A wonderful holiday in Peru’s Ayabaca

The marvelous mountain town of Ayabaca is ranked amongst the major tourist hotspots in the wonderful South American nation of Peru. The town is part of the Ayabaca province, which is part of the northwestern region of the country.

The region is also commonly referred to as Ayavaca and it is part of the nation’s northern border with the neighboring country of Ecuador. Besides, the province is bordered by the Huancabamba Province on the northeast and the Morropón Province on the southern side. The western borders of the province are shared with the Sullana and Piura provinces. The headquarters of the province is the city of Ayabaca, which also holds the distinction of being the highest city in the entire region at some 2,709 meters above sea level.

The height of the city as well as it’s proximity to the equator makes the city and the province an ideal holiday destination. The city is situated at under 500 kilometers from the equator and as a result, the climate of the city is characterized with long chilly nights and a combination of the tropical sun and moderate climate during the days. Also, the city offers excellent sun burn opportunities to its visitors.

Secondly, the age of the town is over 200 years and another striking feature here is a large chunk of the houses built in the present day. A major characteristic of the houses are they are still build in the styles of the then ancient houses, which date back to the 1800s’. Nevertheless, the city and the entire region in and around the city are full of tourist attractions. Let’s go through some of the highlights of the region in brief.

Senor Cautivo de Ayabaca:

This is all about the patron saint of Ayabaca. It is believed the carvings were created by angels. These masterpieces are housed in a wonderful church on the central square of the city.

Cerro Yantuma:

The Cerro Yantuma is a wonderful rolling hill situated on the outskirts of the city. This hilly area is visited by people from all walks of life in large numbers. The place is full of greenery and the tall trees make the place a must visit for all you nature lovers. Besides, the views of the entire area from the hill are spectacular and I’m only sure you will not wish to move away from the hill area.

Bosque de Cuyas:

This virgin forest area is easily assessable from the city limits. All nature lovers should visit the Bosque de Cuyas without fail as there are some really huge trees in the area, besides there is also a spectacular waterfall, under which you can always get wet.

Aypate Archaeological Complex:

This important archaeological site is situated at a distance of around 49 kilometers from the city center. The approximate travel time to the place is just under 2 hours. This site is set at an altitude of some 2,916 meters above the sea level and the ruins found in the complex date back to the 15th century.

The ruins are famous as they resemble the Inca features, which are found in the kallanca, ushnu, the central plaza, and the acllahuasi.

Other notable findings of the complex include the remains of an ancient old road and terraces. Besides, the area is full of abundant greenery and some of the natives of the land include the bromelias, orchids, white-tailed deer, birds and various other beautiful species. Therefore, this place tends to get crowded with visitors as there is so much to see.

The Olleros Valley:

This is another place of archaeological significance in the region. The Olleros is situated some 20 kilometers from the city and is visited in large numbers as it houses the remains of the local king’s residence. The other notable findings of the place include the funeral urns and sealed tombs, besides the very ancient Cupisnique crafts, which date back to the year 350 BC.

Chocan Thermal Baths:

The Chocan Thermal Baths is located some 12 kilometers from the city and is probably one of the most frequently visited places of the entire region. The reason why the place sees such huge crowds in owing to the fact, the Chocan houses the only thermal baths of the entire province. The baths are made of stone, which are set up on the natural rocks. A striking feature here is the crystal-clear thermal springs of the area, which provide hot water during the early hours of the day and the water becomes cooler after sunrise.

You should also try the Sango, which is the traditional dish of the entire province. Sango is made of pork and ground wheat. Some of the other food specialties of the province include chochoca, which is a soup derived from the hooves of cattle, beef ceviche and salt fish.

The town and province sees some huge festivities as well. One of the biggest and more prominent festivals of the region is the Santisima Cruz, which is celebrated all over on May 3. Other popular occasions include Santa Ana on July 26, Virgen del Pilar on October 12 and Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca on October 13.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach the city of Ayabaca?

The nearest airport to Ayabaca is Cap. FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport in Piura. This airport is ranked as one of the premier airports in the whole of Peru. The airport is situated some 43 kilometers from the city center of Ayabaca and the distance can be covered in around 2 and a half hours.

The Piura international airport hosts a series of flights from the US and other major cities of the entire world. Once you have set foot on this airport, it is recommended you travel to Ayabaca via a hired private cab as it will be the best option at your disposal.

Where do I stay during my Ayabaca holiday?

The area in and around Ayabaca City and province boasts some wonderful accommodation options for you. The options are also available in different budget categories for you to choose from. Some of prominent landmarks of the region include Calle Romero Ada, Hospedaje San Martin De Porres, Hospedaje Medina‎ , Hostal Trujillo‎ , Vilchez Ruidias Amelia Jannina‎ , Establecimiento De Hosped.Grau, Ibanez Zena Homero Abad‎ , Casa Hospedaje Teresa De Jesus‎ , Huaman Cunia Jose Eladio, Colonial Macara‎ , Hosteria Izhcayluma‎ , Madre Tierra‎ , Emperador, El Conquistador,  Santigyn‎ ,  Karina, Hosteria Madre Tierra, Hospedaje California Peralta Obregón Pedro Martín and Hospedaje Chulucanas Inmobiliaria Soler Cherrez SRLTDA‎ .

When is the best time of the year to visit Ayabaca?

Frankly speaking, you may visit the city and province of Ayabaca at any time of the year. However, it is normal trend seen in this part of the world; the months from June to August are very crowded. These months coincide with the peak tourism season of the region and the hotel rates and other general rates also tend to peak.

It is recommended you visit the place during the months of May through November as the temperatures are cool and ideal for a holiday. Besides, the hotel and other general rates will also be stable during these months.

In conclusion, Ayabaca is a wonderful holiday destination for people from all walks of life. The place has something for everyone, be it a family visiting the place or a couple on a holiday here, you are bound to fall in love with the city. There is so much to explore, be it the ancient ruins or the abundant greenery all around.

Secondly, the place has a reputation of being quite a safe place as there have been no untoward incidents reported from Ayabaca. This is unlike some of the top travel destinations of the world, which have seen a rise in crime and other anti-social activities. Hence, you can be rest assured of a safe an enjoyable holiday in Ayabaca.

So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that all important holiday trip to Ayabaca in the wonderful Peru.