Smurfs house pampachiri Apurimac

In the Andahuaylas province, in the Apurímac department, one of the most touristic districts of the country is found: Pampachiri. It is a name in Quechua that means “cold pampa” and it is a city with innumerable historical traditions, rich in culture and natural attractions. One of them is the one that attracts most adventurers, no less than the Pampachiri stone forest, a destination that also houses “The House of the Smurfs” or also called “Andean Goblin People”.
This forest is a great plain of approximately 60 hectares. It is home to colossal rock formations, formed by ashlar stone from the erosion of nature for over 4 million years. This arose from the eruptions of the nearby volcanoes Qarwarasu and Sotaya. The whimsical formations observed there offer tourists a natural spectacle. In the initial zone of the forest, most of them have conical or mushroom figures over 8 meters high.That is why this sector is known as the house of the smurfs. Well, many of the formations resemble small mushroom houses, as recalled in the famous television series The Smurfs. Some local people prefer to call it “Andean Goblin Village”, as a local belief holds that these beings appear in the vicinity of the stone forest.

However, her real name is Ayamach’ay, which means “the cave of the dead”. It is a part of the forest that gathers the curious conical figures. A sector that has been maintained and signposted thanks to the Apurímac Regional Directorate for Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur) and local authorities. It should be noted that this place is 3600 meters above sea level, so it is necessary to take your precautions. Buy your pills for altitude sickness and drink a bottle of water with coca tea to relieve symptoms. Pampachiri is the ideal destination if you are the type of tourist who enjoys connecting with nature.

Tips
Wear light clothing, sunscreen, and several bottles of water to stay hydrated. Due to the height and depending on the time of your arrival, you can experience a lot of cold, so just in case, do not forget your warm clothes.

There is the possibility of establishing a camp, but it must be authorized by the tour guides who will accompany you. If the tourism agency does not provide you with the implements, remember to bring your tent or sleeping bags. Pampachiri is also known for being a place with a fairly clear sky. At night you can enjoy the star show.