South America
Peru

Southern Sierra

The Southern Sierra is the region of that includes the departments of , Apurimac, and . This region is characterized by high mountains and steep, deep valleys.
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Essential Destinations

Top destinations include Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

Photo: Elena Tatiana Chis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of . At 2,430 metres above sea level, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world.

Photo: S23678, CC BY 3.0.
or Cusco, in the Southern Sierras, is a fascinating city that was the capital of the Inca Empire. is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of 's most visited cities as it is the largest and most comfortable city from which tourists can begin visits to , the , and other Inca sites in the region.

Photo: S23678, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The is a of the in southern , located about 160 kilometres northwest of . With a depth of about 1000 – 2000 m, it is one of the deepest canyons in the world.

Destinations to Discover

Explore places such as Sacred Valley of the Incas and Huancayo.

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0.
The is a valley in the Southern Sierra in that contains many famous and beautiful Inca ruins. It was called the Sacred Valley because it contains some of the best land in the region and was not a part of the Incan Empire but the property of the Emperor or Inca himself.

Photo: Tomato356, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is the capital of the Junín Region and Province, in the central highlands of , in the Mantaro Valley and is crossed by the Shullcas, Chilca and Mantaro rivers.

Photo: EduardoZambrano, CC BY 2.0.
is in the Southern Sierra region of . is embedded in a broad sunny valley with mild climate. It is home of the Morocucho people, a group of the Quechua. The population is about 100,000, altitude 2,700 m.

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is in the department of Apurimac, in a valley over the Pachachaca river. The population is 58,000, and with an altitude of 2,378 m. is part of Peru's Southern Sierra.

Photo: David Alexis, CC BY-SA 2.0.
or Wankawillka in Quechua is a city in . It is the capital of the and according to the 2017 census had a population of 49,570 people.

Photo: Danielowho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is an impressive mountain range in the Southern Sierra of , perched at an elevation of over 5,200 meters. It's best known for its unusual, bright, and attractive colors.

Photo: Martingave, CC BY-SA 4.0.
, is in Southern Sierra. It is at an altitude of 3,400 m. Its population in 2015 was about 15,000 people. The town, with a laid-back ambiance and salubrious climate, has narrow streets with houses painted blue.

Photo: Ottocarotto, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a town in Southern Sierra, . Also known as Santa Ana de la Ribera de , the Pearl of the Andes and the City of Flowers.

Photo: AgainErick, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a city in the Southern Sierra region of . It is the capital of the Province in the Apurímac Region. It is known as the pradera de los celajes.

Photo: Ibrehaut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is a city in the Southern Sierra of . It is the capital of La Convención Province, which is the largest province of Cusco. It is located in an area called the higher jungle.

Photo: S23678, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a town in Southern , capital of the province in the region Cusco. is home to the colourful Virgen del Carmen festival, held each 16 July.

Photo: Jeremyboer, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a small town in the Southern Sierra of , surrounded by mountains and lands used for farming. It's very quiet, featuring a historical church that is described as the "Sistine Chapel of America." Most of its locals are farmers or are involved in the cattle industry.

Photo: Oswiu, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a town in southern about 200 km northwest of the city of , between the and Cotahuasi canyons. It is the major centre for visits to the Valle de Los Volcanes As with most Peruvian towns, is centred around a main plaza, in this case filled with bushes clipped into a variety of shapes…

Photo: Ericbronder, CC BY-SA 3.0.
District is one of ten districts of the La Convención Province in the Cusco Region of . , Peru is situated 6.5 km northwest of and is at the axis of several important routes leading to this archeological centre, including alternative paths ways to the ruins.

is in the Southern Sierra region of .

Photo: Darkblue092, CC BY-SA 3.0.
is a town in Southern Sierra, it is the capital of the Chanchamayo Province in the Junín Region, .

Photo: Ivan Mlinaric, CC BY-SA 3.0.
, near the city of in , is one of the deepest canyons in the world. With a depth of approximately 3,354 metres, as defined as the difference in elevation at river level and the peak of a mountain alongside the canyon, it is more than twice as deep as the .

Southern Sierra

Latitude of center
-13.34° or 13° 20′ 24″ south
Longitude of center
-72.8° or 72° 48′ west
Wiki­data ID
Q14210926
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Satellite Map

Discover Southern Sierra from above in high-definition satellite imagery.
© Stadia Maps, Airbus DS, CNES, PlanetObserver, and Copernicus

In Other Languages

From Chinese to Portuguese—“Southern Sierra” goes by many names.
  • Chinese: “南谢拉 (秘鲁)”
  • Chinese: “南谢拉”
  • French: “Sierra du sud”
  • French: “Sierra du Sud”
  • Hebrew: “אזור דרום סיירה”
  • Italian: “Sierra meridionale del Perù”
  • Portuguese: “Serra Sul (Peru)”
  • Portuguese: “Serra Sul”

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About Mapcarta. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, except for photos, directions, and the map. Description text is based on the Wikivoyage page “Southern Sierra”. Photo: Wikimedia, CC0.