ARCHAEOLOGICAL GUIDE PERU >>>

Tourist

1
2
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

Beatrice Velarde
 Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU

Tourist
ARCHAEOLOGICAL GUIDE
3
Walter Wust Michael Tweddle / PROMPERU
Esta es una publicación de

Editorial Team:
Direction: César A. Vega
Text and Research: Cárlos Del Águila, Fernando Fujita
Additional texts: Pepe Alva
Edition: Ketty Ordoñez
Design and layout: Luisa Julián /Equipo Inkafotos
Cartography: Inkafotos team
Coordinations: Rosario Rojas
Prepress and Printing: xxx

Photography: Cárlos Del Águila, Mylene D’Auriol, Alejandro

Balaguer, Rodrigo Cabrera, Omar Carbajal, Luis Gamero, Walter Hupiu,
Chris Kleihege, Wilfredo Loayza, Mayu Mohanna, Archivo PromPerú,
Jacques Rostand, Daniel Silva, Walter Silvera, Magalí del Solar, Michael
Tweddle, Archivo Renzo Uccelli, César A. Vega, Beatrice Velarde, Walter
Wust, Willian Zanatta.

Inkafotos Ediciones
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Teléfono: (01) 998-528-456
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(c) Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board.

Hecho en el Depósito legal en la Biblioteca Nacional de Perú Nº xxxxxxxxxx
ISBN: xxxx-xxx-xx

Todos los derechos reservados de acuerdo con el D.L. 882 (Ley sobre el
Derecho de Autor).

4
 Beatrice Velarde

5
6
7
César A. Vega
8
César A. Vega
Presentation

Peru is recognised Worldwide for its great historical legacy. As a testimony of

the great civilizations and powerful kingdoms that populated ancient Peru,
prevail along all our territory archaeological remains that impress Peruvians and
foreigners and they are still researchers’ matter of study, who try to figure out the
enigmas of those remote periods.

According to the marketing research, most tourists who visit Peru do it motivated
by the idea of knowing about its culture and history. The tourist today is interested
in knowing about countries that preserve their history, their culture in harmony
with their environment, considering “authenticity” as a principal attractive.

It is just authenticity what Peru can offer our visitors. Thanks to the devoted task
of our archaeologists and researchers, three great geographical espaces, that
received the prehispanic cultures, have been identified: the fertile north, the arid
south and an intermediate region dominated by the central coast of Peru. The
remains left by these civilizations are inumerable, the ones which due to their
important and historical richness, take part of the most relevant tourist tours of
our country. Ceramics, textiles, metals, human rests successfully conserved and
monumental buildings take part of our past legacy.

PromPerú, which is an effort to promote archaeological and cultural tourism,

puts this Archaeological Guide at your disposal, the one which by means of a
variety of theme routes starting from its archaeological monuments, offers an
unforgetable journey alternative.

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César A. Vega
Prehispanic
cultures
of Peru
What Archaeology says about
the Andean World
As a consequence of an increase in the
archaeological and historical research,
Peru is considered nowadays as one of
the fewest focus of complex civilization
in the world. In the last years, from their
scientific interpretations, studious have
warned a peculiar, multiethnical, diverse
and considerably developed universe,
to an extent of getting the landscapes
transformed and transversely and
longitudinally connected through
three great geographical areas: the
fertile north, the arid south and an
intermediate region dominated by the
central coast of Peru.
The advance in Archaeology, as
a discipline of social sciences,
has allowed to see new complex
interpretative speeches about the
origin of civilizations, as well as to
characterize an attractive research
area in the world. Among the Peruvian
archaeological evidences, cultures
or formations such as Caral, Chavín,
Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Chincha,
Chimú, Tiahuanaco and the Incas,
12
stand out for their hierarchization,
monumentality and ideological
uniqueness. They are proof of it. The
present guide offers a new way of
knowing Peru, from its archaeological
monuments, venturing in the thematic
variety of the set out routes.
Autonomous Cultures of Peru
The territory that the andes mountain
range dominates, permits to generate
diverse ecological levels, on which,
the ancient Peruvian settler took part
by understanding, experimenting and
transforming it rationally. This is a first
great lesson that the archaeological
interpretation lets us perceive. In this
territorial variety, we have extreme
landscapes, from the very arid
dry deserts such as Sechura and
Paracas, to the most canyoning such
as Conchucos, Huaylas, Colca and
Urubamba; from fabulous oasis, as
a result of the peculiar fenomena of
hillocks such as Lachay, Malanche and
Atiquipa, to the very varied, nearby
ecological levels such as the valleys
13
Beatrice Velarde
14
Alejandro Balaguer / PROMPERU
Prehispanic
cultures
of Peru
of Santa, Chillón, Tambo and Ilo;
and from the high rugged accidents
such as the circum-lake region of
Altiplano, to the wooded, cloudy,
humid lush groves such as the region
of Chacha, Huánuco, including, the
amazing savannahs of the Amazon.
All these spaces were, no doubt, used
successfully by the ancient Peruvian.
In this context, we can understand the
andean civilizatory process in different
ways: from the theorization of the
origin of civilization in the world, where
Bandurria, Caral, Chavín and Kotosh,
just to mention some of them, take a
fundamental role in its explanation; or
even from the particular understanding
of explaining processes from the
regional scope, in which, we will find
innumerable specifications in the
explanation of them. Julio César Tello
Rojas, the “father of the Peruvian
archaeology”, had perceived it along
all his studies and expeditions, and he
had proposed a complex explaining
formula starting from cultural trunks
involving the current Northern, Central
and Southern Macro Regions, and at
the same time, from the understanding
of the social processes in a transversely
way, that means, along these three
Macro Regions. And the wise Tello
was not mistaken. The archaeological
research and the latest discoveries are
showing and confirming little by little
his statements.
From this focus, we will present
different archaeological routes, some
of them are working with significant
success.
Along the current guide, we will know
the North, the World of the Moche, and
through them, we will know about their
ancestors and heirs. A tour along their
principal monuments and museums
that hold their treasures. It will be an
excellent starting point so that we can
discover later other destinations such
as the late complexes of the Chimú
and Lambayeque realms. We also
have Gold as a leading thread, which
is an integrative element of the route
that lets us appreciate the different
uses and works of this precious metal
that the ancient Peruvians knew how to
handle. What is more, from the feline
15
Prehispanic
cultures
of Peru

figure, it is developed an interesting Cities, they let us have a more integral

route that permits to explain the background of the monumentality
fundamental roles that this amazing and cultural complexity that the andes
animal played in the precolonial settlers were able to reach through an
ideology. We will have a similar model over 15 thousand-year accumulated
in the South Region, where the Feline’s experience.
South Route, permits to link different The material transformation, the use
cultures, periods and expansive of resources and the rational use of
developments, the ones which used space are lessons that must let us
this element to explain their origins. identify with a cultural heritage which
Finally, along these three regions, the is real evidence of what Peruvians are
routes of The Origins and the Andean able to do.

16
17
César A. Vega
 CONTENTS

Routes of the prehispanic cultures 22

The Origin Route 24

Chavín de Huántar 28
Caral 34
Bandurria 40
El Paraíso 46
Paracas 50

North Archaeological Route 56

Moche Route 58
Tumbas Reales Museum 60
Huaca Rajada 64
Pampa Grande 68
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna 72
El Brujo Complex 76
San José de Moro 80
Others of importance:
Túcume 84
Batán Grande 88
Chan Chan 92
Huaca El Dragón 96
The Cloudy Town Route 102
Karajía 104
Kuélap 108
Revash 112
Macro 116
La Jalca- Jalca Grande Museum 120
Leymebamba Museum 124
Laguna de los Cóndores 128
La Congona 132

Center Archaeological Route 138

The Metropolis Ancients’ Route /
Archaeological Lima 140
Huaca Pucllana 142
Huallamarca 146
Mateo Salado 150
18
 Maranga 154
Paramonga 158
Puruchuco 162
Cajamarquilla 166
Pachacámac 170

South Archaeological Route 178

Feline Route 180

Willian Zanatta
Nasca Lines 184
Cantayoc 188
Paradones 186
Cahuachi 190
Saywite 200
Choquequirao 204
Limatambo 208
Cusco City 212
Pikillacta 216
Chinchero 220
Maras 224
Ollantaytambo 228
Machu Picchu 232
Tipón /Oropesa 236
Andahuaylillas 240
Raqchi 244
Pucará 248
Sillustani 252

The Imperial Cities Route 258

Cajamarca 262
Marcahuamachuco 266
Wiracochapampa 270
Wari 274
Huanucopampa 278
Vilcashuamán 282

Others of importance:
Chan Chan 92
Cajamarquilla 166
Pachacámac 170
Pikillacta 216

Participatory
Archaeological Tourism 286

19
 Principal cultures of Peru

Central Andes
Northern Andes
Andes South Central Amazon
centuries

Fertile North Arid South

Lambayeque Junín, Pasco
La Libertad Ica, Ayacucho Puno Loreto
Tumbes Arequipa San Martín
Cajamarca Huancavelica
Piura Huánuco Apurímac Moquegua Ucayali
Amazonas Áncash, Lima Cusco Tacna Madre de Dios

TAWANTINSUYO EMPIRE
XVI
LAMBAYEQUE

CAJAMARCA

Amahuaca
CHANCAY
Chupachu

Amuesha
CHINCHA
CHACHA

Omagua
CHACHA

Collagua
CHIMOR

LUPAQA
COLLPA

Puquina

Shipibo
Tumbes

Campa
WANCA

ARICA
Tallán

XIII
INCA
a.C.

X WARI EMPIRE TIWANAKU

Cajamarca 1-3

Nazarátegui
VI
Hupa-Iya
Higueras

HUARPA

TRAPICHE
RECUAY
MOCHE

NASCA

PUKARA
Waru
LIMA

III
Jambelí

VICUS

0
Baños de Boza

(Necrópolis)
Sajara Patac

Cusipata Shakimu
Chanapata
Qasawirka
HUARAZ

III
TOPARÁ
Rancha
Salinar
Layzón

CHAVÍN
Muyu Orqo

Marcavalle

(Cupusnique,
PARACAS

CHORRERA
Wichqana

X QALUYO Tutishcainyo
Ñañañique Ancón)
GUAÑAPE
b.C.

Áspero-CARAL

XX
Huaca Prieta

Kotosh-Mito

Awari
Bandurria

SICHES
Galgada

CHILCA
Paraíso

Otuma
Piqui

Chinchorro
3000
5000 LAURICOCHA Jaywa ASANA IV
?
Amotape PUENTE
9000 PAIJANENSE Pacaicasa ASANA I

20
Chronology according to Chronology according to
Luis G. Lumbreras John H. Rowe

Years
1532
Tawantinsuyo Empire Late Horizon
1470

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
Regional States Late Intermediate

1200
Wari Empire Medium Horizon a.C.
500

Regional Development Early Intermediate

100
0

Formative Early Horizon

b.C.

2000

Archaic Initial Period 3000

5000

Lithic Pre-ceramic 9000

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 Routes of
prehispanic cultures
The Origin Route South Archaeological Route
1 Chavín de Huántar Feline Route
2 Caral
3 Bandurria 32 Nasca Lines
4 Paraíso 33 Cantayoc
5 Paracas 34 Paredones
35 Cahuachi
North Archaeological Route 36 Saywite
Moche Route 37 Choquequirao
6 Tumbas Reales Museum 38 Limatambo
7 Huaca Rajada 39 Cusco City
8 Pampa Grande 40 Pikillacta
9 Huaca del Sol y de la Luna 41 Chinchero
10 El Brujo Complex 42 Maras
11 San José de Moro 43 Ollantaytambo
12 Túcume 44 Machu Picchu
13 Batán Grande 45 Tipón / Oropesa
14 Chan Chan 46 Andahuaylillas
15 Huaca El Dragón 47 Raqchi
48 Pucara
The Cloudy Town Route 49 Sillustani
16 Karajía
17 Kuélap Route of the Imperial Cities
18 Revash
50 Cajamarca
19 Macro 51 Marcahuamachuco
20 La Jalca 52 Wiracochapampa
21 Leymebamba Museum 53 Wari
22 Laguna de los Cóndores 54 Huanucopampa
23 La Congona 55 Vilcashuamán
Center Archaeological Route Others of importance
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route 30 Cajamarquilla
24 Huaca Pucllana 31 Pachacámac
25 Huallamarca 40 Pikillacta
26 Mateo Salado 14 Chan Chan
27 Maranga
28 Paramonga
29 Puruchuco
30 Cajamarquilla
31 Pachacámac

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 COLOMBIA

ECUADOR

TUMBES
IQUITOS

PIURA

YURIMAGUAS
12 13 16
CHACHAPOYAS
6 8 17 19
CHICLAYO 7 18 20
50 23 21 22
11 BRASIL
CAJAMARCA
10 15 51 52
14
TRUJILLO PUCALLPA
9

CHIMBOTE
HUARAZ 1
54
HUÁNUCO

28
2
HUACHO
3
4 29
26 30 27
LIMA 24 25 HUANCAYO
31

53 44 43
PACIFIC AYACUCHO 37 42 41 CUSCO
36
38 39 45
OCEAN 5 55
ABANCAY 40 46
ICA
47
32 33
35 34 48
NASCA
JULIACA
N
49
PUNO
International limit
Regional limit AREQUIPA
Regional capital
BOLIVIA
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
Airdrome
Archaeological center CHILE
0 100 200 km
23
 The Origin Route

24
Chavín de Huántar, Caral, Bandurria, El Paraíso,
and Paracas.

Chris Kleihege

This route has the aim of standing

out the places that characterize the
Andes complex civilization origins
and according to several interpretative
hypothesis, they point out the places
and evolution of the first human groups
who gave birth to the great adventure
of the Andean civilization, extended
along the territory of what is currently
Peru. The places where you can see
these beginnings are: Chavín de
Huántar, Caral, Bandurria, El Paraíso
and Paracas.

25
 The Origin Route
1 Chavín de Huántar
The archaeological monument of Chavín,
consists of a series of solid-look buildings that
belonged to temples, due to the religious role
that was played there.

2 Caral
Caral-Supe represents the most ancient
civilization of America, developed almost
simultaneously with the ones of Mesopotamia,
Egypt, India y China. It is a city that belongs to
the pre-ceramic period.

3 Bandurria
At present, it is being recovered to put a value
on it. It stands out the domestic sector
(Sector I) that was the first identified area in the
archaeological site and its research defined the
small-village character of Bandurria.

4 El Paraíso
Chuquitanta was a religious, political and
administrative center of a society of farmers
and fishermen. The archaeological site has an
extension of 50 hectares. It consists of nine
great structures with a great ceremonial
square in the central part.

5 Paracas
It is a Group of cemeteries and necropolis
associated to Paracas culture. It is presented
as a sacred space, very connected to nature
(Nature Reserve) whose water gathers a series
of hydrobiotic resources.

26
TIME LINE

2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200

Caral Paracas
Bandurria Chavín b.C. a.C.

CHIMBOTE
ÁNCASH
HUARAZ
1

BARRANCA
N 2
3 HUACHO

LIMA
4
LIMA
PACIFIC
OCEAN

PISCO
5
Detailed area ICA

ICA
NASCA

Provincial limit The Origin Route

Regional capital
Provincial capital 1 Chavín de Huántar
District capital 2 Caral
Town 3 Bandurria
Asphalted road 4 El Paraíso
Unpaved route 5 Paracas
Airport, port
0 50 100 150 km
27
The Origin Route

Chavín de Huántar
Chavín is one of the most studied archaeological sites of
the Peruvian archaeology. Research has even permited
identified it as an occupation place that goes back to the
Archaic period, even earlier, in the Lithic period.

César A. Vega

28
 Chavín de Huántar
CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR Other names: Castillo de Chavín

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 261156.89 Google Earth Spot: Huántar Province: Wari

N 8939415.94 W 77 10' 36'', S 9 35' 46'' District: Chavín de Huántar Region: Ancash

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Chavín, 3 141
Sea
Huaraz, 3 091 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
2000 1750 1500 1250 1000 750 500 250 0 250 500 750

Chavín de Huántar
1800 b.C. 200 b.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a site museum and the Museo Nacional de Chavín.

