{"id":2323,"date":"2025-03-08T17:59:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T17:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2025-09-20T22:16:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T22:16:08","slug":"cusco-espinar-a-wonderful-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/en\/cusco-espinar-a-wonderful-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"Cusco: Espinar, a wonderful destination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0076.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0076.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0076-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0076-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Espinar,<strong> the other wonder of Cusco.<\/strong>&#8221; Is this slogan true, or was it just a clever phrase to attract tourists and <strong>travellers eager to explore new routes<\/strong>? Well, I\u2019m one of them, so when I saw the promotional poster of this high-altitude province\u2014really high altitude\u2014at the bus terminal in <a href=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/en\/puno-aventuras-en-el-lago-titicaca\/\">Puno<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/en\/arequipa-route-of-the-sillar\/\">Arequipa<\/a>, my curiosity was piqued. I can\u2019t quite remember where exactly it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I do remember, though, is that a few months later I would be travelling to Espinar\u2014a <strong>land known for its mining activity<\/strong>\u2014to see for myself if the poster revealed a truth or was just a trick. What I remember is arriving in <strong>Yauri, the provincial capital<\/strong> (3,924 metres above sea level), which would be my base and starting point. What<strong> I remember are my adventures <\/strong>across the challenging geography of &#8220;the other wonder.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as I\u2019m reminiscing, I\u2019ll take this moment of traveller\u2019s nostalgia to share <strong>my experiences among winding rivers <\/strong>and forests of que\u00f1uales (an endangered Andean tree), my wanderings across pampas where the wind makes the tufts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeder.com\/ichu\/\">ichu<\/a> grass (the high-altitude grass) \u201cdance,\u201d and my steps through time in pre-Hispanic sites, as well as in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rumbosdelperu.com\/destinos-largos\/20-04-2017\/espinar-prodigios-de-puna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">colonial bridges<\/a> and churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0099.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0099.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0099-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0099-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is that all? No, there&#8217;s much more than that. <strong>In Espinar, I would feel like a paleontologist<\/strong> when I saw the fossil of an armoured mammal from the Pliocene. Yes, I was astounded in front of the <a href=\"https:\/\/espinar-yauri.blogspot.com\/2014\/03\/hallazgos-de-fosiles-en-la-provincia-de.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">gliptodonte<\/a> from Alto Pichigua, a giant and distant relative of the armadillos. My reaction was similar to learning that more than one farmer, while ploughing their fields, discovers remains of animals t<strong>hat lived on the planet millions of years ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Incredible, but true\u2014so true that the \u201cother wonder\u201d is considered by experts as a <strong>&#8220;paleontological site.&#8221;<\/strong> How could it not be, when <strong>the skeleton of a toxodonte<\/strong> was discovered during excavations for the construction of the Yauri stadium in 2005, marking it as <strong>the first fossilized mammal found on the Peruvian Andean plateau<\/strong>, as noted in an <a href=\"https:\/\/andina.pe\/agencia\/noticia-cusco-atesora-nueva-localidad-paleontologica-los-andes-preservacion-excepcional-953624.aspx\">article from the Andina news agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>There are many tourist wonders <\/strong>in the province of Espinar, as the poster I saw at the bus terminal promised, as this entry you\u2019re reading reveals. I hope the end result is the same. I\u2019d love for you to pack your bag and head towards<strong> a destination that only a few dare to explore.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s head south of Cusco<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0255.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0255.