Quinua

Travel Guide

Located 22 kilometres north-east of Ayacucho, on the road to Quinua, the Wari ruins cover some 16 square kilometres in an isolated, elevated location in the middle of the biggest cactus forest I’ve ever seen. The Wari were an ancient civilisation who flourished between 600 AD and 1100 AD, long before the Incas arrived. Their empire extended north beyond Chiclayo and south as far as Lake Titicaca (that’s the majority of the length of the entire country), with its capital on the pampa above Ayacucho. Once home to some 50,000 people, there is now possibly the same number of cactus plants in their place. A fantastic place if you love cacti, nature, ruins, and isolation :-)
Located 22 kilometres north-east of Ayacucho, on the road to Quinua, the Wari ruins cover some 16 square kilometres in an isolated, elevated location in the middle of the biggest cactus forest I’ve ever seen. The Wari were an ancient civilisation who flourished between 600 AD and 1100 AD, long before the Incas arrived. Their empire extended north beyond Chiclayo and south as far as Lake Titicaca (that’s the majority of the length of the entire country), with its capital on the pampa above Ayacucho. Once home to some 50,000 people, there is now possibly the same number of cactus plants in their place. A fantastic place if you love cacti, nature, ruins, and isolation :-)
20km north east of Ayacucho, on the road to Quinua (not sure if the position on the map is EXACTLY correct) are the ruins of the capital of the Wari empire. The Wari ruled from 600AD to 1100AD and therefore pre-date the Incas. The extensive ruins are scattered among endless fields of Opuntia cacti and Prickly Pear, and these were more of a fascination to me than the ruins themselves. Despite being so exposed, the site felt quite mysterious and strangely eerie: we didn't see a single other tourist there, but we did see swarms of locusts (which, at first we mistook for birds). It's a beautiful spot, the views are amazing on a clear day and you'll see plenty of colourful butterflies and flowers. But remember to bring water, as the site is literally in the middle of nowhere, so there are no opportunities to purchase any nearby. You can catch a local bus, combi or shared taxi to the ruins, but be wary of stopping too late. We stayed until dusk, and ended up having to hitch a ride back to Ayacucho because - I assume - we'd missed the last lot of public transportation heading that way.

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HOSPEDAJE LIBERTADORES

HOSPEDAJE LIBERTADORES

2 out of 5
Al costado del mercado quinua Quinua Ayacucho
Stay at this guesthouse in Quinua. Enjoy free parking. Popular attractions Pampas de Ayacucho Historical Sanctuary and Wari Museum are located nearby.
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HOSPEDAJE LIBERTADORES
Hotel Club las Flores

Hotel Club las Flores

3 out of 5
Jr Parinacochas Mz N Lote 14, Santa Elena Andres Avelino Caceres Dorregaray Ayacucho
The price is CA $52 per night from Mar 21 to Mar 22
CA $52
CA $52 total
Mar 21 - Mar 22
Stay at this hotel in Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Ayacucho Plaza de ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
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Reviewed on Nov 22, 2025

Hotel Club las Flores
Casa Andina Standard Ayacucho

Casa Andina Standard Ayacucho

3 out of 5
4 Portal Constitución Ayacucho Ayacucho
The price is CA $109 per night from Mar 5 to Mar 6
CA $109
CA $115 total
Mar 5 - Mar 6
Stay at this hotel in Ayacucho. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Ayacucho Popular Art Museum and Prefectura are ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
El personal en especial la buena atención y servicio de Diana y Thalia

Reviewed on Dec 16, 2025

Casa Andina Standard Ayacucho
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
5 minutos a la plaza principal. Casa de cuatro pisos: pequeño, cómodo, acogedor.

5 minutos a la plaza principal. Casa de cuatro pisos: pequeño, cómodo, acogedor.

Ayacucho Ayacucho
Stay at this apartment in Ayacucho. Enjoy laundry facilities. Popular attractions Ayacucho Plaza de Armas and Ayacucho Popular Art Museum are located ...
5 minutos a la plaza principal. Casa de cuatro pisos: pequeño, cómodo, acogedor.
Apartment in Ayacucho! 5 minutes from the airport!

Apartment in Ayacucho! 5 minutes from the airport!

Ayacucho Ayacucho
Stay at this apartment in Ayacucho. Enjoy laundry facilities. Popular attractions Mariscal Cáceres Park and Hipolito Unanue Museum are located nearby.
Apartment in Ayacucho! 5 minutes from the airport!
Apartment in Plaza Mayor de Ayacucho

Apartment in Plaza Mayor de Ayacucho

Ayacucho Ayacucho
Stay at this apartment in Ayacucho. Enjoy laundry facilities. Popular attractions Prefectura and Ayacucho Popular Art Museum are located nearby.
Apartment in Plaza Mayor de Ayacucho
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Pampas de Ayacucho Historical Sanctuary

You can find out about the history of Quinua with a trip to Pampas de Ayacucho Historical Sanctuary. Wander the riverfront or discover the area's mountain views.

Pampas de Ayacucho Historical Sanctuary

Wari Museum

You can study the exhibits at Wari Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to Pacaycasa. Stroll along the riverfront or visit the monuments while you're in the area.

Wari Museum