29
30
César A. Vega
 Chavín de Huántar
CARAZ
LLAMELLÍN

YUNGAY PAUCAS
CHACAS

CARHUAZ
HUARI
JANGAS NATIONAL PARK
HUASCARÁN HUÁNTAR
HUARAZ SAN MARCOS LLATA
1
Río

CHAVÍN DE
San

HUÁNTAR
ANCASH
t
a

RECUAY
CÁTAC LA UNIÓN

HUALLANCA
Provincial limit 1
Regional capital Chavín de
Provincial capital Huántar
District capital CONOCOCHA
Town CHIQUIÁN
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

The impressiveness and mystery of Chavín, considered to be the magic-

religious center of the most advanced civilization of the preinca age, was built
approximately in 1800 b.C. Being given its declension in 200 b.C., within the
period known as Formative. Chavín archaeological monument, located in
Huantar, Ancash province of Wari, is composed by a set of solid appearance
buildings that belonged to temples, due to the religious role that they played.
These constructions had a strong batter on its walls, the one which gave them a
pyramidal profile. Those buildings were made progressively by adding platforms
to their original structures.

Chavín is one of the most studied archaeological zones of the Peruvian

archaeology. Research has even permitted identified it as an occupation place
that goes back to the Archaic period, even earlier, in the Lithic period (research
in La Banda).

31
The Origin Route
What calls attention the most is
the well-defined functionality of its
ceremonial center, the one which is
preferably ritual, standing out a set
of underground galleries that store
offerings brought from different parts
of the Andean territory. The most
important and studied is the Offering
Gallery, investigated since the late 60s
by the archaeologist Luis Lumbreras.
This has allowed to identify different
ethnical groups that gave offerings to
the temple, in a very complex ritual
that included the intentional breaking
32
of high quality iconographic vessels in
a systematic and organized way. It is
also notable the lanzón gallery which
constitutes a central point in almost
all the ceremonial complex and holds
the monolith The Lanzón, represented
by a feline in an aggressive attitude.
Other remarkable galleries are: The
Cantilever gallery, which is the biggest,
and the Conches gallery, where 21
strombus offerings, carved some of
them, were recently identified and they
were used as important ritual musical
instruments.
César A. Vega
 Chavín de Huántar
César A. Vega
Geographical means

Chavín was developed in the narrow valley of Callejón de Conchucos,

formed by the Mosna river, which is fed with the thaws from the White
mountain range and leads its water towards the Marañón river.
Two mountainous chains separate Chavín from the sea: the White and
the Black nountain ranges; and there are two other mountainous chains
that separate it from the Amazon jungle: the central, which rises between
the Marañón and the Huallaga basins, and the eastern, which establishes
the water separation between the Huallaga and the Ucayali rivers. This
geographical situation creates serious Communication difficulties among
the villages which are settled there, whose relative proximity is measured
by the irregularity of the ground.
Chavín is located in a crucial east-west and north-south connection point
of an extensive territory. It is a sort of “road knot” of a region that covers the
coast and the highlands of Lambayeque, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Ancash,
Huánuco and Lima. Furthermore, from Chavín, you can reach the Amazon
jungle by following the course of the Marañón river.
According to Antonio Raimondi (1873: 205), in the XIX Century, he kept
on the export of maize to Huaraz and Huamalies (Huánuco) and flour to
Huánuco and Cerro de Pasco, in the same way, as a coastal man, he went
there to get cattle every year. He also remarks that there is gold in the
district of Uco, near the mouth of the Marañón.
Chavín is located over an alluvial terrace, associated to a greater river, the
Pukcha, that flows down from the south, and a tributary, the Wacheqsa,
that flows down abruptly from the White Mountain Range, whose eastern
foothills hold it.

33
The Origin Route

Caral
Caral-Supe represents the most ancient civilization in
America. It was developed almost simultaneously with
the ones of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. It is
a monumental architectural complex that belongs to
the archaic period.It covers an area of approximately 66
hectares and it is believed that at a certain time, it held
about 3 thousand inhabitants.

Chris Kleihege

34
CARAL Others names: Centro Ceremonial de Caral - Centro Ceremonial de Chupacigarro B

Caral
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 224359.79 Google Earth Spot: Chupacigarro Province: Barranca

N 8795017.3 W 77 31' 21'', S 10 53' 35'' District: Supe Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Caral, 357 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 200 0 200 400 600 800

Caral
2500 b.C. 1600 b.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an interpretation center and an archaeological office.

35
The Origin Route
For about a decade, the result of
some archaeological research,
has led to the conclusion that the
buildings of Caral, located in Supe
valley in Lima, represent the most
ancient civilization in America. It was
developed almost simultaneously with
the ones of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India
and China. Visitors and students can
admire this complex that belongs to
the archaic period and covers an area
of approximately 66 hectares. It is
believed that at a certain time, it held
about 3 thousand inhabitants.
The research in Caral has determined
that it is a monumental complex of
36
ceremonial type that presents in its
evidences a great deal of information
of the first settlers’ lifestyle of this zone,
preferably fishermen and shellfish
collectors, apart from being connected
to rituals associated to music and fire.
The constructions of Caral complex are
of different magnitude and functions.
So far, 6 pyramidal buildings have been
identified and a set of middle-sized
and small-sized constructions such
as temples, residential areas, public
squares, amphitheatres, warehouses,
a circular coliseum, tombs, altars and
streets.
In accordance with its main researchers,
Chris Kleihege
 COCHAS

Caral
Río Pativilca N

PARAMONGA PATIVILCA

BARRANCA
SUPE
SUPE PORT

Río Sup 2 CARAL COCHAMARCA

e

PACIFIC LIMA
OCEAN
VÉGUETA

HUAURA
HUACHO Río Huaura
SAYÁN
0 10 20km
PA
NA

Provincial limit 2
ME

Regional capital Caral

RIC
AN

Provincial capital
AR

District capital
OA
D

Town LOMAS DE LACHAY

Asphalted road NATIONAL RESERVE
Unpaved route
Airport, port

commanded by the archaeologist great buildings with the bag system

Ruth Shady, the buildings in Caral, that
occupy 66 hectares, have a core zone
and an outlying ones.
In the core zone, you can appreciate
the pyramidal constructions, a sunken
circular Square, two areas for massive
public meetings, apart from the
officials’ domestic and storing units,
and an amphitheater. Meanwhile, in
the outlying zone, there are groups of
houses along the valley.
It is amazing to see how they made
(Shicras), filled with pebbles, creating
such solid enough, antiseismic stuff
that let them raise great platforms. This
is the most remarkable of the site. What
is more, it was an experimental place
of sea product processing as well as
the beginnings of plant and animals’
domestication. That is why it takes
part of the route, for being the most
extensive and studied place about the
origins of civilization in Peru.

37
38
The Origin Route

Luis Gamero / PROMPERU Chris Kleihege

 César A. Vega

Caral
Geographical means

The lack of water of the river Supe for most of the year and the scarce soil
land suggest interesting questions about the support of the great ceremonial
civic centers of early dating. It is evident that the geographical conditions,
apparently unfavourable at present, wouldn’t have been like that then.
Being Supe a small valley, without much gradient, they could have taken
advantage of the water of the river by means of small irrigation channels,
furthermore, the freatic layer is very close to the surface. Nowadays, some
lagoons and ponds can even be formed in some depressions, covered with
vegetation. In the drought period, the plantations are watered by means of
channels fed by the reception wells of this water source from the subsoil.
The natural resources are very rich and varied. The valley gives life to a dense
natural vegetation, which still exists in some strongholds, called «riverside
mount», the one which is a real wood tangled by tree and herbaceous
plants, such as huarango, caña brava, annato, guava, pacae, etc. It has a
typically coastal flora, which holds a variety of birds, viscachas and deers
that used to cover great extensions of the valley a few years ago.

On the other hand, the hills of the andean chain, have a border with both
banks of the valley, turning into hillocks during the winter Season and they
are still used by the settlers, who get through them in order to look for
deers and viscachas. It is possible that in the past, they covered a much
larger extension offering vegetable and animal resources, as well as the
extensive swamps that are still there.

39
The Origin Route

Bandurria

Bandurria is an extensive ceremonial center, spread along

54 hectares. It has its origins in the Archaic period. At
present, a group of researchers are working there to make
it worthwhile.

César A. Vega

40
 Bandurria
BANDURRIA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 217293.53 Google Earth Spot: Playa Chica Province: Huaura

N 8762078.5 W 77 35' 19'', S 11 11' 12'' District: Huacho Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Bandurria, 28 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 0 200 400 600

Bandurria
2500 b.C. 1430 b.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It presents minimal signposting and an archaeological campsite.

41
The Origin Route
Bandurria archaeological site,
is located at 141 kilometer of
Panamericana Norte highway, on the
Northern-Central Coast and consists of
an extensive ceremonial center, spread
along 54 hectares. It has its origins in
the Archaic period. At present, a group
of researchers are working there to
make it worthwhile.
Bandurria is composed by a domestic
sector (Sector I), which was the first
42
César A. Vega
identified whose investigation defined
the village character of this important
place. This sector belongs to an up
to five meter-deep densely domestic
occupation that has residential
structures and remains of food
and daily activities that have been
accumulated throughout the time.
Unfortunately, Santa Rosa irrigation
destroyed two thirds of this zone, and
devastated archaeological evidence.
César A. Vega
 PATIVILCA

Bandurria
N
BARRANCA
SUPE
SUPE PORT CAUJUL
NAVAN
Río S CARAL COCHAMARCA
upe

LIMA

HUAURA
HUACHO Río Huaura
SAYÁN
PACIFIC
PA
N

3
AM

OCEAN
ER

Bandurria
ICA
ARN
OA
D

0 10 20km LOMAS DE LACHAY

NATIONAL RESERVE
ay
nc
Provincial limit 3
ha
oC

Regional capital Bandurria

Rí

Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
HUARAL
Unpaved route
Airport, port CHANCAY

On the other hand, the sector of Monumental architecture (Sector II) exists,
composed by main mounds that represent a very pronounced relief, with an
average height from 10 to 15 meters. You can also observe that the sides of
several of these mounds are quite regular, denoting the presence of underlying
structures. It is probable that several sides of these mounds present terraced
façades, and these projections constitute platforms detached to their mounds.
In addition to these rounds, there are several emerges of ash hills and shell hills
located in open, flat spaces that are around them associated with small stone
alignments that must belong to emerging walls too, the ones which would
indicate the connection of housing areas (maybe, elite residences), with the
pyramids and buildings of the monumental area.

The mounds and pyramids were built by using as main raw material pebbles
Joint with mud mortar to raise the Retailing walls of the platforms and the stairs of
the pyramids. The use of pebbles, is singular and distintive of Bandurria, as the
other contemporary archaeological sites related to this place were built by using

43
The Origin Route
blocks of carved stones. Though, in the
neighbouring site of Áspero, there is a
constructional phase, in which, pebble
was also used as raw material.
Another distinctive element of
Bandurria is the absence of “shicras”
as a platform stuff technique, which
was commonly used by contemporary
sites of the central, north-central and
44
north coast of Peru. The “shicra” is a
knitted bag as a net by using vegetal
fibers (reed or totora). It was used
to hold a large quantity of earth and
stones. On the other hand, in Bandurria
the stuff was placed directly by using
grave, rubble and sand. (Chu Barrera
2008).
César A. Vega
 Bandurria
César A. Vega
Geographical means

The first humans who settled the Peruvian territory by 12 000 b.C. Found
an ecosystem different from the current one. Around the year 3 800 b.C.,
The cold current of the Pacific, the Humboldt current, approaches the
Peruvian coast and rises until latitude 5° south, transforming the Peruvian
coast weather from tropical to mild, attracting at the same time, very close
to the beach cold water fish such as anchovy, that became the basis of
food of the coast villages in that historical period.

For some researchers such as Michael Moseley, it was the fish abundance,
brought by the Humboldt current, that allowed the sedentarism of the
human groups on the coast of Peru, before the use of agriculture as a
means of subsistence (Moseley 1975). This proposal has been accepted
by many other researchers, such as the Peruvian archaeologist Alejandro
Chu, who reaffirms that the subsistence base don fishing and marine
collection, permitted the construction of permanente settlemens and the
emerge of monumental architecture, postulating Bandurria as one of the
first and the most ancient (Chu Barrera 2008).

However, as the same archaeologist reports, they also used and consumed
other crops, but they couldn’t compete with the marine products. These
crops were fruit, tubers, mate (pumpkin) and especially cotton, which was
used to knit nets and fishing string.

45
The Origin Route

Ceremonial Center
Paraíso -Chuquitanta-
Paraíso has an extension of 50 hectares and consists of
nine great structures with a large ceremonial square in the
central part. The main temple reaches up to 5 m high and
in its height period, about 1800 years b.C. It was lit up and
perhaps with polychromed walls.

Walter Hupiu

46
 Paraíso
PARAÍSO Other names: Chuquitanta

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 269309.75 Google Earth Spot: Province: Lima

N 8677653.22 W 77 07' 06'', S 11 57' 14'' District: Chillón Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Paraíso, 73 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 200 0 200 400 600 800

Paraíso
2500 b.C. 1600 b.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services.

47
The Origin Route
Located in Lima district of Chillon,
Chuquitanta was a religious, political
and administrative center of a
society of farmers and fishermen at
the end of the late Archaid period.
The archaeological site is formed
by a group of eight buildings in and
extension of 50 hectares and it has
nine great structures with a great
ceremonial square in the central part.
The main temple is more than 400 m
long and, 100 m wide and its stone
walls, reach up to 5 m high. In its
height period, about 1800 years b.C.
It was plastered and possibly with
polychromed murals.
48
Walter Hupiu
A few years ago, Chuquitanta temple
was considered to be the most ancient
sanctuary on the Peruvian coast, but
2001, it was known the antiquity of
Caral Main Temple, 2600 b.C.
However, due to its monumentality,
its particular architecture on stone
and because of its special floor, it
deserves to be included in this tour
as everything indicates that this place
hasn’t been thoroughly assessed and
it could show older evidences than the
current ones, becoming in this way,
in one of the foundational sites of the
central coast culture origins.
 HUAURA
HUACHO Río Huaura
SAYÁN

ACOS

Paraíso
LOMAS DE LACHAY
NATIONAL RESERVE

ay
nc
ha
oC
Rí
N
HUARAL

n
CHANCAY

illó
Ch
Río
PACIFIC
OCEAN TRAPICHE YANGAS
ANCÓN

SANTA ROSA
LIMA
0 10 20km

Provincial limit 4 CHOSICA

4 PARAÍSO
Capital regional Paraíso
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road LIMA
Unpaved route
Airport, port CIENEGUILLA

Geographical means

The inhabitants of Paraíso, settled down in a coastal valley which was

very bountiful for agriculture and a few kilometres away from the sea.
That’s why their main activity was fishing, especially shell collecting. The
enormous abundance of this resource, allowed them to support such a
large population that it held and give them economic stability. Weaving and
basketry were two activities broadly spread in Paraíso, in general, in all the
pre-ceramic places.
The rugs are all made of white or brown cotton. Sometimes, they are
both mixed up getting a decorative aspect. Farming was an activity that
completed the marine diet. They grew butter bean, bean and pumpkin,
and mainly: cotton. The collection of wild fruit, roots and tubers, as well
as the hunt of wild animals, close the circle of this well balanced diet they
were fed with.

49
The Origin Route

Paracas

It is a set of cemeteries and necropolises from the

Formative period associated to Paracas Culture. It
presents itself as a sacred place. It is linked to nature. In
its water, there are a series of hydrobiotic resources that
differ the peninsula considerably from the whole
coastal desert.

