Things to Do in Abancay

A small municipal museum displaying pre-Columbian pottery, textiles and mummies from the Chanka culture. Labelling is in Spanish.

🕐 Monday to Friday, 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm; Saturday, 9am – 1pm

💡 Donations are appreciated but not required. The curator often gives an impromptu tour in Spanish – ask nicely if you speak it. Allow 45 minutes.

The main square with a cathedral, shaded benches, and a central fountain. Locals gather here in the evenings.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Come in the late afternoon for the best light on the cathedral facade and to see families out for a stroll.

A high-altitude forest of native Polylepis trees (queueñual) within the Ampay National Sanctuary. Short trails lead through mossy woodland to a small lake. Entrance to the sanctuary is free.

🕐 Tuesday to Sunday, 8am – 4pm

💡 Hire a local guide from the park office for 10 soles – they spot wildlife and prevent you getting lost. The trailhead is a 40-minute uphill walk from town. Bring a jacket; it gets chilly.

A viewpoint on the lower slopes of the Ampay mountain, giving wide views across Abancay and the Pachachaca river valley. It's a steep 30-minute walk from the central plaza.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go early in the morning before the clouds roll in around 10 am. Bring water and sunblock.

A colonial-era stone bridge spanning the Pachachaca river, built in the 16th century. The single arch is still used by pedestrians and occasional motorbikes.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk halfway across and look upstream for a clear view of the river gorge. Have coins ready for the small fruit stalls on the far side.