*** Updated June 26, 2009 ***

Accommodations

Casa de la Abuela
Avenida Giraldez 691, Huancayo

  • Owner (Lucho) also owns the Incas del Peru travel agency, and two nearby restaurants.
  • The house and accommodations are run down, but comfortable enough. Wi-fi and seating lounge upstairs. Grouchy parrot in courtyard.
  • Water pressure in the private bathrooms is weak, try the shared showers instead.
  • Breakfast: bread and butter, coffee, fruit salad.

Tres Mascaras
Ayacucho

  • Room was dark and dimly lit. Water was cold.
  • We left after one night due to the screeching parrots.

Plaza Hotel
Jr. 9 de Diciembre 184, Ayacucho

  • More expensive than most hotels in the area, but included wi-fi internet! Breakfast! Hot water! Quietness! Very comfortable.

P1000040 copy P1000280Hostal Delicias
Juan Francisco Ramo 525, Andahuaylas

  • Basic, comfortable, cheap rooms.
  • I didn’t shower, so I can’t vouch for the hot water. We stayed here for less than 12 hours between bus rides. A great pit stop.

Tour Agency

Incas del Peru
Avenida Giraldez, across from Casa de la Abuela, Huancayo

  • Artisan Tour ($50). Includes stops at the Parque de la Identidad Huaca and a series of local artisan workshops, lunch, transportation and a guide. The gourd carving workshop was the most authentic and interesting of the workshops. Others were less so, but still worth a look.
  • Historical Tour ($50). Includes stops at a number of ruins and small cities around Huancayo, lunch, transportation and a guide.
  • Our guide, Willy, was excellent.

Shopping

Shosaku Nagase Artisan Market
Ayacucho

  • Best selection of artisan goods I’ve seen in Peru! Go in the later afternoon when more stalls are open.

_MG_5789Restaurants

Cappuccino Cafe
Up the hill from Hostal Delicias, Andahuaylas

  • A bit of Seattle in the middle of the Andes. Wi-fi, coffee and fancy foods. Try the crepes.

Bus Companies

Huancayo >> Ayacucho: Expresso Molina

  • Leaves at 7am and 7pm daily. The buses were nice. The drive is gorgeous.

Ayacucho >> Andahuaylas >> Cusco: Expresso Chankas

  • The ride from Ayacucho to Andahuaylas is 10 hours. From Andahuaylas to Cusco is another 10 hours. Consider splitting it up with one night in Andahuaylas!
  • This ride is incredible. Definitely a highlight of my time in Peru.

DSC03177Sites to See

Huancayo

  • Artisan and Historical tours with Incas del Peru.
  • Walk to Torre Torre.

Ayacucho

  • Shosaku Nagase artisan market.
  • Walking tour of city’s 32 churches.
  • Lookout above city.
  • Artisan workshops in Santa Ana.