Jacques Rostand / PROMPERU

50
 Paracas
PARACAS Other names: Necrópolis de Arena Blanca, Cabeza Larga, Warikayan and Cerro Colorado

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 362190.08 Google Earth Spot: Bahía Paracas Province: Pisco

N 8466588.89 W 76 16' 31'', S 13 52' 02'' District: Paracas Region: Ica

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Paracas, 26 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
400 300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Paracas
200 b.C. 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESIBILIDAD

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site museum and a visit circuit.

51
The Origin Route
Paracas magnificence and history
are necessarily associated with the
scientist Julio C. Tello, known as “The
father of Peruvian archaeology”, who
discovered this set of cemeteries
and necropolises from the Formative
period connected to Paracas culture.
It was doctor Tello, who between the
years 1925 and 1930, identified and
characterized this culture, famous for
its beautiful polychrom mantles, which
were given to know worldwide.
Paracas, located in the bay of the same
name, in the iqueña province of Pisco,
presents itself as a sacred place. It is
linked to nature, as it is part of a Nature
Reserve, whose water meets a series
52
of hydrobiotic resources that differ the
peninsula considerably from the whole
coastal desert.
In these cemeteries, the men from
Paracas culture were identified in
two well-defined phases: Paracas
Caverns and Paracas Necropolis. The
first ones had bottle-shaped burials,
with a tubular entrance and gathering
real mausoleums of bundles where
the instruments related to vessel
offerings with very representative post
- firing stand out. The second phase,
Necropolis, presents more superficial
structures, defined by their pebble
and/or caliche walls, gathering a large
number of better prepared bundles.
Jacques Rostand / PROMPERU
 Paracas
N SAN CLEMENTE
HUMAY
PISCO
SAN ANDRÉS

PARACAS
5

PACIFIC GUADALUPE

OCEAN
ICA

PARACAS
NATIONAL RESERVE

0 10 20km

Provincial limit 5
Regional capital Paracas
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
Archivo PROMPERU

53
The Origin Route

In this case, about 476 funerary
packets have been identified, the ones
which are wrapped up with fine textiles
that represent a notable iconography
of this culture. Archaeological
studies establish along the whole
Paracas peninsula, a remarkable
sector of Paracas early evidences
and Pre Paracas that still need to be
investigated.

Jacques Rostand / PROMPERU

54
 César A. Vega

Paracas
Geographical means

Paracas society occupied the valleys of Chincha, Pisco, Ica and Río Grande
on the south coast of Peru. This zone is a deserted territory, with hot dry
weather in summer, and slightly humid in winter. The society survived
thanks to the fishing, hunting fruit and shell collecting and the growing of
their valleys. To counteract the limitations that the environment offered for
the development of agriculture, the Paracas used an agricultural technique
known as hollows or sunken fields. This technique consisted of digging
a hole till humid ground was reached, which was necessary to grow.
Additionally, irrigation channels, which started from a water inlet, located in
the upper part of the valley to the rest of it, were built.

Paracas National Reserve is a unique place on the Peruvian coast due to

its exceptional biological diversity, generated by the Humboldt current and
the coastal outcrop, making of this sea one of the most productive and
rich in the world. In this natural space, we can find 216 species of birds,
more than 180 species of fish and 20 species of cetaceans. Furthermore,
the reserve also has cultural and historical values that are evident in 114
registered archaeological sites, which are the testimonies of the successful
interaction between the ancient inhabitants of Paracas and the sea. Paracas
National Reserve is the only protected national area of Peru that keeps a
sample of the coastal marine ecosystem and it was declared Ramsar Site
by the wetland Convention, of International importance in 1991.

55
 Archaeological
North Route

56
Michael Tweddle / PROMPERU

The archaeological richness in the

north of Peru has canalized a fluent
tourist current with the aim of letting
know the monumental and artistic
richness of other cultures different from
the Inca, the ones which settled down
in this area of the country. It is true
that the referent of the Moche Route is
being implemented successfully in this
region, it is also valuable the Cloudy
Wood, which was the ecological place,
chosen by Chachapoyas prehispanic
society to establish their domains by
the year 1000 a.C.
There, recent works on the monumental
architecture are preparing the
conditions to become a new pole of
tourist attraction in the archaeological
field. For this reason, it is interesting to
intertwine the existing routes, to offer
them to the thousands of tourists that
arrive in this region.

57
 Moche Route
6 Tumbas Reales Museum
This is perhaps the principal thematic museum that exists
in our country. It houses the collections recovered from
the place Huaca Rajada, in charge of the archaeologist
Walter Alva.

7 Huaca Rajada
It is a monument made of adobe bricks that belongs to
the period of the Regional Developments expressed by
Moche culture.

8 Pampa Grande
It is an extensive monumental complex of the Regional
Development period and it spreads until Wari period.

9 Huacas del Sol y de la Luna

In this monumental group stands out two truncated
pyramids or with platforms, with sacred spaces in their
interior.

10 El Brujo Complex
Famous walls that represent scenes and iconographies of
a religious worship sustained in the vital element of human
blood.

11 San José de Moro

It stands out the priestess’ tomb of San José de Moro, the
one which shows an impressive funeral trousseau which
gave support to the study of the iconographic interpreta-
tion.

Other important places

12 Túcume
13 Batán Grande
14 Chan Chan
15
58
Huaca El Dragón
All the splendor and richness of this civilization is present in this archaeological tour that
selects Moche culture’s principal height sites, the one which was developed from 100
b.C. to 300 a.C. This period corresponds to the Regional Developments in the Andes. It is
amazing the funerary evidences of great complexity and ritualism and the representations of
embossed friezes of gods and the Moche governors’ special scenes.

In this route, we can find important places such as the Tumbas Reales de Sipán Museum,
Huaca Rajada, Pampa Grande, Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, El Brujo Complex and San
José de Moro.

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Sipán - Huaca Rajada Túcume

Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
El Brujo - San José de Moro
Chan Chan - El Dragón
Pampa Grande

LAMBAYEQUE
Detailed area
TÚCUME
12
13 8
6 CHONGOYAPE
LAMBAYEQUE
CHICLAYO
7
ZAÑA

11 CAJAMARCA
GUADALUPE

PACIFIC
OCEAN
10
MAGDALENA DE CAO
14 15
LA LIBERTAD
HUANCHACO
TRUJILLO MOCHE
9

Moche Route
Provincial limit 6 Tumbas Reales
Regional capital 7 Huaca Rajada
Provincial capital 8 Pampa Grande
District capital 9 Sol y Luna
10 El Brujo
Town
11 San José de Moro
Asphalted road
12 Túcume
Unpaved route 13 Batán Grande
Airport, port 14 Chan Chan
15 Huaca El Dragón
0 25 50 59
75 100 km
Moche Route

Tumbas Reales de Sipán

Museum
It holds the collections that were recoverered in Huaca
Rajada place. In the mid-1980s, the news of a scandalous
pillage, forced the specialists of the Brünning Museum to
perform works of archaeological rescue, the ones which
allowed to identify one of the most amazing funerary
contexts that has been identified in the world.

César A. Vega

60
 Tumbas Reales de Sipán
MUSEO NACIONAL TUMBAS REALES DE SIPÁN

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 621648.55 Google Earth Spot: Province: Lambayeque

N 9258717.12 W 79 53' 58'', S 6 42' 19'' District: Lambayeque Region: Lambayeque

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Tumbas Reales, 18 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
400 300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Sipán
0 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a museum, a research center and craft workshops.

61
Moche Route

This is perhaps, the principal theme museum in the country. Its spectacular
architecture looks like Moche pyramids. It holds the collections that were
recovered in Huaca Rajada place, in charge of the archaeologist Walter Alva.
Remember that in the mid-1980s, the news of scandalous pillage forced the
specialists of the Brünning Museum to perform works of archaeological rescue,
the ones which allowed to identify one of the most amazing funerary contexts
that has been identified in the world. In this way, two big mausoleums have been
able to be recovered: The “old” and the “new” Lord of Sipán. All these evidences
that have been conserved and restored, are shown permanently in this museum,
which is especially prepared for these wonderful pieces.
The beginning of the tour Moche Route, might well start from this point, as a
starting place to understand the whole complexity of Moche society.
Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU

Daniel Silva / PROMPERU

Michael Tweddle / PROMPERU

62
 Tumbas Reales de Sipán
LAMBAYEQUE

BATÁN GRANDE

TÚCUME
MÓRROPE

FERREÑAFE
N
6
LAMBAYEQUE
CHICLAYO
SAN JOSÉ e
PACIFIC Req
u
Río
OCEAN PIMENTEL

0 10 20 30km ZAÑA
ETEN PORT
Provincial limit 6
Regional capital Tumbas
Provincial capital Reales
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route CHÉRREPE
Airport, port
CHEPÉN
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

63
Moche Route

Huaca Rajada, Sipán

This archaeological site has this name because of the cut
it suffered during an old pillage: Huaca Rajada. Later, it
was modified by muchik: Sipán, as it is known now.

Walter Wust / PROMPERU

64
 Huaca Rajada
HUACA RAJADA, SIPÁN

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 0654542 Google Earth Spot: Huaca Rajada Province: Chiclayo

N 9247980 W 79 36'06'', S 6 48' 05'' District: Zaña Region: Lambayeque

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Huaca Rajada, 92 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
400 300 200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Huaca Rajada
0 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It also has a small information center assossiated to the Museo de Tumbas Reales, located in the city
of Lambayeque.

65
Moche Route

This archaeological site has this name because of the cut it suffered before with
the aim of being pillaged -Huaca Rajada-, which was modified by the name in
muchik language, Sipán, as it is known at present. This monument or pyramid is
composed by adobe brick constructions, with several architectural spaces and
volumes such as squares, terraces that belonged to the Regional Development
period represented by Moche Culture (± 0 to 600 a.C.).
The one that outstands of Huaca Rajada is the presence of a series of tombs of ancient
local Moche lords, as it was the beginning of one of the best stages of archaeological
research on the North Coast, from then and on, they have found many intact tombs.
The site museum Huaca Rajada - Sipán, has been built next to the archaeological
zone. It was designed in base of the most modern museography techniques
regarding to exhibition, conservation, restoration and safety. The place includes
a laboratory, basic services and a police station.
It takes part of the Moche Route, for being a resting place of a lineage of Moche
governors, the one which allows, from its archaeological research, to rebuild
many representative aspects of this prehispanic society.

Walter Wust

66
 Huaca Rajada
N

FERREÑAFE
LAMBAYEQUE
LAMBAYEQUE
TUMÁN PÁTAPO
CHICLAYO ue
SAN JOSÉ Req
Río
7
PIMENTEL
Huaca Rajada

CAYALTÍ
ETEN PORT ZAÑA
PACIFIC
MOCUPE
OCEAN

CHÉRREPE PACANGA
0 10 20 30km
ue
GUADALUPE CHEPÉN peq
uete
Provincial limit 7 Jeq
Regional capital Huaca Río
Provincial capital Rajada JEQUETEPEQUE
District capital SAN JOSÉ
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port SAN PEDRO DE LLOC
Beatrice Velarde

67
Moche Route

Pampa Grande
It is an extensive monumental complex of the Regional
Development period and it spreads until Wari period
(± 0 to 800 a.C.). Perhaps it is the largest site of
Moche society.

Beatrice Velarde

68
 Pampa Grande
PAMPA GRANDE

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 668613.17 Google Earth Spot: Pampa Grande Province: Chiclayo

N 9252241.12 W 79 28' 28'', S 6 45' 45'' District: Chongoyape Region: Lambayeque

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Pampa Grande, 210 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Pampa Grande
0 800 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services.

69
Moche Route

Walter Wust

70
 Pampa Grande
The amazing monumentality of this archaeological complex is near the wells of
water that are Lambayeque valley basin, where the Moches developed irrigation
channel systems for their use.
It is considered that Pampa Grande was an extensive monumental complex of the
Regional Development period and it Spreads until Wari period (± 0 to 800 a.C.).
Perhaps it is the largest site of Moche society. It was composed by large places
made of stone and adobe brick. The central part, is fortified, and represents the
civic-ceremonial sector, the one which has the two largest pyramid buildings of
the complex. The first one has an area of 140 sqm and is 35 m high. The other
one has an area of 70 sqm and is 37 m high.
This complex also presents two large sectors or domestic areas full of stone and
mud structures, forming real neighbourhoods adjacent to the civic-ceremonial
sector.
It takes part of Moche Route for its extention, monumentality and because it is
extensive evidence of a settlement of this culture.

N
LAMBAYEQUE
CHONGOYAPE
FERREÑAFE

LAMBAYEQUE TUMÁN PÁTAPO

CHICLAYO 8
SAN JOSÉ
Pampa Grande
PIMENTEL ue
Req
Río CAYALTÍ

ETEN PORT ZAÑA

PACIFIC MOCUPE
OCEAN

CHÉRREPE
PACANGA
0 10 20 30km
CHEPÉN ue
GUADALUPE peq
Provincial limit uete
8
Jeq
Regional capital Pampa Río
Provincial capital Grande JEQUETEPEQUE
District capital SAN JOSÉ
Town
PACASMAYO
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port SAN PEDRO DE LLOC

71
Moche Route

Huacas del Sol y

de la Luna
The research performed at the Huacas del Sol y la Luna
complex, have determined that they were the center of
power of the mochicas, whose extension area covers
about 60 hectares.

César A. Vega

72
 Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
HUACAS DEL SOL Y DE LA LUNA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17L E 721216.82 Google Earth Spot: La Campiña Province: Trujillo

N 9100468.71 W 78 59' 26'', S 8 08' 05'' District: Moche Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, 36 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
1000 750 500 250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750

Huacas del Sol y de la Luna

800 b.C. 1600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an information center on site, as well as signage in its visit tour.

73
Moche Route
The research performed at the Huacas
del Sol y de la Luna complex, have
determined that they were the center
of power of the mochicas, whose
extensión area covers about 60
hectares.
This monumental complex is composed
by several terraced pyramids made by
adobe bricks, squares, roads, with
a large occupation that started from
the Formative period (± 800 b.C.) to
the Transitional period (± 1600 a.C.),
but the most notable belongs to the
Regional Development period with
Moche Culture (± 0 to 800 a.C.).
The things that outstand in this complex
are the two truncated pyramids, with
platforms, sacred spaces inside, and
with a series of important redesignings
that have been known for many years
74
as Huacas del Sol y de La Luna.
At present, the del Sol pyramid has
an implementation programme of
investigation and conservation, but
it still has a restricted tour only to
scientists; but the Huaca de la Luna is
the one that has a larger investigated,
consolidated and conserved exhibition
area, which has generated a wide
visit tour for everybody. The thing
that attracts the attention the most is
the exhibition of varied polychromed
fritzes representing gods and divinities
of the Moche’s religious world.
It takes part of the Moche Route
for the monumentality of its fritzes,
furthermore, because it is one of
the principal representative and
investigated places of this culture.
César A. Vega
 Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
Walter Wust
ASCOPE
CHICAMA PAIJÁN

ama
Chic
CHOCOPE Río
CHICAMA
MAGDALENA DE CAO LA LIBERTAD

SANTIAGO DE CAO

HUANCHACO TRUJILLO
9
PACIFIC
OCEAN
SALAVERRY

0 10 20 30km

Provincial limit 9
Regional capital Huacas del Sol
VIRÚ
Provincial capital y de la Luna
District capital
Town N
Asphalted road
Unpaved route CHAO
Airport, port

75
Moche Route

El Brujo Archaeological
Complex
The thing that outstands in this monumental complex is
the presence of not only the famous walls, that represent
iconographic scenes of a religious worship supported in
the vital element of human blood, but also for the latest
findings related to female characters of Moche elite.

Daniel Silva / PROMPERU

76
EL BRUJO ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX

El Brujo
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 687014.05 Google Earth Spot: El Brujo Province: Ascope

N 9124833.62 W 79 18' 13'', S 7 54' 54'' District: Magadalena de Cao Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
El Brujo, 10 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

El Brujo
0 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a system of small information centers in the same place, as well as an acceptable signposting
in its visit circuit. The Cao Museum has recently been implemented.

