Although almost everyone who visits Peru, would take the southern route to get from Lima to Cusco, visiting the UNESCO sites of the Nasca Lines and Arequipa on the way, going straight through the Andes, visiting Ayacucho and Andahuaylas along the way, gives you a much more interesting experience, especially when travelling by public transport.

The city of Ayacucho, capital of the Ayacucho region, is worth a couple of days. Famous for its churches, and the nearby capital city of the Huari/Wari kingdom.The Battle of Ayacucho was the last armed clash between against Spaniards in the Peruvian War of Independence on 9 December 1924. The independent victory sealed the independence of Peru and South America. The is derived from the indigenous Quechua name Ayakucha meaning dead corner, because of all the casualties.

Once in Ayacucho, regular public transport is available, as the town next to the actual monument is very touristy. Don't forget to stop by the ruins of the former capital of the above mentioned Huari/Wari Kingdom. You can easily spend an hour there. Arriving in the town of Quinua it's still a decent walk, but tuktuks are readily available. The way to get to the monument itself is quite self-explanatory, and if not, just ask people. It really can't be missed.

It's just a meadow where people hang around. The monument itself is quite impressive for South American standards. Some explanatory texts can be found if you don't take the shortcut from the town. But once you've seen …