiful blue water and the different species of birds (many of which are duck species) that live in the area. There you go, another reason to go... You can do birdwatching!
The Ruins of Sondor
These are no Incan ruins, but Chanka (or Chanca) ruins. The Chankas had lived in this area of Peru, before the Incas had conquered them. The terraces that you can see at the Sondor Archaeological Park are all Chanka ruins.
Our Sondor guide will treat this subject in details, so please refer to it, if you need further information about the archaeological complex.
Getting to Andahuaylas
The small city has its own airport. The only scheduled flights are to- and from Lima.
The other way to get there is by road. The most popular way it to arrive in from Cuzco. The road is poor, so the ride can take a whole day to get from Cuzco to Andahuaylas.
There is no train. |
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