77
Moche Route
This mythical archaeological complex
is composed by the Huaca Prieta in the
south extreme, the Huaca Cao Viejo
and the Huaca El Brujo, which are the
most remarkable buildings in this part
of the north of Peru. It is composed
by several terraced pyramids made of
abobe brick, and public spaces with
a large occupation that starts from
the Lithic (± 20000 b.C.), Archaic (±
6000 to 2000 b.C.) with the important
site of Huaca Prieta, and its occupation
reaches until the colonial period (±
1532 to 1821 a.C.).
But the most notable occupation,
currently known of this part of the
country belongs to the Regional
Developments period with Moche
Culture (± 0 to 600 a.C.) with the
monumental complex of El Brujo.
The thing that outstands of this
monumental complex is the presence
of not only the famous walls that
78
represent iconographic scenes of a
religious worship supported in the
vital element of human blood, which
is a characteristic of Moche culture,
but also for the latest findings related
to female characters of Moche elite.
This is a topic that is recently being
investigated. It seems to be that one
of these women was of the highest
class because of her skin decorated
with paint and tatoos, apart from a
magnificent trousseau and objects
she was buried with. This woman,
called the Lady of Cao, is shown at
the redesigned Museum, where you
can also see Moche’s textiles and
ceramics.
It takes part of the Moche Route,
because it also stands out another
place of complex iconographic
representation in its polychromed
fritzes.
Daniel Silva / PROMPERU
 El Brujo
Walter Wust
SAN PEDRO DE LLOC

ASCOPE
CHICAMA PAIJÁN

ama
Chic
CHOCOPE Río
CHICAMA
MAGDALENA DE CAO
10 LA LIBERTAD
PACIFIC
OCEAN SANTIAGO DE CAO

HUANCHACO TRUJILLO
0 10 20 30km

Provincial limit 10
Regional capital SALAVERRY
El Brujo
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
VIRÚ

79
CHAO
Moche Route

San José de Moro

From all the tombs, the most remarkable is the priestess
of San José de Moro tomb, the one which not only has an
impressive funerary trousseau, but it also gave more support
to the study of the iconographic interpretation
related to the matter of genre which had never been
registered or published before up to the moment of its finding.

Mylene D’Auriol

80
 San José de Moro
SAN JOSÉ DE MORO

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 672500.19 Google Earth Spot: San José de Moro Province: Pacasmayo
N 9205872.61 W 79 26' 16'', S 7 10' 57'' District: Guadalupe Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
San José del Moro, 122 Cusco, 3 399
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

San José del Moro

0 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellente Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a system of small information centres in the same place, as well as an acceptable
signposting in its visit circuit.

81
Moche Route
San José de Moro is a small community
located on the bank of the river
Chamán in Jequetepeque valley, to the
north of the city of Chepén, which is a
region of La Libertad, on the Peruvian
northern coast. This place holds one
of the most important cemeteries
and ceremonial centres of Moche
society and subsequent cultures. This
archaeological site is an extensive hill
that rises over the farming fields of the
area, on which you can find several
82
mounds dating from prehispanic
periods. The most important findings
have been great chamber tombs, two
of them contained the priestesses of
the “Sacrifice Ceremony”, through the
excavations performed in 1991 and
1992. Everything indicates that it is
about a woman who took part in the
sacrifice rituals by presenting a vase
that contained the victims’ blood. Her
presence symbolize reproduction in
her society.
Mylene D’Auriol
 San José de Moro
TUMÁN
CHICLAYO
SAN JOSÉ PÁTAPO

PIMENTEL MONSEFÚ
CAYALTÍ OYOTÚN
REQUE
SAN JOSÉ
NANCHOC
ZAÑA
PUERTO ETÉN
MOCUPE BOLÍVAR

CHÉRREPE PACANGA

11 CHEPÉN TEMBLADERA
e
GUADALUPE tepequ
PACIFIC que
Je Gallito Ciego
OCEAN Río
JEQUETEPEQUE dam
SAN JOSÉ
0 10 20 30km PACASMAYO

Provincial limit 11 SAN PEDRO DE LLOC

Regional capital San José
Provincial capital de Moro
District capital
Town LA LIBERTAD
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
CHICAMA
Mylene D’Auriol

83
Moche Route, other important

Túcume

The monumentality is given by great pyramids made of

adobe tricks, platforms, stuff, finish with adobe bricks and
quincha structures, plaster that some time was painted
contrasting with the green of Pomac wood and the
agricultural zones.

Daniel Silva / PROMPERU

84
TÚCUME Other names: Túcume, Huaca Larga, Huaca de las cornisas, Illimo, Mochumí, Pomac, Huaca el oro, Cerro Purgatorio

Túcume
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 628078 Google Earth Spot: Province: Lambayeque

N 9279301 W 79 50'40" S 6 30'50" District: Túcume Region: Lambayeque

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Túcume, 60 Cusco, 3 399
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 100 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

Complejo Arqueológico Túcume

700 a.C. 1350 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has one of the best on-site museums of America and a good craft center. It also has nearby
accommodation at all prices.

85
Moche Route, other important
The Pyramids of Tucume are one of
the principal monumental centres of
the northern region of the country.
The archaeological complex has
an extension of 220 hectares. It is
surrounded by fertile farming areas
and by the hamlets of la Raya and San
86
Antonio.
In the center, it is located the Sacred
Mountain known as La Raya or
Purgatorio hill. It has a beautiful
view of the valley. Furthermore, it is
surrounded by 26 pyramidal buildings
made of adobe tricks that had different
Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU
Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU
functions, from ritual and housing to wide. It had a local importance for the
big warehouses. The construction of Chimús and then for the Incas, who
these pyramids or huacas started in used it as a center of political power,

the VII century being the year 700 a.C.
When the first “Callac” buildings were
founded, descendants from Naylamp.
In its surroundings we can see other
huacas such as: Huaca Larga, Las
Estacas, La Raya, Del Pueblo, Las
Balsas, Huacal; los Gavilanes and las
Grandes, etc.
Among them, it stands out Huaca
Larga which is 280 m long and 30 m
Túcume
by building successive superimposed
temples such as the Ave Mítica Temple
and the Inca Temple. Furthermore, it is
the Inca Temple which is located in the
central upper part, superimposed over
the Ave Mítica Temple in Huaca Larga.
It presents a corridor where an Inca
administrator burial was discovered
with two male companions and 16
weaver women.

LAMBAYEQUE

BATÁN GRANDE

TÚCUME 12
MÓRROPE

FERREÑAFE
N

LAMBAYEQUE

SAN JOSÉ ue
PACIFIC CHICLAYO Req
Río
OCEAN PIMENTEL

0 10 20 30km ZAÑA
ETEN PORT
Provincial limit 12
Regional capital Túcume
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route CHÉRREPE
Airport, port
CHEPÉN

87
Moche Route, other important

Batán Grande

It is believed that it was the development center of

Lambayeque or Sicán culture. The development of
this culture took place by the year 750 a.C., having as
influence and background the local Mochica culture, as
well as contemporary cultures from other regions, such as
Cajamarca and Wari.

Magalí del Solar / PROMPERU

88
 Batán Grande
BATÁN GRANDE

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 648900 Google Earth Spot: Province: Ferreñafe

N 9281787 W 79.653433° S 6.495866° District: Pitipo Region: Lambayeque

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Batán Grande, 50 Cusco, 3 399
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 100 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

Batán Grande
750 a.C. 1350 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICIOS
It has a modern museum in the form of truncated pyramid, guided service, cafe and shops
regards.

89
Moche Route, other important

This 20 -pyramid- mud archaeological complex is distributed in an area of 46

sqkm, inside Batán Grande farm. It is believed that it was the development center
of Lambayeque or Sicán Culture (muchik word that means “house or temple of the
moon”). The development of this culture took place by the year 750 a.C., having
as influence and background the local Mochica culture, as well as contemporary
cultures from other regions, such as Cajamarca and Wari.
It is composed by the huacas Botija, Colorada, Horno de los Ingenieros, Huaca
Loro, La Merced, El Santillo, Las Abejas, La Ventana, Rodillona, La Facho,
Cholope, Arena, Corte, hmong others.
According to the archaeological investigation works that started in 1978 in the
place, Sicán culture can be divided into three periods: Early Sicán (750 - 900
a.C.), Middle (900 - 1100 a.C.) and Late (1100 - 1375 a.C.). In its moment of
great height, it took control of the most part of the Peruvian northern coast, in a
distance of more than 400 kilometers, that go from the current city of Trujillo (La
Libertad) to the province of Sullana (Piura).
The evidences point out that the development of a basically religious art that
moved around a god and lord of Sicán. Among this, the technology in metal and
ceramic works are especially notable. 90% of the golden pieces that were found
in Lambayeque culture, come from this complex.

Daniel Silva / PROMPERU

90
 Batán Grande
Mayu Mohanna / PROMPERU
LAMBAYEQUE
JAYANCA

N
BATÁN GRANDE
13
TÚCUME
MÓRROPE
CHONGOYAPE
FERREÑAFE

LAMBAYEQUE
PACIFIC CHICLAYO
SAN JOSÉ TUMÁN ue
OCEAN Req
Río
PIMENTEL

ZAÑA
ETEN PORT

Provincial limit 13
Regional capital Batán
Provincial capital Grande
District capital
Town
Asphalted road CHÉRREPE
Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30km

91
Moche Route, other important

Chan Chan

This is the largest mud complex of Iberoamerica. It

consists of a group of small cities. It is located at 25
meters above the sea level, getting close to the sea shore,
in a place called sunken chacras or totora huachaques in
an approximate area of 5,60 sqkm.

César A. Vega

92
 Chan Chan
CHAN CHAN

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 712190 Google Earth Spot: Chan Chan Province: Trujillo

N 9103435 W 79 04'28" S 8 06'34" District: Huanchaco Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Chan Chan, 25 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
50 0 50 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350 1400 1450

Huaca El Dragón
1100 a.C. 1450 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a relatively modern information center and some more information points.

93
Moche Route, other important
This complex is considered to be the
largest mud city of Iberoamerica. It
consists of a group of small cities. It is
located at 25 m above the sea level,
getting close to the sea shore, in a
place called sunken chacras or totora
huachaques in an approximate area of
5,60 sqkm.
The date of construction is in the
Regional State period and culturally
Chimú (1100 to 1470 a.C.) with small
Inca occupations in some sectors; as
constructive material, they used claying
mud (got from the huachaques and
from the hillocks?) to form big fences
of mud walls that demarcate inside a
palace, a funeral area associated to
the founder; administrative areas and
warehouses, worship areas, rooms,
public areas, corridors and streets,
with beautiful naturalistic fritzes. Maybe
they were plastered and lively painted.
The floors of the buildings of Chan
94
Chan are orthogonal, being the servant
and the craftman areas, built-up ones
that locate around the palaces.
It seems that the palaces were built just
for the use of a great Lord, being built
and abandoned when this one died.
Only stayed his relatives and servants,
the ones who would keep the benefits
of the dead monark’s ‘properties’.
Some researchers state that after
the Inca conquest, Chan Chan was
pillaged and destroyed -approximately
in the year 1470- and when the
Spaniards, commanded by Pizarro,
arrived, it was just a devastated city,
without the bright and splendour that
it once had .
At the moment, great efforts are being
made to put a value on it. Its complexity
and size make Chan Chan one of the
principal landmarks of this proposed
route.
César A. Vega
 Chan Chan
César A. Vega
SAN PEDRO DE LLOC

CHICAMA ASCOPE
PAIJÁN

ama
Chic
CHOCOPE Río
CHICAMA
MAGDALENA DE CAO
LA LIBERTAD
PACIFIC
OCEAN SANTIAGO DE CAO

HUANCHACO
14
0 10 20 30km
TRUJILLO

Provincial limit 14
Regional capital SALAVERRY
Chan Chan
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
VIRÚ

95
CHAO
Moche Route, other important

Huaca El Dragón

This huaca has been called El Dragón because of the

importante and notoriety of a high relief figure that exists
in one of the principal walls. This figure is double-headed,
it looks like a dragon, with a great number of legs, the
same as a centipede.

Magalí del Solar / PROMPERU

96
 Huaca El Dragón
HUACA EL DRAGÓN Other names: Huaca Arco Iris

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17L E 715070 Google Earth Spot: Province: Trujillo

N 9106737 W 79 02'56" S 8 04'35" District: La Esperanza Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Huaca El Dragón, 80 Sea
Huaraz, 3 091 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
50 0 50 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350 1400 1450

Huaca El Dragón
1100 a.C. 1450 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It is signposted properly and has basic services.

97
Moche Route, other important
It is one of the most important buildings
of the Moche valley. It is a truncated
pyramidal structure. It is considered to
be the first settlement of Wari culture in
the Moche valley. It consists of a total
area of 3 245 sqm, 59 m long, 55 m wide
and 10 m high. It is an adobe brick and
mud building that allows to appreciate
the high grade of development that
Wari reached in engineering as all the
structure is antiseismic. It is supposed
that originally it must have had three
floors and one of its functions was
to perform religious celebrations in
honour to the rainbow or other natural
fenomenal related to rain and soil
fertility.
The american researcher Richard
Schaedell considers that the place
is 1100 years old, being located in
98
the development of regional cultures’
period that are between the Horizonts
Chavín and Tiahuanaco.
The presence of 14 store rooms
or “colcas”, stand out as spaces
associated to the building, where
seeds and other products were kept.
About decoration, its walls show mud
high relief figures, with zoomorphic
and anthropomorphic representations.
What is more, 25 wooden idols (balsa
stick, chonta, carob tree) have been
found. They have a hunchback aspect,
with shell inlay in different parts of the
body. They were possibly used as
amulets.
This huaca has been called El Dragón
because of the importante and notoriety
of a high relief figure that exists in one
of the principal walls.
Wilfredo Loayza / PROMPERU
 Huaca El Dragón
SAN PEDRO DE LLOC

César A. Vega
N
ASCOPE
CHICAMA PAIJÁN

ama
Chic
CHOCOPE Río
CHICAMA
MAGDALENA DE CAO
LA LIBERTAD
PACIFIC El Brujo
OCEAN SANTIAGO DE CAO

HUANCHACO 15

TRUJILLO

Provincial limit 15
Regional capital Huaca SALAVERRY
Provincial capital El Dragón
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
VIRÚ
0 10 20 30km

CHAO
César A. Vega

99
Moche Route

Heinz Plengue / PROMPERU

Geographical means

The cultural societies that were developed in the valleys of the northern
coast of Peru, such as Moche, Chimú, Vicus, initially occupied the valleys
of Moche, Chicama and Virú, among others, in La Libertad. Then they
covered an area of influence from the valley of Piura (in the north) to
the valley of Nepeña (in the south). This scenery has an arid-deserted
geography, with valleys of great agricultural potencial, due to the presence
of rivers that come down from the andes and were used by the different
human settlements that were located there.

No doubt, the desert plains on the coast wouldn’t have any life possibilities
if there weren’t rivers that come down from the Western mountain range
of the Andes bringing water of life that was well used by settlers of this
zone by developing hydraulic systems of irrigation that are still admired
nowadays.
We can’t put aside the importance that the Pacific Ocean had in the feeding
of these civilizations. It is source of life and a generator of symbology and
religion, in addition to its civilization process.

100
 Daniel Silva / PROMPERU

101
 The Cloudy Town Route
16 Karajía
It is 1 000 years old, it takes part of Chipuric
archaeological complex, characterized by the unique way
of burial in the world of their deads.

17 Kuélap
It had a political, religious, administrative military role,
composed by two platforms over which raised a
populated center with passages, accesses and grounds.

18 Revash
It is a funeral center that belonged to an archaeological
complex parallel to Chachapoyas culture composed by
up to three-storey buildings.

19 Macro
It is a pre-inca residential complex composed by five
platforms that support huts and towers built with stones
and mud mortar in a 3 hectares area.

20 La Jalca - Jalca Grande Museum

This museum has several materials, part of Chachapoyas,
Inca evidences and a group of early colonial materials.

21 Leymebamba Museum
It houses more than 200 mummies and their funeral
offerings, recovered in 1997 in Laguna de los Cóndores
by means of an emergency archaeological projectect.