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0255-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0255-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want to visit Espinar, but you&#8217;re worried that this &#8220;getaway&#8221; might complicate your itinerary. Let me tell you, that won\u2019t happen. If your travel plans include visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/en\/why-to-visit-cusco\/\">Cusco<\/a>, Arequipa, and Puno\u2014regions that make up the famous Southern Circuit, the most popular in Peru\u2014<strong>you\u2019ll just need to add one more stop to your route<\/strong>, because the &#8220;other wonder&#8221; is accessible by land from all three regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey to Yauri from Cusco (<strong>the distance is 241 km<\/strong>) takes approximately 4 hours. After exploring its attractions\u2014over one or more days\u2014<strong>continue on to the Colca Valley and Canyon<\/strong>, the main attraction of Arequipa (less than 4 hours), or head to Puno, with a journey of around 5 hours that will take you to the shores of Lake <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gob.pe\/institucion\/sernanp\/informes-publicaciones\/1749491-reserva-nacional-del-titicaca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Titicaca<\/a>, the highest navigable lake in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Buses to Espinar<\/strong> depart from the old Incan capital, Cusco. They leave in the afternoons and evenings from the Terminal Terrestre (Avenida V\u00eda de Evitamiento 429). The approximate cost of the ticket is <strong>30 soles<\/strong>. If you prefer to travel during the day, head to Wanchaq and catch the colectivos to Sicuani (<strong>3 hours, 8 soles<\/strong>), where you\u2019ll find public transport to Yauri (<strong>2 hours, 10 soles<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0651.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0651.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0651-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0651-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you reach your destination, you won\u2019t have any trouble <strong>finding accommodation<\/strong>. While Yauri is a small town,<strong> it has several hotels, hostels, and lodgings<\/strong>, thanks to its mining activity. Don\u2019t expect a five- or four-star hotel. Think simple rooms, but with everything you need to enjoy your stay comfortably, though without luxury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same goes for food. The restaurants<strong> offer affordable set menus <\/strong>and various \u00e0 la carte dishes. There are also street food stalls. It\u2019s not a bad idea to try the powerful drinks made from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/salud\/2023\/11\/27\/para-que-sirve-la-maca-peruana-y-cuales-son-sus-beneficios-para-la-salud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">maca<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.midagri.gob.pe\/portal\/444-granos-andinos\/9380-historia-de-la-quinua\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">quinoa<\/a>, and <strong>don\u2019t miss out<\/strong> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=681873665313068\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">delicious roasted lamb<\/a>, a festive dish where the meat is cooked in a traditional oven. <strong>It\u2019s served with <em>moraya<\/em><\/strong> (dehydrated potato) and <em>uchukuta<\/em> (spicy sauce).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A hero and three cannons in Espinar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4446.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4446.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4446-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4446-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you\u2019re in Yauri, you\u2019ve already walked around the square and visited the <strong>colonial church of Santa Ana<\/strong>, built on an Incan huaca. You\u2019ve felt the strain of the altitude, and you\u2019re eager <strong>to explore the three canyons of Suyckutambo<\/strong>, the main wonder among all the other marvels of Espinar, recalling the phrase from the poster I mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I haven\u2019t shared with you until now is that the province is named Espinar <strong>in honour of a Cusco military officer<\/strong> who died heroically at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grau.pe\/campana-terrestre\/batalla-de-dolores-o-batalla-de-san-francisco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Battle of San Francisco<\/a> during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). The bravery of Commander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adeprin.org\/ladislao-espinar-el-heroe-de-san-francisco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ladislao Espinar<\/a> was recognised by his enemies, who gave him a respectful burial at the place where he fell, sword in hand, fulfilling his duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in these peaceful times, <strong>you\u2019ll only be wielding your camera<\/strong> to fulfil your &#8220;duty&#8221; of <strong>capturing a fantastic route<\/strong> that leads to the watersheds of Callumani, Cerritambo, and <a href=\"https:\/\/consultasenlinea.mincetur.gob.pe\/fichaInventario\/index.aspx?cod_Ficha=8729#:~:text=Se%20encuentra%20en%20el%20ca%C3%B1%C3%B3n,altitud%2C%20entre%20Cusco%20y%20Arequipa.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Apur\u00edmac<\/a>\u2014the river of the god that speaks in Spanish\u2014the cliffs that surround these waterways, and the forests of que\u00f1uales in the <a href=\"https:\/\/acca.org.pe\/acr-tres-canones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Tres Ca\u00f1ones Regional Conservation Area<\/a> (ACR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4808.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4808.