The province of Espinar

Espinar is the southernmost province of the department of Cusco.

Its name was chosen in honor of Colonel Ladislao Espinar Carrera, who was a hero of Cusco during the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1884).

Espinar is made up of thirteen districts: Alto Pichigua, Suyckutambo, Pichigua, Pallpata, Ocoruro, Coporaque, Condoroma and Yauri. The latter district is the capital of the province.

Espinar has a population of 62,069 inhabitants according to the 2020 census. This population inhabits an area of 5,311.09 square kilometers.

The average altitude is 3,928 meters above sea level. This altitude generates a cold climate in most of its territory.

The main activities are livestock, agriculture and mining (copper deposits).

Its main tourist attractions are the archaeological site of K’anamarca, the temple of Yauri, the three canyons of Suyuktambo and the archaeological site of Mauk’allacta.

Where is it located?

The province of Espinar is located in the extreme south of the department of Cusco.

It is bordered on the north by the province of Canas, on the east by the department of Puno, on the south by the department of Arequipa and on the west by the province of Chumbivilcas.

How to get there?

The public transportation buses to Espinar are located on Huayruropata Avenue in the city of Cusco.

The trip takes almost 5 hours. The bus ticket costs approximately 25 soles.

History of Espinar

The history of the province of Espinar dates back to pre-Inca times. One of the most developed cultures in the area were the K’anas, a society that allied with the nascent Inca empire during the war against the Chancas under the leadership of the young Pachacutec.

During the Inca period, important terraces, roads and citadels were built in the Espinar region, such as the current archaeological site of Mauk’allacta. The Incas were finally subdued by the Spanish in the mid-sixteenth century.

The province of Espinar was created on November 17, 1917. Its name was chosen in honor of Colonel Ladislao Espinar Carrera, who was a Cusquenian hero during the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1884). On October 11, 2017 the town of Yauri is declared as a city and capital of the province of Espinar.

What to see in Espinar?

• The archaeological site of K’anamarca – This important archaeological site is located in the district of Alto Pichigua. It is a citadel built by the pre-Inca K’ana culture. It stands out for its circular and rectangular enclosures. In 2004, the discovery of the mummy of the ‘Señora de K’anamarka’ was made there.
• The temple of Yauri – The temple of Santa Ana de Yauri was built in colonial times. It stands out for its canvases from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. For its construction was used the ashlar, white volcanic stone. It has a baroque style with mestizo influence.
• The three canyons of Suyuktambo – This novel tourist attraction is located in the regional conservation area of the same name declared in 2017. It stands out for its rock formations surrounded by the Apurímac, Cerritambo and Callumani rivers. There you can take incredible photos and spot Andean flora and fauna. It is between the districts of Saykutambo and Coporaque.
• The archaeological site of Mauk’allacta – Its name, translated from the Quechua language, means ‘old town’. It is located in the district of Cororaque, in the Apurimac River basin. It was built by the Wari culture. It is conformed by enclosures, streets, squares and terraces of stone and mud.

Climate

The climate in the province of Espinar, in general, is temperate and cold. It varies according to the altitudinal floor of each district. Yauri, la capital de la provincia, se encuentra a 3,915 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Su clima varía desde un máximo de 22ºC. y un mínimo de -2ºC. Las lluvias son más frecuentes de noviembre a abril (especialmente en enero, febrero y marzo). El resto del año, de mayo a octubre, es la época seca (llueve con menor frecuencia).

More information about Espinar

One of the major archaeological discoveries in Espinar was the finding of the mummy of the Señora de K’anamarka in 2004. The finding was discovered by archaeologist Marco del Pezo Benavides in the archaeological site of K’anamarka.

The province of Espinar is also known as the K’ana nation. The reason is due to the presence and cultural heritage of this pre-Inca culture that settled in this Cusco territory. Every June 18, since 2008, the province celebrates the ‘K’anamarka Festival’ with cultural manifestations.

A few tips

Espinar is a region with a cold climate, especially at night. If you are going to spend the night there, it is recommended to bring warm clothes such as a jacket, pants, chullo, gloves, scarves, etc.

During your visit to Espinar do not miss the opportunity to visit other nearby tourist attractions. Only 184 kilometers away by road is the Colca Canyon in Arequipa. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Peru, after Machu Picchu.