GENERAL DATA
Location: The Apurimac region is located in the south-eastern area of the Peruvian territory and its capital is the city of Abancay, at 2,378 m.a.s.l.

It has an area of 20,895 km2 and is divided in 7 provinces and 80 districts.

Annual Average Temperature: 18ºC. (maximum 25º and minimum 12ºC).The rainy season goes from November to March.

ACCESS
By air: The most advisable route is Lima-Nazca-Abancay (897 km) and the trip lasts 17 hours from Lima by car.

By land: From Lima to Cuzco (1 hour) and by car from Cuzco to Abancay for 6 hours.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Abancay, capital of the Apurimac department, is located in the Mariño river valley, at the foothill of the Ampay snow-capped peak. According to a tradition gathered by chroniclers and historians, Abancay city was founded by Ruiz de Estrada in 1574, under the name of Santiago de Abancay and, seventy one years later, the Dominican priest Domingo de Lartaun prepared the first plan of the city and consecrated it to the Virgin of the Rosary, and built a temple in her honor which is now Abancay’s Main Church located in the city’s Main Square.

GASTRONOMY
Its typical dishes are: chicharrones (pork cracklings), cuy relleno (stuffed guinea pig), tallarines de casa (home-style spaghetti) served with hen, and stuffed rocoto hot pepper.

TOURIST OVERVIEW
Ampay National Sanctuary, located 6 km north of Abancay, and made up by natural forests, lagoons and snow-capped peaks. The Apurimac River Canyon, 90 km northeast of Abancay, and 2 hours from it by car, is considered one of the deepest and most beautiful in the world.

The Saywite Archaeological Compound where the Saywite Monolith was found shows some of the best sculptures made by the Incas and there is also the Choquequirao Archaeological Compound.