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4808-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4808-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an area of 39,485 hectares shared by the districts of Coporaque and Suyckutambo, the ACR (Regional Conservation Area) was created in 2017 <strong>with the goal of securing and conserving biodiversity<\/strong>, the natural environment of the landscapes, cultural identity, and monuments that showcase t<strong>he greatness of the pre-Hispanic civilizations<\/strong> that once settled in this seemingly hostile geography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s well known that appearances can be deceiving. <strong>So don\u2019t hesitate to travel to Tres Ca\u00f1ones from Yauri.<\/strong> The approximate distance is 40 km (about an hour without stops), and I recommend renting a vehicle so you can visit Mauka Llaqta and Taqrachullo, or Mar\u00eda Fortaleza. If that\u2019s not possible, look for <strong>the colectivos heading to the village of Suyckutambo<\/strong> (around 10 soles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Between Canyons and Pre-Hispanic Sites<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4560.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4560.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4560-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC4560-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two rivers that become one. Two rivers that, by feeding the flow of the Apur\u00edmac, turn into three. Yes, now there are three, <strong>and all three are surrounded by towering cliffs.<\/strong> The rugged landscape is softened by the lush green of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agroperu.pe\/quenual-arbol-nativo-para-hacer-frente-a-la-escasez-de-agua\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">que\u00f1uales<\/a>, a heroic species that defies the height,<strong> a tree essential to the Andean ecosystem<\/strong> because it controls erosion and captures water from the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You\u2019ve reached your destination.<\/strong> You\u2019re now at the foot of the three canyons of Espinar. You\u2019re gazing at a natural setting that is home to <strong>an extraordinary diversity of plant species <\/strong>(tolas, ichu, puyas Raimondi) and Andean wildlife (foxes, vicu\u00f1as, pumas, vizcachas, tarucas, llamas, and alpacas). You\u2019re walking, exploring, and feeling small in the face of<strong> the magnificent geography of Suyckutambo.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0722.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0722.webp 1024w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0722-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/freewalkingtourcusco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DSC_0722-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s hard to believe that just a few minutes ago, you were observing the canyons from <strong>Taqrachullo <\/strong>(4,038 meters above sea level), an archaeological site that stretches up to the top of a cliff. Circular and semicircular enclosures, chullpas (tombs), <a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kallanka\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">kallancas<\/a>, and <strong>stone stairways<\/strong> are part of a historical attraction once occupied by the qaluyo, the first great culture of the Altiplano. <strong>Mar\u00eda Fortaleza<\/strong>, as it is also known, <a href=\"https:\/\/andina.pe\/agencia\/noticia-oferta-turistica-el-cusco-crece-ponen-valor-monumento-arqueologico-taqrachullo-1012702.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">was revitalized in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this place, <strong>every step brings you closer to the past<\/strong> and the peoples who once inhabited these spaces, such as the Wari, the Collao, the Canas\u2014natives of what is now Espinar\u2014and, <strong>of course, the Incas<\/strong>. They left traces of their architecture in <a href=\"https:\/\/consultasenlinea.mincetur.gob.pe\/fichaInventario\/index.aspx?cod_Ficha=3618\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mauka Llaqta<\/a>, a must-see stop on the route to Suyckutambo. Here, <strong>a circular chullpa with a vaulted roof stands out.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marvelous\u2014that\u2019s what you\u2019ll think as you take in the whimsical, strange, and perhaps<strong> even intricate geography of Espinar<\/strong>, whether from the highest point of a cliff or at the foot of the canyons. In those moments of adventure and contemplation, <strong>you won\u2019t mind the cold wind<\/strong> or the threats of soroche (altitude sickness). You\u2019ll only want to enjoy the view and savor every second in <strong>a destination that wasn\u2019t even in your plans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Espinar, the other wonder of Cusco.&#8221; Is this slogan true, or was it just a clever phrase to attract tourists and travellers eager to explore new routes? Well, I\u2019m one of them, so when I saw the promotional poster of this high-altitude province\u2014really high altitude\u2014at the bus terminal in Puno or Arequipa, my curiosity was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tourism"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cusco: Espinar, A destination filled with adventure, canyons, forests<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cusco: Espinar, A journey in search of other natural, archaeological and cultural wonders of Espinar in the 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