22 Laguna de los Cóndores

This archaeological complex is composed by six
mausoleums with characteristics of Chachapoyas and
Inca cultures and decorated with cave paintings.

23 La Congona
This residential complex built with cut stones and placed
in a symmetrical form with mud mortar. We can appreciate
external decoration with rhomboid ornamentation and
square niches inside.
102
The proposal of this route is the archaeological circuit that has as a topic of connection
the development of Chachapoyas culture in Amazonas city, which was developed in the
Regional State Period (1200 - 1470 a.C.), in the Cloudy Forest region in the northern jungle
of Peru.
The cloudy town route is characterized by presenting an impressive chullpas system,
sarcophagus and mausoleums, apart form villages with circular buildings, whose main
representative is the archaeological complex Kuélap.
The places that are being discovered in this route are Karajía, Kuélap, Revash, Macro,
La Jalca - Jalca Grande Museum, Leymebamba Museum, Mausoleums of Laguna de los
Cóndores and La Congona.

TIME LINE

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 800 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

La Jalca - Leymebamba Karajía - Kuélap

Los Cóndores - La Congona
Revash - Macro

Detailed area
AMAZONAS

BAGUA
N GRANDE
16 MOYOBAMBA
LUYA
CHACHAPOYAS
19 TARAPOTO
17 20
18 LA JALCA
SANTO TOMÁS 21
CHICLAYO 23 LEYMEBAMBA
22

CAJAMARCA SAN MARTÍN

The Cloudy Town Route

Provincial limit 16 Karajía
Regional capital 17 Kuélap
PACIFIC TRUJILLO Provincial capital 18 Revash
OCEAN District capital 19 Macro
Town 20 La Jalca - Museum
Asphalted road 21 Leymebamba Museum
Unpaved route 22 Laguna de los Cóndores
Airport, port 23 La Congona
0 25 50 75 100 km
103
The Town of the Clouds Route

Karajía

The sarcophaguses, known by the settlers as

Purunmachos, are associated to Chachapoyas
culture with 1000 years of antiquity; take part of the
archaeological complex of Chipuric.

Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU

104
KARAJÍA SARCOPHAGUS Other names: Purunmachos

Karajía
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 168926.38 Google Earth Spot: Karajía Province: Luya

S 9309510.76 S W 77 59'29'', S 6 14'18'' District: Conilla Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Karajía, 2 600 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Karajía
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has neither a type of infrastructure nor service.

105
The Town of the Clouds Route
The sarcophaguses are on the gully
of Karajía or Carajía, at 200 meters
high. They are known by the settlers
as Purunmachos, are associated
to Chachapoyas culture. With 1 000
years of antiquity, take part of the
archaeological complex of Chipuric.
They characterize for the unique way
of burying their deaths.
These amazing sarcophaguses are
106
laterally joined in groups of 4 to 8,
leaning back to the rock. They are big
2 m high antropomorphic capsules,
made of clay, mixed with sticks and
stones. They only show the head
and part of the chest and made in a
compact way.
No doubt, they form part of the Route
of Chachas for being a representative
icon of Chachapoyas culture.
Luis Gamero / PROMPERU
 Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU

Karajía
JUMBILLA YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ NUEVA CAJAMARCA

CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
16 LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ñó
n

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 16
Regional capital Karajía
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
yaba

Town
Asphalted road
mba

Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

107
The Town of the Clouds Route

Kuélap
Belonging to Chachapoyas culture and with very
important features, it had political, religious, administrative
and military functions. It takes part of the Town of the
Clouds Route because it is the biggest settlement in its
genre, and thanks to its conservation, we can imagine the
real functioning of its structures.

César A. Vega

108
KUÉLAP ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX Otros nombres: Purunmachos

Kuélap
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 176585.28 Google Earth Spot: Kuélap Province: Luya

N 9289509.02 W 77 55'24'', S 6 25' 03'' District: Tingo Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Kuélap, 3 000 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Kuélap
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an interpretation center, guarding and visit circuit.

109
The Town of the Clouds Route
Belonging to Chachapoyas culture
(± 1200 to 1470 a.C.) and with very
important features, Kuélap complex
had political, religious, administrative
and military functions. The platform
Spreads along by almost 600 meters
and flanked by a 19 meter - high wall.
Amazingly built on the cliff of a rocky
promontory at more than 2 000 high,
Kuélap is composed by two platforms
on which was settled a populated
center with landscapes, accesses
and circular floor precincts, the ones
which are located in two sectors called
Pueblo Alto and Pueblo Bajo. In its
interior, it is composed by more than
110
400 buildings of circular floor, some
ornaments with rhombus and zig-zag
fritzes frisos in mosaic form, typical of
Chachapoyas culture. In the highest
level that faces the precipice, it is the
“Tower” which is 6,40 m high and 9 m
wide and “El Tintero”, a circular tower
in an inverted cone shape. One of the
most impressive details of Kuélap is its
extensive wall up to 20 m high and 680
m long.
It takes part of the Town of the Clouds
Route because it is the biggest
settlement in its genre, and thanks to
its conservation, we can imagine the
real functioning of its structures.
César A. Vega
 JUMBILLA
YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ NUEVA CAJAMARCA

Kuélap
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA
17 OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ñó
n

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 17
Regional capital Kuélap
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
yaba

Town
Asphalted road
mba

Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km
César A. Vega

111
 Revash
This funerary center belonged to an archaeological
complex parallel to Chachapoyas culture
(± 1200 to 1470 a.C.). It is composed by rectangular, up
to three-floor constructions (Chullpas).

Magalí del Solar / PROMPERU

112
REVASH ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX

Revash
Otros nombres: Purunmachos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 181881.39 Google Earth Spot: Revash Province: Luya

N 9285069.91 W 77 52'33'', S 6 27' 36'' District: Santo Tomás Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Revash, 2 800 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Revash
1200 a.C. 1470 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services.

113
The Town of the Clouds Route
The funerary set of Revash is located on
the rocky formation of Cerro Carbón,
located on the left margin of the valley
Alto Utcubamba. Investigations have
determined that it belonged to an
archaeological complex parallel to
Chachapoyas culture (± 1200 to 1470
a.C.). It is composed by rectangular, up
to three-floor constructions (Chullpas)
where remains of ropes, feathers, nets,
collars, ceramics, bones, etc have been
found. It seems that in its period, they
114
were offerings to their deaths. Most of
these “funerary homes” have a gable
roof and are located under the shelter
of a rock. In the external walls, we can
see very prominent cornices that are
visible in the distance. What is more,
you can also see squire, crossform or
“T” shape niches.
It takes part of the Town of the Clouds
Route, because it is a different type of
mausoleums that can be visited.
Magalí del Solar / PROMPERU
 Magalí del Solar / PROMPERU

Revash
JUMBILLA YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

18 MILPUC
ñ
ón

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

CAJAMARCA
BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 18
Regional capital Revash
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
ya

Town
bam

Asphalted road
Unpaved route
a b

Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

115
The Town of the Clouds Route

Macro
Sitting on the south-east slopes of a steep spur, we find
five platforms that support huts and towers built with stone
and mud mortar, in an area of 3 hectares dating from the
year ± 1200 to 1470 a.C.

Luis Gamero / PROMPERU

116
MACRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX Otros nombres: Purunmachos

Macro
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 177147 Google Earth Spot: Macro Province: Chachapoyas

S 9295197 W 77 55'05'', S 6 22'05'' District Magdalena Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Macro, 1 894 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Macro
1200 a.C. 1470 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no service.

117
The Town of the Clouds Route
This pre inca residential complex is
located at 50 meters from the right
margin of the river Utcubamba and
it is settled over the south-east slope
of a steep spur. In Macro we find five
platforms that support huts and Powers
built with stone and mortar, in an area
of three hectares. In the building of this
complex, dating from the year ± 1200
to 1470 a.C. There are several platforms
and remains of houses decorated with
118
rhombus fritzes and vaulted niches on
the walls. It is estimated that it must
have held 100 people in the flourishing
period of Chachapoyas culture.
Macro is the most important
archaeological site of Magdalena
district and takes part of the Town of the
Clouds Route, due to its monumental
value and its particular architectural
features.
Luis Gamero / PROMPERU
 Luis Gamero / PROMPERU

Macro
JUMBILLA YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR
19
TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ónñ

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 19
Regional capital Macro
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
yaba

Town
Asphalted road
m

Unpaved route
ba

Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

119
The Town of the Clouds Route

La Jalca - Jalca Grande

Museum
This museum occupies part of the catholic temple that
was one of the oldest of the Region. Its presence in the
tour is basically due to its almost complete chronological
cycle of the daily activities of past and present periods.

Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU

120
 La Jalca - Museum
LA JALCA Otros nombres: Purunmachos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 199515.25 Google Earth Spot: La Jalca Grande Province: Chachapoyas

N 9282599.18 W 77 43'00'', S 6 28' 59'' District: La Jalca Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
La Jalca, 2 800
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

La Jalca
100 a.C. 500 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site Museum.

121
The Town of the Clouds Route

Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU

122

This museum, which is built over the
2 800 meters above the sea level in
the town of La Jalca Grande, occupies
part of one of the catholic temple that
was one of the oldest of the region. At
any time, it was the principal settlement
and was considered as the capital of
the region Turing the first decades of
the Colony. It was also known as San
Juan de la Frontera.
This museum has several materials
which are part of the National Cultural
Patrimony, such as the evidences of
La Jalca - Museum
Chachapoyas, Inca and especially
an interesting set of early colonial
material; but more special is the
incidence of natural material and its
conservation; it is also interesting its
attempts to preserve the presence of
current cultural manifestations and the
ones that it keeps in the region.
Its presence in the tour is basically due
to its almost complete chronological
cycle of the daily activities of past and
present periods.

JUMBILLA YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Ma

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
rañ

20
ón

MILPUC
riv
er

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 20
Regional capital La Jalca
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
ya

Pueblo
bam

Asphalted road
Unpaved route
ba

Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

123
The Town of the Clouds Route

Leymebamba Museum

The Leymebamba Museum, opened in June 2000, holds

more than 200 mummies and their funerary offerings, that
were recovered in 1997 on Laguna de los Cóndores.

Omar Carbajal / PROMPERU

124
 Leymebamba Museum
LEYMEBAMBA MUSEUM Otros nombres: Purunmachos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 192227.18 Google Earth Spot: Province: Chachapoyas

N 9260378.77 W 77 47'00'', S 6 40' 59'' District: Leymebamba Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
La Jalca, 2 500 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Leymebamba
100 a.C. 500 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

GRADO DE ACCESIBILIDAD
Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
Community Museum, tourist lodging, research center and orchid garden.

125
The Town of the Clouds Route

Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU

126

The Leymebamba Museum, opened
in June 2000, holds more than 200
mummies and their funerary offerings,
that were recovered in 1997 on Laguna
de los Cóndores by means of an
emergency archaeological project
led by doctor Sonia Guillén, Principal
of Mallqui Center. The rescue tasks
permitted to recover, for the local
history, a valuable archaeological
Leymebamba Museum
collection that was in danger of
disappearing due to the vandalical
action of huaqueros and inscrupulous
visitors. From an initiative of The
Bioanthropology Foundation Perú-
Mallqui Center, the construction of the
Leymebamba Museum was possible
thanks to the financial help coming
from a group of Austrian citizens and
other private donations.

JUMBILLA YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ñó
n

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

21 LEYMEBAMBA

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 21
Regional capital Leymebamba
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
ya

Town
bam

Asphalted road
Unpaved route
ba

Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

127
The Town of the Clouds Route

Laguna de los Cóndores

Mausoleums of Chachapoyas and Inca features,
decorated with cave paintings, where about a hundred
funerary bundles were found together with fine textile,
ceramics, wooden carvings, quipus, decorated pumpkins,
crowns and several valuable objects.

Beatrice Velarde / PROMPERU

128
 Laguna de los Cóndores
LAGUNA DE LOS CÓNDORES ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX
Otros nombres: Purunmachos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 202389.25 Google Earth Spot: Laguna de los Cóndores Province:

N 9241647.94 W 77 41'40'', S 6 51' 01'' District: Region: San Martín

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Laguna de los Cóndores, 3 000
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Laguna de Los Cóndores

1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
Private shelter of the lagoon (owner Mr. Ullillen).

129
The Town of the Clouds Route

This is an amazing archaeological wooden carvings, quipus, decorated

complex composed by six pumpkins, crowns and several
mausoleums, located around Laguna valuable objects. We can observe an
de los Cóndores. The archaeological impressive lagoon where you can fish
evidences present features of and sail by boat. It also presents typical
Chachapoyas and Inca Cultures (± high jungle vegetation and fauna.
1200 to 1532 a.C.) decorated with It takes part of the Town of the Clouds
cave paintings. About one hundred Route because it represents one of the
of funerary bundles were found here, biggest recovered funerary set of this
together with fine textiles, ceramics, culture.

Michael Tweddle / PROMPERU

130
 Laguna de los Cóndores
Beatrice Velarde / PROMPERU
JUMBILLA YURACYACU
PEDRO RUÍZ
N
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ñ
ón

YERBABUENA
SANTO TOMÁS

LEYMEBAMBA

22

Provincial limit 22 Laguna de los Cóndores

Regional capital Laguna de
Río

Provincial capital los Cóndores

Hua

District capital
yaba

Town
Asphalted road
mba

Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

131
The Town of the Clouds Route

La Congona
It is a residential complex built on cut stone and
placed in a symmetrical shape with mud mortar. These
constructions date from the years ± 1200 to 1532 a.C.

Carlos Del Águila

132
 La Congona
LA CONGONA Otros nombres: Purunmachos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18M E 181573 Google Earth Spot: San Cristobal de La Fila Province: Luya
N 9260579 6°40'51.73"S 77°52'47.50"O District: San Francisco del Yeso Region: Amazonas

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
La Congona , 2 777 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Amazonas, 2 236 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

La Congona
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services.

133
The Town of the Clouds Route
It is a residential complex, near the
village of Leymebamba, built on cut
stone and placed in a symmetrical
shape with mud mortar. These
constructions date from the years ±
1200 to 1532 a.C.
We can see external decoration with
rhombus ornaments and square vaulted
niches inside. These constructions
134
present a fine manufacture in the
work of dressed stone and in the
development of geometric lintels.
It takes part of the Town of the Clouds
Route, for being one of the few almost
intact evidences that are known of this
type of residential complexes of the
Chachapoyas societies.
Carlos Del Águila
 La Congona
Carlos Del Águila
JUMBILLA
YURACYACU
N PEDRO RUÍZ
CHURUJA JERUSALÉN
VALERA
RIOJA
LAMUD
LUYA
AMAZONAS
LONYA CHICO
CHACHAPOYAS
COLCAMAR

TINGO MENDOZA

OMIA
Rí

LA JALCA LIMABAMBA
oM
ara

MILPUC
ñ

SANTO TOMÁS
ón

YERBABUENA

LEYMEBAMBA
23

BALSAS
CELENDÍN Provincial limit 23
Departmental capital La Congona
Río

Provincial capital
Hua

District capital
yaba

Town
Asphalted road
mba

Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 km

135
The Town of the Clouds Route

Heinz Plengue / PROMPERU

Geographical means

The investigations that have been developed in the areas where cultures
like the Chachapoya and others lived, are called Amazon Andes. In
accordance with the archaeologist Federico Kauffmann Doig, they belong
to a mixed region: Amazon for its landscape and Andean for its accidental
topography, that runs from north to south by the Eastern side of the Andes.
However, the cultural display was only performed between the 2 and 3
meters high andi t is evidente through the archaeological testimonies that
are presented there.

The most important culture of this zone is Chachapoya, which was

developed on the Abiseo Basin (at about 2 000 m above the sea level), in
an area surronded by the rivers Huallaga (east) and Marañón (west and
north), in the current towns of Bagua and Moyabamba. The Studies and
findings performed, determine that they were a set of groups such as the
paellas, motillones, chilchos, chillaos and chachapoyas that lined up or
separated according to the circumstances and shared the same culture.

