Aymaraes: Pampamarca, Forests and Highland Culture

Aymaraes can be explored through a wide range of travel interests: Pampamarca is known for Andean festival culture and colonial architecture, while two named forest areas bring highland landscapes and wildlife into focus. There is also the taxi ride to the Baños Termales de Pincahuacho. You can decide first whether culture, nature or this excursion should be the main focus of your trip.

Culture and History in Pampamarca

The Carnaval de Pampamarca was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. As a local expression of Andean carnival, it preserves original features of its organisation and a distinctive musical form of expression. These two features give the festival a distinct cultural character: in addition to the carnival tradition, its organisation and music shape its character.

Pampamarca’s history also offers a clear point of reference in time. The historic village was the first village founded by Spaniards in Aymaraes Province and was established in 1578. This gives the place a special role in the history of the province. For a trip focused on culture, the festival tradition is complemented here by a distinct historical focus.

The Templo Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes de Pampamarca adds colonial architecture to this picture. The church was built of adobe bricks and stone between 1781 and 1814; its altarpiece is designed in the Mestizo Baroque style. The construction and altarpiece offer two concrete points of reference for understanding the architecture. Pampamarca’s cultural themes are distinct: the founding of the village, the carnival and the church’s construction each represent a different aspect.

Forest Areas and Highland Nature

The Bosque de Piedras de Pilluni provides a habitat for vicuñas, vizcachas, highland birds, llamas and alpacas. This variety makes wildlife the defining natural theme of this place. If you do not want to plan your trip solely around historic sites, you can focus on something else here: the animals that live in this habitat take centre stage instead of architectural history and festival traditions.

The Bosque de Queuñas de Lankanki covers approximately 51 hectares and lies between 3,600 and 4,200 metres above sea level in the Suni and Puna natural regions. Paths and trails lead into the forest. Lankanki is therefore characterised both by its approximate area and elevation and by the paths through the forest. Unlike the Bosque de Piedras de Pilluni, whose wildlife is specified, the focus here is on the altitude zones and the forest itself.

Getting There and Choosing Your Trip

For the Baños Termales de Pincahuacho, getting there is a practical consideration: the distance from the car stop in Pincahuacho to the baths is 7 km. The taxi ride follows an unpaved road and takes about 25 minutes. Bear these details in mind when including this excursion in your travel plans; the journey is quite different from a trip focused on culture or forests.

Another cultural event is the Fiesta Mayor Señor de Ánimas, also known as the Fiesta Mayor de Apurímac. It is a religious festival in the district of Chalhuanca in Aymaraes Province. On 31 July, a procession passes through the city streets. Its location in Chalhuanca and the date give this festival a different context from the Carnaval de Pampamarca. When choosing a holiday rental, you can therefore first decide whether Pampamarca’s history and culture, the forest areas or the journey to the Baños Termales best match your travel interests.

More Destinations

More destinations: Sañayca District, Chincheros and Andahuaylas Province.

Back to the main travel overview: Apurímac.