Ayabaca Province

Ayabaca Province is an administrative division in northwestern Piura that covers mountainous terrain divided into ten districts. The landscape rises through the western Andes, creating a varied terrain where settlements and farmland sit at different elevations.

The province was established in 1865 and takes its name from Quechua words referring to sacred places. This naming heritage reflects a long connection between the region and the ancient civilizations that once inhabited these highlands.

The town of Ayabaca sits in the high Andes with traditional adobe houses and narrow streets where locals speak both Spanish and Quechua. The main plaza reflects everyday community life, with markets and gatherings that show how mountain residents adapt to the altitude and cooler climate.

The region has cool temperatures ranging from 10 to 19 degrees Celsius (50 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit), with most rainfall falling between December and March. Visitors should bring layers and warm clothing, and roads through these mountains can be rough and require careful driving.

The sanctuary at Aypate, roughly 50 kilometers east, displays structures built by the Inca and even older sacred sites from earlier civilizations. The location draws visitors interested in seeing archaeological traces of these early cultures.