Vilcashuaman

23.08.2013 - 25.08.2013
Route: Lircay – Julcamarca – Ayacucho – Vilcashuaman – Astania – Conception – Puente Pampas – Chincheros – Andahuaylas (404 km).



From Lircay perfectly ok gravel road took over the powerful mountains




In the meantime there are some smaller villages, and then again tens of kilometers of empty highland.












Another road repair place. The information was that until 5 o`clock the road would be closed. It was three - so two hours of waiting.

On the whole, the time passed quickly, talking to other drivers about the location of Estonia, and then trying to memorize some basic phrases of the Ketchua language, and so the time the passed without noticing. And when it was five o'clock and the traffic was open – we could move on only by a few kilometers at a time and it was dark already when I reached Ayacucho.


A parking place in the center of Ayacucho.


Ayacucho is the provincial center of Huaman and has a population of about 150 thousand. Other places of interests - Ayacucho is famous for its 33 churches, which represent one for each year of Jesus ' life.








Arc de Triumph.


The Arch of Triumph on the left and the San Francisco de Asis Church on the right.


The previous day's rain had caused some crashes, but at least the road was open.




I did not want to go directly in the direction of Andahuyalas because around here (relatively close) was another interesting archaeological place – Vilcashuaman.


A gravel road took to Vilcashuaman.






And here there are road signs at many intersections. There are much more roads of course than the maps describe.










Before Vilcashuamanit it begins to rain again, and the bottom of the valley remains unseen.


Here, too, the main means of transport are Toyota mini buses.


Vilcashuaman or Wilkawaman is located at the altitude of 3490 meters and there are two important archaeological buildings.


Sun Temple or the Temple de Sol. During the colonial times a church was built on the walls of the temple.


And Ushnu Pyramid.








The town - viewed from the tip of the pyramid.




At the top of the pyramid. There is the seat of the Inca, it is believed that it was once covered with gold.










The next morning sunny pictures of Vilcashuaman. Could not do otherwise but had to re- visit all the places.












During the two half - days I could not notice any tourists here, the place is still so far from major roads. You just could enjoy everything undisturbed.


Then I started to look at how to continue the journey. There are different facts on different maps and some parts of the road seemed to be missing at all, but the locals here said that it would be possible to drive from here directly over the mountains toward Chincherose.


The road taking out of town was completely driveable.














A road that was not on the map.


The direction was right and I did not want to believe somehow that this path would end abruptly.


Now it was necessary to get down from here somehow and then to the other side of the river.




At least the traces show that it has been recently driven A few more kilometers...

And the river was already at your fingertips and then gravel roads were over for that day.

Continued...