136
 César A. Vega

137
 Central Archaeological
Route

138
César A. Vega

The Peruvian Coast And Central

Highlands have characterized for
presenting abundant historical
archaeological information that is being
known recently. As an evidence of this,
we have the principal testimonies of
Qhapaq Ñan or Tawantinsuyo Royal
Road. This makes very feasible the
implementation of this route that is
proposed as: the Route of the Ancient
of the Metropoli / Lima archaeological.

139
 The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
24 Huaca Pucllana
It represents the power and political control practised by
a priestly group that in their period controlled the valleys
of Chancay, Chillón, Rímac and Lurín.

25 Huallamarca
It is a pyramid building with an entry central ramp to the
highest part of the building. The monument has been
inspected and restored most of it, which permits its visit to
all the areas.

26 Mateo Salado
This monumental complex consists of five pyramid wall
structures, the ones that present access in ramps and
define vast platforms of use.

27 Maranga
Most of these buildings are located inside the territory of
the current Parque de las Leyendas zoo, where they have
been fitted out to be visited.

28 Paramonga
Among its well-preserved and principal buildings, it stands
out a four-level terraced pyramid with huge proportions,
built with adobe bricks on a hill.

29 Puruchuco
It presents different areas that go from great walls on the
nearby mountain ridges to some more rudimentary
manufacturing service areas.

30 Cajamarquilla
It is considered to be the second largest mud urban
complex of the Central Coast after Pachacámac, with 167
hectares of extension.

31 Pachacámac
Its general and particular characteristics make Pachacá-
mac be one of the principal cities that point out this route
of coastal cities.
140
 This is a theme tour that consists of the principal archaeological attractions that
Lima city presents. Taking always into account that the principal sites keep a very
representative local identity of the prehispanic architecture of the Central Coast. Two
periods dominate in this route, the Regional Developments (100 b.C. - 300 a.C.) and
the Late Intermediate period (1200 - 1470 a.C.); represented by Lima and Ichsma
cultures respectively. In both cases the architectural features mark their difference in
the details presented in these buildings.
The sites involved in this Route: Pucllana, Huallamarca, Mateo Salado, Maranga,
Paramonga, Puruchuco, Cajamarquilla and Pachacámac.

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
1000 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Huallamarca Huaca Pucllana Mateo Salado

Maranga Cajamarquilla Puruchuco

Pachacámac Paramonga

28
PATIVILCA
BARRANCA

HUACHO Detailed area

N LIMA

HUARAL CANTA

PACIFIC MATUCANA
OCEAN 2726 30 29
25 24

31

The metropolis ancients’ route

Provincial limit 24 Huaca Pucllana
Regional capital 25 Huallamarca
Provincial capital 26 Mateo Salado
District capital 27 Maranga
Town 28 Paramonga
Asphalted road 29 Puruchuco
SAN VICENTE DE CAÑETE
Unpaved route 30 Cajamarquilla
Airport, port 31 Pachacámac

0 25141 50 km
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Huaca Pucllana
It belongs to the development of Lima culture
(200 -700 a.C.). It represents the power and political
domain performed by a priestly group that in their period
controlled the valleys of Chancay, Chillón, Rímac
and Lurín.

César A. Vega

142
 Huaca Pucllana
PUCLLANA HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PARK Other names: Huaca Pucllana

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 278640.12 Google Earth Spot: Urbano Province: Lima

N 8660306.61 W 77 02'01'', S 12 06' 39'' District: Miraflores Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Pucllana, 95 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Huaca Pucllana
200 a.C. 700 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site Museum, visit circuit and hygienic services.

143
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
The recognised Huaca Pucllana,
standing in the middle of the Limeña
Metropoli, belongs to the development
of Lima culture (200 - 700 a.C.). It
represents the power and political
domain performed by a priestly group
that in their period controlled the valleys
of Chancay, Chillón, Rímac and Lurín.
As an archaeological center, Huaca
Pucllana is associated to other sites in
Lima, such as Maranga (San Miguel),
Cajamarquilla (Ate) y Pachacámac
(Lurín).
The construction of this complex is
associated to the access and control
of water and the channel systems of
144
the left margin of the valley of Lima.
It is composed by a monumental
construction built entirely of “adobitos”,
architectural feature of Lima culture,
conforming high terraces at different
levels which had an access by ramps.
In the low part there are still some
spacious places delimited by walls
made of these adobe tricks and four
corridors that subdivide this place into
several sectors.
It takes part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli Route for being one of
the places of more archaeological
intervention in the valley of Lima up to
the moment.
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
 Huaca Pucllana
César A. Vega
.
VE
ZA

N
RU

PASEO D
AC
NT
SA

E LA REP
AREQUIPA

MIRAFLORES
ÚBLICA

24
AVE.
CONQUISTADORES AVE.

ANGAMOS OESTE AVE.

JOSÉ PARDO AVE.

DE
LE
JÉ 24
RC
ITO Principal Avenue Huaca Pucllana
AV
CO E. Secondary streets
STA
NER Archaeological place
AA
VE.

Airport, port
0 250 500 m

145
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Huallamarca
It is a piramidal building with a central access ramp to the
highest part of the buildin. Its occupation dates from the
end of the Formative period (800 - 100 b.C.), with a solid
consistent occupation after Lima culture (100 - 600 a.C.)
and then sporadically to the Wari and Ichsma.

César A. Vega

146
 Huallamarca
HUACA HUALLAMARCA Other names: Huaca Pan de Azúcar

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 277909.04 Google Earth Spot: Urbano Province: Lima

N 8661838.19 W 77 02'26'', S 12 05' 51'' District: San Isidro Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Huallamarca, 96 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
800 600 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Huaca Huallamarca
800 b.C. 1470 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site Museum, visit circuit and hygienic services.

147
148
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Walter Silvera / PROMPERU Archivo Renzo Uccelli

 Huallamarca
The well known Huaca Huallamarca is in the heart of the limeño district San Isidro
and it is about an interesting pyramidal building with a central access ramp to the
highest part of the building. It has been established that it was occupied from the
end of the Formative period (800 - 100 b.C.), with a solid consistent occupation
after Lima culture (100 - 600 a.C.) and then, it had the sporadic presence, in a
form of bundle burials in the Wari (600 - 1000 a.C.) and Ichsma (1200 - 1470 a.C.)
periods. The monument has been intervened and restored in a great part. This
allows its visit to all the sectors. It is a truncated piramidal structure that generates
open use terraces. These were reused later to place relatively important late
burials.
The testimonies found in the tombs of Huaca Huallamarca belong to a period
that goes from the VI century a.C. To the Incas advent in the XV century a.C. In
the IV Century a.C. It takes part of the Ancient of the Metropoli Route for being a
totally intervened building that allows to observe part of modern Lima city from
the high part of the construction.

TE AVE.
RADO OES
JAVIER P
N
JR. LOS CIPR
JR. LOS AL

AVE.
JORGE BASADRE
AMOS

ESES

AREQUIPA
NTIA

JR. PA
Z SOL
DÁN
RRA
O

AVE.
JR.

25

SAN ISIDRO
JR. CH
OQUE
HUAN
CA
JR. LO
S AND
ES
EL OLIVAR
PARK

EL GOLF
DE SAN ISIDRO
25
Principal Avenue Huaca
Huallamarca
Secondary streets
JR. JU Archaeological place
AN AN
TONIO
PEZET

Airport, port
0 250 500 m

149
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Mateo Salado
This monumental complex spreads in a 20 hectares - land
that includes a perimeter of 1 400 meters. It is composed
by five pyramidal wall structures, that present access
ramps and that define extensive platforms of use.

Walter Hupiu

150
 Mateo Salado
MATEO SALADO ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX Other names: Huaca Ascona or Cinco Cerritos

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 275353.06 Google Earth Spot: Urbano Province: Lima

N 8665267.8 W 77 03'45'', S 12 03' 57'' District: Lima Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Mateo Salado, 98 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Mateo Salado
1000 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a tourist service and restrooms.

151
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
This monumental complex has its
name because of Matheus Saladé
(1528-1573), a protestant Frenchman
who lived in the huaca and that, in
the Viceroyal time, he was accused of
heretic by the Saint Inquisition Court. He
was burnt at the stake. It is also known
as Azcona Ruins and Five Little Hills.
It spreads in a 20 hectares - land that
includes a perimeter of 1 400 meters.
It is composed by five pyramidal wall
structures, that present access ramps
and that define extensive platforms
of use. The volume are very high
and present successive remodelings
152
along the time of its occupation. It also
has the remains of an epimural road,
delimited by walls that must have
connected this complex with Maranga
Chayavilca. It also presents places
and central squares, surrounded by
main structures, warehouse zones and
corridors that connect the different
architectural zones.
It takes part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli Route for being together
with Maranga the two unique late
complexes whose structures were
slightly affected.
Walter Hupiu
 Mateo Salado
AVE.
N

ARÍA
LIMA

M
TINGO

AVE.
BERTELLO
BOLLAT
I AVE.

LORETO
26

PLAZA DE
LA BANDERA
MARIANO CORNEJO AVE.

AVE.
DEL RÍO
PUEBLO LIBRE

E.
AV
BOLIVAR AVE.

IL
AS
26 BR
Principal Avenue Mateo Salado
Secondary streets
VE.

Archaeological place
EA
CR
SU

Airport, port
0 250 500 m
Walter Hupiu

153
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Maranga
This extensive monumental complex of built-up huacas,
the oldest made of “adobitos” placed in the bookcase
way, and the latest walls, has more than 50 pyramidal
buildings reaching most of them15 meters high on
average.

Walter Hupiu

154
 Maranga
MARANGA CHAYAVILCA ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX Otros nombres: Huaca As

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 272760.97 Google Earth Spot: Province: Lima

N 8665501.19 W 77 05'15'', S 12 03' 55'' District: San Miguel Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Maranga, 64 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean,, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Maranga
0 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Malo Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site Museum "Ernst Middenddorf" inside Parque de las Leyendas territory.

155
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
This extensive monumental complex,
also known as Maranga-Chayavilca,
that was possibly the capital of Lima
Culture, has 50 pyramidal buildings,
the oldest made of “adobitos” placed in
the bookcase way, and the latest walls,
reaching most of them 15 meters high
on average. Most of these buildings are
located inside the lands of Parque de
Las Leyendas, where they have been
fitted out for their visit and to be put a
value on in general. They take part of
this complex, the Huaca Tres Palos,
the Huaca La Palma, an Inca Palace,
the Huaca Cruz Blanca, among others.
156
The northernmost part is composed by
earlier buildings of Lima period, such as
Huaca Middenddorf, the Huaca 21, the
Huaca San Marcos, the Huaca Potosí,
the Huaca Concha, among others.
Some of these pyramidal buildings are
ready for a tourist visit, the one which is
included in the general visit to Parque
de Las Leyendas.
It takes part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli Route for being, together
with Mateo Salado, the most extensive
varied monumental complexes that
still exist in the city.
Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU
 AVE.
VENEZUELA

Maranga
N

SAN MIGUEL

27

UNIVERSITARIA AVE.
PARQUE DE
LAS LEYENDAS CATÓLICA
ZOO DEL PERÚ
AVE.

UNIVERSITY
PRE
ÜERO

CUR
SOR BOLIVA
ES R AVE.
A AG

AVE
.
A RIV
E.
O AV

DE L
ARD

JOSÉ

LA MA
ESC

R AVE.
LA MARINA AVE.
27
Principal Avenue Maranga
Secondary streets
Archaeological place

Airport, port
0 250 500 m
Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU

157
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Paramonga
It is a construction built in the border between the Chimú
and the Ichsma in the small north of Peru. It is placed
between the Regional State and the Tawantinsuyo
periods. It is said that it was an important worshipping
place and its name is due to Paramonga town. It isn’t
known its original denomination in muchik
language, though.

Víctor Villanueva / PROMPERU

158
 Paramonga
PARAMONGA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENT Otros nombres: Huaca As

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 189140.94 Google Earth Spot: Paramonga Province: Barranca

N 8820932.84 W 77 05'15'', S 12 03' 55'' District: Pativilca Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Paramonga, 17 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Paramonga
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
A small on-site Museum and hygienic services.

159
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
This construction was built in the border
between the Chimú and the Ichsma in
the small north of Peru. It is placed
between the Regional State (1200 -
1470 a.C.) and the Tawantinsuyo (1470
- 1532 a.C.) periods.
It is said that it was an important
worshipping place and its name is
due to Paramonga town. It isn’t known
its original denomination in muchik
language, though, which was the one
that was spoken on the northern coast
before the Conquest. Commonly called
“Fortaleza”, it owes this nickname
to one of its principal well preserved
buildings, which is a terraced pyramid
with 4 levels of large proportions, built
of adobe bricks on a hill. It looks like a
medieval European castle.
According to ancient chroniclers,
like Miguel de Estete, the “chronicler
160
soldier”: (...) and another day he
went to sleep in a big town called
Parmunga, which is close to the sea,
has a Fortified House, with five blind
fences, painted inside and outside,
with its well dressed façades, in the
same way as in Spain, with two tigers
(pumas?) at the main door (...)”.
It hasn’t suffered major modifications
from the beginning of the XIX century,
consequently, it allows to see original
architectural details in its high part.
It is believed that it has a floor in a
Feline shape and its surrounding walls
in three levels, effectively look like a
fortified place.
It takes part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli Route, for being one of the
monuments located at the entrance of
Lima next to Panamericana Highway.
César A. Vega
 Paramonga
N

ca
vil
ati
RíoP
28
LIMA

PAN
AME
RICA
NA R
OAD

PARAMONGA
PACIFIC
OCEAN

28
Paramonga PATIVILCA
District
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port

0 1 2 km
César A. Vega

161
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Puruchuco
This palacelike construction of the Late period (XV - XVI
century a.C.), made of adobe tricks on a rectangular floor
terrain, with Horizontal structures without artificial volume/
pyramidal.

Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

162
 Puruchuco
PURUCHUCO ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE Otros nombres: Huaca As

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 289242.36 Google Earth Spot: Urbano Province: Lima

N 8667215.04 W 76 56'10'', S 12 02' 59'' District: Ate Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Puruchuco, 324 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 50 0 50 1400 1450 1500 1550 1600 1650 1700 1750

Puruchuco
1450 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
On-site Museum, visit circuit, recreational areas for children, hygienic services.

163
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

This archaeological complex raised

on wall had another name before:
Vista Alegre, for being inside the

Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

limits of the farm that has the same
name. However, at the moment of
getting a fair name in accordance
with its prehispanic legacy, it was
chosen the name of Puruchuco,
due to the proximity of the palace
with another archaeological site
located on a farm that belonged
to Fransiscan priests that
corresponded to the name of
Puruchuca.
Researchers have determined that
this palace like construction of
the Late period (XV - XVI century
a.C.), made in base of wall on
a rectangular floor terrain, with
horizontal structures without
artificial volume/pyramidal. This
place presents different sectors
that go from great walls on the
crest of the nearby hills, to some
more rudimentary (stone and mud)
sectors of manufacturing service.
The outstanding building is the one
that has been completely restored
and belonged to a local curaca
who ruled this part of the valley. The
characteristics and architectural
details such as its vaulted niches,
benches and accesses, remark
its particularity in comparison of
other buildings of the same period.
Another non-restored sector is the
one that is known as Puruchuca,
located to the south of the boundary
of the spur that arranges these
settlements.

164
 Puruchuco
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
N

E. ATE - VITARTE
LÓ N AV
AYL
ASTU

LÁS
NICO
RIAS

29
STRE

AVE.
ET

PROLONGACIÓN JAVIER PRADO

ESTADIO
.
AVE MONUMENTAL
AL
USTRI
IND
HU

RA
DO
AR

ARA
OC

SEP
HIR
Í AV
DE L

E.

29
OS

Principal Avenue Puruchuco

ING

Secondary streets
VE.
EA
ENIE

Archaeological place
ST
OE
ROS

D
PRA
IER
STR

JAV
Airport, port
EET

0 250 500 m

165
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Cajamarquilla
This archaeological site was built by the end of the Early
Intermediate period, by the year 600 a.C., during the
period of predominance in the valley of Lima culture. It is
considered the second largest urban mud complex of the
Central Coast after Pachacámac.

Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU

166
 Cajamarquilla
CAJAMARQUILLA ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX Otros nombres: Huaca As

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 292136.46 Google Earth Spot: Province: Lima

N 8674331.59 W 76 54'33'', S 11 59' 09'' District: Lurigancho Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Cajamarquilla, 395 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Cajamarquilla
600 a.C. 1450 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
The Entrance is managed from Puruchuco on-site Museum.

167
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
The impressiveness of this
archaeological site has its origins at the
end of the Early Intermediate period,
by the year 600 a.C., during the period
of domain in the valley of Lima culture,
with its 167 hectares of extension, it is
considered the second largest urban
mud complex of the Central Coast
after Pachacamac.
The importance of Cajamarquilla as a
political-urban center was increasing
in accordance with the centurias,
and by the year 1100 a.C. (Late
Intermediate), it went on growing till it
got its current configuration. Here you
can see an extensive urban zone with
168
streets, squares, extensive yards and
some sectors of considerable height
composed by piramidal buildings
typical of this period.
In the few archaeological interventions
that this complex has had, contexts
solidly characteristic of Lima and
Ichsma cultures have been found.
They are represented in burials and
deposit zones.
It takes part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli Route for Keeling its
amazing monumentality reflexed in
the extension of the wall buildings,
from which, some of them have been
intervened for a better presentation.
Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU
 Cajamarquilla
30
Principal avenue Cajamarquilla N
Secondary streets
Archaeological place

nnnn Railroad 30
.
Airport, port VE
LAA
UIL
RQ
AMA
CAJ

LURIGANCHO
LAS
TOR
RES
AVE
.

n n
nnn
nnnn
AC nn n
RÍM n nn
RAMIRO PRIALÉ ROAD RÍO nnn
OAD
n n
nnn AL R
n n nnn C ENTR
nnnnn
0 250 500 m nnnnn
n nn n nnnnnnn
nnnnn
Walter Hupiu / PROMPERU

169
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Pachacámac
The constructive material, in early periods, was mud in
the form of “adobitos” and walls and adobe bricks in later
periods. Inside the places, you can see relatively public
spaces, pyramidal temples with access ramps and fences,
like del Sol temple and the principal which is Viejo or
Pachacámac temple.

César A. Vega

170
 Pachacámac
PACHACÁMAC ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE Otros nombres: Huaca As

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 292954.22 Google Earth Spot: Pachacámac Province: Lima

N 8643611.29 W 76 54'08'', S 12 15' 29'' District: Lurín Region: Lima

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Pachacámac, 34 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Lima, 110 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Pachacámac
600 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
On-site Museum, visit circuit and hygienic services.

171
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
The religious importance of
Pachacámac archaeological complex
as god-oracle in the Andean World
was Sorong during the first centuries
of the colony until its transfiguration
into Pachacamilla Christ. The prestige
of this divinity went beyond frontiers
as the years went by. Pachacámac
complex is composed by two
extensive fences that hold a series
of places, being the main areas the
ones which are between the two ways
of Panamericana Sur highway (‘old’
and ‘new’). The constructive material
was mud in the form of “adobitos” in
172
earlier periods and walls and adobe
bricks in the later periods. Inside the
places, you can see relatively public
spaces (e.g. Los Peregrinos Square),
piramidal temples with access ramps
and fences, like del Sol temple and the
principal which is Viejo or Pachacámac
temple.
Although it seems that the occupation
of the zone starts in very early periods
such as the Archaic and Formative, it is
in the Regional Development (± 0 - 600
a.C.) when Pachacámac starts having
importance at a regional level until the
Wari empire period (± 600 - 900 a.C.)
César A. Vega
 Pachacámac
César A. Vega
N
LIM
AA
VE
.

LURÍN

PANAMER IGHWAY
IC ANA SUR OLD H

31

PA
NA
ME
RIC
AN
AS
PACIFIC UR
OCEAN

31
Principal Avenue Pachacámac
Secondary streets
Archaeological place

Airport, port
0 0.5 km 1 km

173
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route
when it reaches a multiregional level in
almost all the Andean area. Between
both periods the Pintado Temple was
built as an annexed structure to the
Viejo Temple. Then, during the Wari
Empire fall, Pachacámac had one
of its most dramatic changes, the
nearby areas to the principal temples
were restricted and the small temples
(palaces?) called Pyramid with Ramps
(C.R.) appear as symbols of power
of the Ichsma elite that seemed to be
174
associated to the priests.
In that period, the zone had more
ideological power even with the Inca
or Tawantinsuyo occupation (± 1470
- 1532 a.C.), who made some reforms
and built del Sol Temple and Allaqwasi
or las Mamaconas Temple.
Due to its generales and particular
features, Pachacámac is one of the
principal Archaeological Complex
that take part of the Ancient of the
Metropoli.
Archivo PROMPERU
 Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

175
Pachacamac
The Metropolis Ancients’ Route

Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

Geographical means

Between the years 200 and 700 a.C . The valley of Lima had a conjunction
of ecosystems that made ideal for the formation of cultures, in spite of being
in the middle of the Coastal desert. There used to be woods of guarangos,
taras, molles and several fruit trees. The large Lumber of irrigation ditches
and open channels formed their own riverside wood. What is more, the
wetlands spread in the mouths of the Rivers, overall, in the southern zone
of Lima, in the current districts of Chorrillos and Villa el Salvador until the
delta of the river Lurín.
In the sea, there were a great abundance of resources and its exploitation
permitted a great development of the civilizations that settled down there.
The inhabitants of the coast populated hillocks and valleys, until they
formed very complex worship and housing centers, the ones that gave
origin to immense ceremonial centres such as Huacoy on the Chillón river,
Garagay and the Florida on the Rímac river, Manchay in Lurín, Chancay,
Supe and many other valleys of the north and the south.

176
 Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

177
 South Archaeological
Route

178
César A. Vega

The south of Peru, tends to identify

as a territory full of contradictions and
incredible potenciality. It is a region
where you can see the magesty of the
Andes mountain range, as well as the
sparkling aridity of the coastal desert,
whose principal tourist destination are
the geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa. But
the south is also scenery of the social
complexity focus of the prehispanic
period. It is the altiplano region, with
abundant information about the origins
of the Andean divinity Pan of sticks and
originary source of the Inca ethnia of
Cusco. In this way, we propose: The
Feline Route.

179
 Feline Route
32 Nasca Lines 38 Limatambo
Several geoglyphs that Qhapaq Ñan station set up
represent geometric, by auxiliary structures made
natural, abstract figures. of stone and Andean
terraces.

33 Cantayoc 39 Cusco City

Underground channel Archaeological evidences
network connected to that send us back to the
the phreatic layer. origin and past splendour
of the expired Incas.

34 Paredones 40 Pikillacta
It is represented by a It is a fortified city with
group of walls made of streets that lead to producti-
clay and compressed ve areas, warehouses,
mud. residencies, etc.

35 Cahuachi 41 Chinchero
Some researchers The famous neo-typical
consider it as the “first colonial costumes that
capital” of Nasca culture. characterize the folklore of
Cusco come from this
zone.

36 Saywite 42 Maras
The most remarkably Here we find the most
known is a sculptural famous salt mines of the
monolithic model. region, worked since past
periods.

37 Choquequirao 43 Ollantaytambo
This is a 2 hectares - It is a small pre-hispanic city
stone complex built at with remainings of
the beginning of the XVI Tawantinsuyu.
century.

180
44
8 Machu Picchu
It is a kind of residency
and property of the first
Inca emperor.

45
9 Tipón/Oropesa
It is a small pre-hispanic
settlement with Inca
characteristics.

46
10 Andahuaylillas
It is a strategic point
related with the store and
redistribution of produc-
tion.

47 Raqchi
These are atypical
structures made of very
high mud walls,
according to their period.

48 Pucará
It is famous for its glazed,
semi-glazed or painted in
green crafts, among them
we find the famous 'toritos'.

49 Sillustani
The most interesting are
the mausoleums or
'chullpas' made of stone.

181
Feline Route
This tour links from the feline iconographic presence in the archaeological
collections, as well as in the same places along the whole southern territory that
covers the current cities of Ica, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco and
Puno. This feline presence predominates in the Late Periods and specially in the
Inca period, but there are still some exponents in the earlier period.
The feline, constitutes, one of the principal representatives of the Andean
rituality. In case of the south, this one spreads, develops and connects with
the foundational origins similar to the Inca ethnia, the one which had the feline
as the symbol of their beginnings. The different forms of representation are
given not only in its ceramics and trinkets or textilery, but in the lythic sculptural
representations associated to the principal buildings, or to the closeness of its
sacred paqarinas. The feline is also present in the planning of Cusco city, the one
which makes of this issue, an attractive proposal to establish this tour.
The places involved in this original Route are: Nasca Lines (Ica), Cantayoc (Ica),
Paredones (Ica), Cahuachi (Ica), Saywite (Apurímac), Choquequirao (Cusco),
Limatambo (Cusco), Anta (Cusco),
Cusco (Cusco), Pikillacta (Cusco),
Chincheros (Cusco), Maras (Cusco),
Ollantaytambo (Cusco), Machu
Picchu (Cusco), Tipón/Oropesa
(Cusco), Andahuaylillas (Cusco), CHINCHA ALTA
Raqchi (Cusco), Pucará (Puno) and
Sillustani (Puno). PISCO

ICA

ICA

PALPA
32
33
35
34 NASCA
PACIFIC
OCEAN

Provincial limit Feline Route

Regional capital
Provincial capital 32 Nasca Lines 38 Limatambo 44 Machu Picchu
District capital 33 Cantayoc 39 Cusco City 45 Tipón /Oropesa
Town 34 Paredones 40 Pikillacta 46 Andahuaylillas
Asphalted road 35 Cahuachi 41 Chinchero 47 Raqchi
36 Saywite 42 Maras 48 Pucará
Unpaved route
37 Choquequirao 43 Ollantaytambo 49 Sillustani
Airport, port
Airdrome

182
 TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
6000 5800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Nasca / Cahuachi
Cantayoc Paredones
Pikillacta / Ollantaytambo / Machu Picchu
Saywite / Choquequirao / Sillustani
Limatambo / Cusco / Chinchero / Maras / Tipón / Oropesa / Andahuaylillas / Raqchi / Pucará

CUSCO

44 43
OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
AYACUCHO 37 42 41
15
36 38 39 46
ABANCAY CUSCO
40 45

APURÍMAC 47
AYACUCHO SICUANI
PUNO

PUCARÁ
48

JULIACA

49
LAGO
PUNO TITICACA

Detailed area

0 25 50 75 100 km
183
Feline Route

Nasca Lines
The geoglyphs are diverse, from trapezoids, rectangles
and triangles among other geometrical figures until
naturalist and abstract such as hands and spirals, going
through animals, humans and plants.

César A. Vega

184
 Nasca Lines
NASCA LINES Other names: Geoglifos de Nasca, Líneas de la Pampa de Jumana

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 485412 Google Earth Spot: Pampa de Jumana Province: Nasca / Palpa
N 8372158 W 75 08’06” S 14 43’01” District: Diversos Region: Ica

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Nasca, 450 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1000 2000

Nasca
6000 b.C. 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
In this zone we can find two observatories or viewpoints, one is metallic and the other is natural, in both
of them there are two small souvenir stands.

185
Feline Route
These famous huge geoglyphs are
located at about 450 meters above
the sea level, in a plain arid zone or
esplanade.
The first informs about these lines date
from 1927, as a result of the first works
of the Peruvian Archaeologis Mejía
Xespe. Then, in 1939, the American
César A. Vega
186
César A. Vega
scientist Paul Kosok performed some
investigstions in the place. However,
the deepest investigation works started
in 1946 when the geoglyphs caught
the interest of the German doctor María
Reiche, who devoted to their studies
until the end of her life.
The surface is composed by a soft
César A. Vega

alluvial cone with reddish material (due
to the iron oxide on some stones) on
Pi sco layers of clay land; the “cleaning” of
Río this reddish surface, allows to perceive
the yellowish beige bottom, the one
which was used as part of the working
technique to make the geoglyphs.
The variety of these geoglyphs is
LOS MOLINOS
amazing, from trapezoids, rectangles
and triangles among other geometrical
figures, until naturalist and abstract
ICA such as hands and spirals, going
through animals, humans and plants.
The human occupation of the zone
could have started by the end of
Nasca Lines
the Archaic (± 6000 b.C.), but it is
notable the presence of geoglyphs in
the Formative (± 2000 to 100 b.C.)
with the Paracas, until the end of the
Regional Development (±100 - 0 b.C.
to 600 a.C.) with the occupation of the
zone by the Wari Empire. But there is
hardly anything from that occupation
to the present.
Nasca Lines need to be investigated
more in order to be conserved and
preserved, as it is the only example of
this type of patrimony in Iberoamerica,
which in the year 1994, was declared
as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.

SANTA CRUZ
OTOCA
RÍO GRANDE
PALPA
LLIPATA

32
rande

NASCA
Río G

ICA

Provincial limit 32
Regional capital Nasca
Provincial capital Lines
District capital
N
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airdrome
0 10 20km

187
Feline Route

Cantayoc Aqueduct
The aqueducts are a net of underground channels
connected to the freatic napa at hundreds of kilometers
towards the East, built by the Nasca society (±100 - 0
b.C. to 600 a.C.), and they are still in use.

César A. Vega

188
 Cantayoc Aqueduct
CANTAYOC AQUEDUCT

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 509572 Google Earth Spot: Cantayoc Province: Nasca

N 8360877 W 74 54’36” S 14 49’35” District: Nasca Region: Ica

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Cantayoc, 620 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
200 100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Cantayoc
100 b.C. 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no resources in its area but its proximity to the city makes up for the lack of services.

189
Feline Route

César A. Vega

190

These amazing aqueducts are about
620 meters above the sea level on
the Leith side of the river known as
Nasca.
It seems that the occupation took
place in the Regional Developments
represented locally by Nasca culture
(±100 - 0 b.C. to 600 a.C.), and
NOS they are still in use. This group is
represented by a net of underground
channels connected to the freatic napa
at hundreds of kilometers towards
the east, with which, it is shown the
Nascas’ knowledge about aquiferous
technique.
Cantayoc Aqueduct
The construction of Cantayoc
aqueducts started with the location of
freatic napa. Then, a channel or ditch at
certain angle of depth was made. After
that, the necessary branches were
performed and finally, before they were
covered, the necessary vents or “eyes”
were made not only as air columns so
that the water could run but they also
worked as maintenance points.
In order to keep it, more investigation
is needed. Its importante lies in the
fact that it is an integral part of Nasca
city and it is still in use and it can be
appreciated.

SANTA CRUZ
RÍO GRANDE OTOCA

PALPA
LLIPATA

NASCA 33

ICA Río Nasca

SANTA LUCÍA

Provincial limit 33
Regional capital Cantayoc
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
N
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airdrome
0 10 20 km

191
Feline Route

Paredones
This group is represented by a set of beaten
compressed mud walls that are popularly known
as “paredones” (thick walls), distributed in levelling
terraces. It is located in the outskirts of Ica city.

Rodrigo Cabrera

192
 Paredones
PAREDONES

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 507139 Google Earth Spot: Paredones Province: Nasca

N 8359205 W 74 56’05” S 14 50’28” District: Nasca Region: Ica

ALTITUD Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Paredones, 600 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
500 250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750

Paredones
100 b.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no resources in its area but its proximity to the city makes up for the lack of services.

