The Province of La Mar can be explored through specific cultural and natural features: a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in Santa Rosa, a waterfall in the district of Anchihuay, and living traditions from Anco and Tambo. The route from the hamlet of Marayniyuq to Catarata Qatun Ispaj is 14 kilometers long; the stated walking time is 3 hours and 30 minutes. The waterfall is fed by Yanaccocha and is approximately 100 meters high. The route length and walking time provide a concrete reference point when you are planning this excursion.

Archaeology and Landscapes

In the district of Santa Rosa, the Cedrocucho archaeological site includes unfinished terrace walls built by the pre-Hispanic population. They consist of stone slabs stacked on top of one another. The structures are circular, square and rectangular—several geometric forms within one area. If you are interested in archaeological structures, you can look for these different forms here rather than reducing the site to a single type of structure.

Also in the district of Santa Rosa, provisional protection has been established for the Piedras Marcadas 5 archaeological landscape site. Its precise status is part of how this place should be understood: it is under provisional protection. The Torobamba Valley offers a different geographical focus. It stretches along the left bank across the districts of San Miguel, Patibamba and Ninabamba and is irrigated by the parallel-flowing Río Torobamba. The districts named and the river describe the extent of the valley and its connection to irrigation.

The Los Callejones stone forest in the Unión Minas community has diverse flora, fauna and birdlife. From its higher vantage point, you can look out over the district of Tambo. Different natural features are therefore the focus: at Catarata Qatun Ispaj, the waterfall and walking route are the specific points of interest; at Los Callejones, it is the biodiversity and the view over Tambo.

Living Culture in Anco and Tambo

Baile Costumbrista Llaqta Maqta is a traditional dance from the district of Anco and an indigenous musical expression passed down from generation to generation. The description brings together two aspects: the dance as a cultural form and its transmission across generations. In the district of Tambo, the Herranza tradition is celebrated by livestock-raising families. It includes Tinya music, singing in Quechua and honoring Pachamama. The two examples have different focuses: a traditional dance in Anco and a tradition celebrated by livestock-raising families in Tambo.

When deciding where to travel, it helps to distinguish these specific themes: archaeological forms in Santa Rosa, landscape and natural features in several districts, and musical and cultural traditions in Anco and Tambo. You can then consider which of these focuses is most interesting for your stay, without combining the places or themes into an unsupported route.

Ayacucho as a Broader Travel Destination

In the broader travel destination of Ayacucho, the Pampa Galeras Bárbara D’Achille National Reserve protects vicuñas and high-Andean biodiversity. At the Historic Sanctuary of the Pampa de Ayacucho, visitors can walk through the site of the historic battle and understand its significance and historical impact through information panels. Every year on December 9, the Battle of Ayacucho and the capitulation are reenacted there. The Wari Archaeological Complex was the pre-Hispanic capital of the Wari culture of the same name. These places and themes belong to the regional context of Ayacucho; they are not features of the Province of La Mar.

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