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Laupay stone forest: tour this magical ecosystem in Ayacucho

Posted On: 11 July 2024 #TierrasVivas 751

If you are still not sure where to travel this summer, we recommend taking a tour of the Laupay Stone Forest in Ayacucho. With settings that seem straight out of a fairy tale, this tourist destination is one of the most visited among national and international tourists who come to Ayacucho every month. Today, we show you everything you need to know to reach this mystical tourist destination.

With polymorphous figures, this forest is a mix between virgin nature and ancestral mysticism. It is for this reason that you cannot miss this natural creation that is attracting thousands of national and foreign tourists.

The Laupay Stone Forest

This forest is located at 4300 meters above sea level. and has an area of ​​20 hectares full of nature and rock configurations of very particular and mystical shapes. Among these rocks you can see different animals, humans, plants and objects. It is for this reason that each one has received a name with which it is recognized from the rest.

During the day, the Laupay Stone Forest is an excellent place for trekking. Thus, it is a dream paradise to travel these paths full of mystical shapes that will surprise you every 100 meters you walk. In addition, due to its location, during trekking you can also observe the fauna and flora so representative of the Ayacucho region.

When night comes, it becomes the favorite place for camping. In this place you can feel very quiet and if you look up, you can see millions of stars that will accompany you all night. Additionally, sharing the night with these rock beings will give a mystical touch to the experience.

How to get to the Laupay Stone Forest?

The Laupay Stone Forest, located in the community of the same name, is 3 hours from the city of Huanta.

To get to this city, you can take several bus companies that leave from different parts of the country. From Lima, bus companies such as Expreso Antezana or Megabus do this route. You can find tickets from 40 soles.

Legends around the Laupay Stone Forest

The Laupay Stone Forest is not only a beautiful place where you can connect with nature, but also a place that is clothed in an atmosphere full of mysticism and legends.

Thus, the residents of Laupay tell a legend that tells how this particular place was formed. According to them, in the Huanta jungle there was a character called Apu, who had great power, in addition to being master of the entire territory and the beings that lived there.

The road to the mountains

The thirst to expand his territories made Apu want to expand his power to the mountainous area. Under this purpose he ordered all the inhabitants, animals and plants of the jungle to make the journey to the mountains, specifically to the Huanta valley. This trip, it is said, would be made in a single night.

Thus, all living beings moved from the jungle with great speed. With the whip in his hand, the Apu divided the mountains in two to be able to pass. However, fatigue reached all living beings, including Apu. When they passed through Laupay, men, animals and plants were petrified, which gave shape to the rocks that are currently seen in this territory. The largest rock, thus, would be the petrified Apu.

The Laupay Stone Forest is a must-see destination if you are visiting the various tourist attractions of Huanta or Ayacucho. Without a doubt, it is a magical space where you can go trekking, get to know the local fauna and flora, and explore the rocky paths that attract so many tourists.

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Edwin Caviedes Profesional guide

Edwin Caviedes is the founder and manager of Tierras Vivas, a company that benefits native people communities.