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Day 5 of 15 · Pampas Chico · Off-the-Beaten-Path Cordillera Negra & Conchucos

Day 5 — Hatun Machay Stone Forest

TRANSFERwildlife watching

An active day to your new base in Pampas Chico, with 1 h 56 on the road.

Hatun Machay Stone Forest
Un lugar perfecto para la aventura extrema, así es el bosque de piedras Hatun Machay, en el corazón de Ancash a 4200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Allí, es posible realizar trekking (caminatas), escalada en roca y otras © photographed on 27 May 2017 by Ozesama — CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stage 3 · Pampas Chico · Peru

We sleep in Pampas Chico, 5.7 km from the place visited

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days 5–6 2 nights 1 h 56 on the road110 kmclimate favourable

programme
6 h
road
1 h 56
usable window
11 h 36
  • Observe high-altitude raptors and mountain viscachas

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    2 h
  • Explore the mystical stone forest of Hatun Machay★☆☆☆☆ · known in 2 languages — article “Hatun Machay”“Hatun Machay (possibly from Quechua hatun big, mach'ay cave) is a rock forest with archaeological remains in Peru. It was declared a National Cultural Heritage by Resolución Directoral No. 944/INC-2010 on May 7, 2010.” — after Wikipedia

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    4 h

To add if time allows: Starlit night photography in the silent stone forest (3 h) · Observe ancient rock paintings in the stone caves (2 h)

Bad-weather option — something else that day — Observe ancient rock paintings in the stone caves

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On the way

Stops beside the road, chosen for their small detour — we say they are on the way, we do not promise to go through them.

  • Recuay

    Recuay

    Explore the surrounding wetlands and riverbanks which serve as a habitat for various high-altitude bird species.

    45 min there · no detour · View on Google Maps

    © photographed on 17 September 2022 by SolcitoAndino — CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

  • Ticapampa

    Scan the nearby marshy areas for Andean lapwings and other waterfowl native to the high-altitude valley.

    40 min there · no detour · View on Google Maps