193
Feline Route
This archaeological complex is located
at about 600 meters above the sea level
on the southern skirt of a slight spur of
a hill to the Routh of Nasca city. It is
practically placed in an urban area.
It seems that the occupation of
194
Rodrigo Cabrera
Rodrigo Cabrera
Paredones took place in the Regional
Developments represented locally by
Nasca culture (±100 - 0 b.C. to 600
a.C.) but it is notable the occupation
in the Regional States with Ica culture
(± 900 to 1250 a.C.) and with the
 incorporation to the II empire or vigilance tower and others. In some

Tawantinsuyo (±1250 to 1532 a.C.).
This group is represented by a set of
beaten compressed mud walls that are
popularly known as “paredones” (thick
walls), distributed in levelling terraces.
Its architecture uses rectangular adobe
bricks on a base of cut stone. It presents
NOS a urban planning with common
characteristics to these settlements
such as a large square of trapezoid
floor as a central element, buildings
of administrative type, warehouses,
barracks, ceremonial or sacrifice area,
Paredones
places you can still see the signs of
some walls together with cut stones,
and in others, the stones present the
joint completed united and well fitted,
typical of the inca architecture.
This place presents seven sectors,
being the best conserved and the
most important, sectors IV, V y VII; they
present delimited paths for their visit
and conservation.
Its importance lies in the fact that it is
an integral part of Nasca city and it is
near the aqueducts.

SANTA CRUZ
OTOCA
RÍO GRANDE
PALPA
LLIPATA

NASCA

34

SANTA LUCÍA
ICA Río Nasca

Provincial limit 34
Regional capital Paredones
Provincial capital
District capital
Town N
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airdrome
0 10 20 km

195
Feline Route

Cahuachi
Its greatest occupation took place the first centurias of the
Regional Developments period, represented locally by
Nasca culture (±100 - 0 b.C. to 600 a.C.), with the group
of great pyramids, squares, built with adobe bricks
and stucco.

César A. Vega

196
 Cahuachi
CAHUACHI Other names: Kawachi, Kahuachi.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 487658 Google Earth Spot: Cahuachi Province: Nasca

N 8361867 W 75 06’58” S 14 49’07” District: Nasca Region: Ica

ALTITUDe Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cusco, 3 399
Cahuachi, 400 Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1000 2000

Cahuachi
6000 b.C. 600 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no resources in its area.

197
Feline Route
This important archaeological complex
is located at 400 meters above the sea
level on the left side of the river known
as Nasca. The occupation of the zone
goes from the Archaic (± 6000 b.C.)
and it goes up to now with eventual
occupations of hunters and collectors’
campsites; but the massive occupation
starts by the end of the Formative
period represented Paracas culture (±
2000 to 100 b.C.) with some structures,
burials and ceramic, Necropolis or
Late Ocucaje stile, and it goes at least
by the end of the first Empire or Wari
manifested in the deposit site.
The largest occupation took place
198
the first centuries of the Regional
Developments period, represented
locally by Nasca culture (±100 - 0
b.C. to 600 a.C.), with a group of great
pyramids, squares, built with adobe
bricks and stucco.
The splendour period of Cahuachi is
related with the apparent height of the
geoglyphs of Jumana pampa or Nasca
Lines.
It needs to be investigated more to
be conserved, its belonging lies on its
monumentality and for having been
one of the principal sites of the Nasca.
Some researchers consider it as the
“first capital” of this culture.
César A. Vega
 Cahuachi
César A. Vega
NOS

SANTA CRUZ
OTOCA
RÍO GRANDE
PALPA
LLIPATA

NASCA
35

ICA
SANTA LUCÍA
Río Nasca

Provincial limit 35
Regional capital Cahuachi
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road N
Unpaved route
Airdrome
0 10 20 km

199
Feline Route

Saywite
The stone of Saywite is famous because on it, you can
observe the cosmogony and the religion of the last
years of our Autonomous Development, planning and
architecture. It is located at about 3 500 meters above the
sea level on the top of hillock, at 45 kilometers on the way
Abancay - Cusco.

César A. Vega

200
SAYWITE

Saywite
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 737797 Google Earth Spot: Saywite Province: Abancay

N 8501285 W 72 48’09” S 13 32’49” District: Curahuasi Region: Apurímac

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Saywite, 3 500 Meters
Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

Saywite
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no resources in its area.

201
Feline Route
It is about an archaeological complex
with structures and architecture, with
nearby platforms; but the most notable
and known is a sculptural monolithic
scale model that still remains in the
place. It is famous because in it, you
can observe the cosmogony and
the religión of the last years of our
Autonomous Development, apart from
the urban planning and architecture.
The stone of Saywite, as it is known,
it was identified by an expedition in
charge of Julio C. Tello, who performed
a mould of plaster and then casting in
cement at an exhibition at the Museo
de la Nación.
This archaeological complex that
covers 60 hectares, in the place
called Qonchaca, is clasified into six
sectors. The sector I, is the area of
the principal monolith, which is the
maximum expression of the complex.
This monolith has an egg shape and
it is 2,5 m high with carved elements
202
that represent the geography and
environment of the zone. We also
found stops and fountains built in an
area of 1 900 m.
The sector II, the steps and fountain
area, is characterized by a succession
of 9 fountains, associated to a stone
staircase. The sector III is the area
of minor monoliths and fountains.
Regarding to sector IV, it is the area
of possible constructions in the shape
of truncated pyramids. The sector
V, also called Ushno Sector, is a
rectangular shape platform of 18 x 34
m where religious activities took place,
observation and sun worship. Finally
the sector VI, called Intihuatana,
is a stone block carved of several
forms. It was probably an astronomic
observatory.
Its location, as well as its tourist and
scientific atractive, make Saywite one
of the jewelry of the route.
César A. Vega
 Saywite
N c
ríma
Apu
Río

CACHORA LIMATAMBO
CURAHUASI
ANTA
36

ABANCAY

APURÍMAC
PICHIRHUA
CIRCA
CHACNA

LUCRE CHACOCHE

PROGRESO
Provincial limit 36
Regional capital Saywite
Provincial capital CHUQUIBAMBILLA
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route OROPESA
Airdrome
0 10 20 km
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

203
Feline Route

Choquequirao
This inca archaeological complex at the beginning of
the XVI Century, built on base of stone. Archaeologists
presume that it is about one of the many lost cities in
Vilcabamba, where the Incas took refuge in 1536.

Renzo Uccelli / PROMPERU

204
 Choquequirao
CHOQUEQUIRAO

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 730243 Google Earth Spot: Province: La Convención

N 8518381 W 72 52’26.11” S 13 23’36.11” District: Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Choquequirao, 3 050
Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

Choquequirao
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
Along the route are rest areas and restrooms. In the archaeological complex are INC campsite area
and showers.

205
Feline Route
The inca archaeological complex at the
beginning of the XVI century, built on
base of stones, occupies an extension
of 2 hectares. Archaeologists presume
that it is about one of the many lost
cities in Vilcabamba, where the Incas
took refuge in 1536.
Choquequirao is an extraordinary
complex that was built in the last years
of the Inca Empire (1471 - 1527 a.C.). It
was possibly, one of the control points
for the Entrance to the Vilcabamba
region, and an administrative core
with political, social and economic
functions. It consists of nine
architectonic groups made of stone
and a system of 180 platforms, apart
from residential houses, administrative,
craftmen, irrigation systerm, among
other constructions built in base of
stone.
The sectors that from it are defined
206
by the topograpgy of the place. They
had different functions and they
communicated by means of pedestrian
accesses to the main square. You can
appreciate a complex hydraulic system
destinated probably to domestic,
ceremonial and agricultural use.
Having into account the geographical
location of Choquequirao in com-
parison to other complexes of the same
period, It seems that it had the function
of being an inca enclave towards the
hot valleys of the river Apurímac. Its
inhabitants devoted to the intensive
agriculture and performed ceremonias
where water was an important
worshipping element. Furthermore, it
was a storing place of several products
coming from other zones as well as a
restinga place hmong the valleys of
Apurímac, Vilcabamba and Vilcanota.
Renzo Uccelli / PROMPERU
 Choquequirao
N
AGUAS CALIENTES
WILLOC

MACHU PICCHU
HISTORIC SANCTUARY URUBAMBA

CUSCO
37
CHINCHERO
rímac
Río Apu
LIMATAMBO
CACHORA
ANTA
CUSCO
CURAHUASI

ABANCAY
HUANOQUITE

Provincial limit 37
Regional capital Choquequirao
Provincial capital
District capital
Town TAMBOBAMBA
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
PROGRESO
Airport
0 10 20 km

OROPESA
Renzo Uccelli / PROMPERU

207
Feline Route

Limatambo
It is related to one of the stops of Qhapaq Ñan.
Limatambo is conformed by late auxiliary stone structures
and an important walking infrastructure and andenes
or growing terraces.

Rodrigo Cabrera

208
 Limatambo
LIMATAMBO

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 776786 Google Earth Spot: Province: Anta

N 8508375 W 72 26’38” S 13 28’47” District: Limatambo Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Nevado Huascarán, 6 768

Meters
Limatambo, 2 700 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Limatambo
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Complejo Monumental Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necrópolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Tumba Principal Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services in its area.

209
Feline Route
This place is located at 2 700 meters
above the sea level on the way
Abancay - Cusco. It has an apparently
long human occupation. This ancient
settlement with colonial airs, is related
to one of the stops of Qhapaq Ñan, or
Inca Road that joined all the regions of
Tahuantinsuyo. It is also known by the
name of Tarawasi. The historic tradition
points out that this place wes ordered
to be built by the Inca Pachacútec
with the aimof establishing a restinga
tambo in the zone, on the way to
Chinchaysuyo.
The archaeological complex of
Limatambo is considered to be an
Inca ceremonial center, located on the
principal way Chinchaysuyo, built with
andesita stone, carved and refined
in cushioned polygon form, whose
external parameters, of fine ending,
have an aesthetics disposition of
stones forming rosettes.
210
Luis Gamero / PROMPERU
In the lower extreme of the complex
principal wall, superimposed on the
base of the prehispanic construction,
are the remains of a colonial
farmhouse. In the hose in ruins, still
prevails, a channel system made by the
Incas in the original construction. As
in Ollantaytambo or Koricancha, you
can appreciate the Spanish custom of
superimposing the constructions over
the Incas’ monuments.
This archaeological complex is
composed by late auxiliary stone
structures, an important walking
infrastructure and andenes or growing
terraces.
Limatambo needs more research
to get its longed conservation. The
belonging to this route lies on being
part of the way Qhapaq Ñan and being
close to the archaeoturistic way that is
proposed here.
 Limatambo
Rodrigo Cabrera
N
AGUAS CALIENTES
WILLOC

MACHU PICCHU
HISTORIC SANCTUARY URUBAMBA

CUSCO
CHINCHERO
LIMATAMBO
CACHORA 38
ANTA
CUSCO
CURAHUASI

ABANCAY
HUANOQUITE

PACARITAMBO
Provincial limit 38
Río

Regional capital Limatambo

Ap

Provincial capital
urím

District capital
TAMBOBAMBA
ac

Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
PROGRESO
Airport
0 10 20 km OMAC

211
OROPESA
Feline Route

Cusco City
Capital of Tawantinsuyo, in this city we have
archaeological evidences that send us back to the origin
and the preterit splendour of the defunct Incas.
At the same time, it is one of the fewest cities of Peru that
still have the colonialism as part of its daily life and the
traces of Tawantinsuyo.

César A. Vega

212
 Cusco City
CUSCO

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 177519 Google Earth Spot: Province: Cusco

N 8503759 W 71 58’43” S 13 31’00” District: Cusco Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Cusco
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TIPO DE ASENTAMIENTO
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services at all prices.

213
Feline Route
The impressive city of Cusco, “the
navel of the world” as the Incas used to
call it, is located at 3 500 meters above
the sea level inside a protected trough
in the province of the same name.
In the capital of the second Empire or
Tawantinsuyo, we have archaeological
evidences that send us back to
the origin and splendor of the Inca
culture, as well as the constructions
that are surrounded such as
Saqsaywaman or Q’enqo, of less
Late periods corresponding to the
Regional Developments. According
to Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, its urban
design reflects the four-part structure
of organization of the inca territory
and it was divided into two pairs of
neighbourhoods corresponding to the
four suyos of the empire (Chinchaysuyo,
Antisuyo, Cuntisuyo and Collasuyo).
The territories that incorporated to the
inca domains were being ascribed
according to its orientation regarding
214
to the geographic, politic and sacred
center of the Empire that was Cusco.
The urban design of Cusco evokes the
silhouette of a crouched puma and in
it converged the Incas’ road net that
ran along the 40 000 sqkm of the inca
territory from North to South. Because
of its historical and archaeological
value, Cusco was declared Patrimony
of Humanity in 1983.
In Pachacútec’s time, the center of
the city was organized around the
double Squire of Huacaypata and
Cusipata (at present San Francisco
and Main Squares). These squares
were surrounded by imperial palaces
and temples, among the ones, stand
out for their importante and richness,
the Coricancha. To the north-east of
Huacapata Squire, it was probably,
Pachacútec Palace (Casana), from
which there are still some pieces of
wall.
César A. Vega
 Cusco City
César A. Vega
AGUAS CALIENTES TRES CRUCES
WILLOC CUSCO

OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA PAUCARTAMBO

MACHU PICCHU CALCA COLQUEPATA
HISTORIC SANCTUARY

CHINCHERO
PÍSAC
LIMATAMBO
CURAHUASI
ANTA CUSCO
39

OROPESA
CAY
N HUANOQUITE
URCOS
PACARITAMBO
PARURO
Provincial limit 39
Regional capital
Cusco
Provincial capital
City ACOMAYO
District capital
Río Apurímac

Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km OMACHA

215
OROPESA
Feline Route

Pikillacta
It is a fortified city. Inside, you can identify streets
that connect large productive areas, warehouses,
administrative and residential areas. It is one of the
principal ancient cities of Cusco and Peru.

César A. Vega

216
 Pikillacta
PIKILLAQTA Other names: Piquillakta, Piki Llacta, Mohina, Muyuna, Muyna.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 206152 Google Earth Spot: Pikillaqta Province: Quispicanchi

N 8493173 W 71 42’49” S 13 36’56” District: Cusco Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Pikillaqta, 3 350 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Pikillaqta
500 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services.

217
218
Feline Route

César A. Vega César A. Vega

 It is located at 3 350 meters above the has its origin during the height of the
sea level and at about 30 km to the first Empire or Wari (± 600 to 1000

south of Cusco. The archaeological
complex of Pikillacta is a fortified city
with only two accesses, probably
defensive. Inside, you can identify
streets that connect large productive
areas, warehouses, administrative and
residential areas, etc. Its design and
construction is orthogonal very similar
to the “new” sectors of Wari city.
Investigations have determined
that Pikillacta is one of the principal
ancient cities of Cusco and Peru. It
Pikillacta
a.C.) and in accordance with some
archaeologists and ethnohistorians,
the mythical characters of Manco
Qapaq, Mama Oqllo and Mama Warko
existed, the ones who must have come
from this place.
This is one of the landmarks that remark
this route, maybe, as important as the
proper city of Cusco, as it would be the
origin of the Inca ethnia that centuries
later would turn into an empire.

TRES CRUCES N
WILLOC
CUSCO
OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
CALCA COLQUEPATA PAUCARTAMBO

PÍSAC
CHINCHERO
LIMATAMBO

ANTA CUSCO CCARHUAYO

OROPESA
CCATAC
40

HUANOQUITE ANDAHUAYLILLAS URCOS

PACARITAMBO
PARURO
Provincial limit 40
Regional capital
Pikillacta
Provincial capital ACOMAYO
District capital CUSIPATA
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
ACCHA
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km

OROPESA
219
Feline Route

Chinchero
The famous neo-typical colonial costumes that
characterize the current folklore of Cusco, come from
this zone, as well as many of the people who are
employed as bearers in the route that goes from this
zone to Qhapaq Ñan.

César A. Vega

220
 Chinchero
CHINCHERO

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 819369 Google Earth Spot: Province: Urubamba

N 8517148 W 72 03’06” S 13 23’42” District: Chinchero Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Chinchero, 3 750 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Chinchero
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no services. Handicraft fair and souvenir sales.

221
222
Feline Route

César A. Vega César A. Vega

The settlement of Chinchero, located more, the famous neo-typical colonial

at about 3 750 meters above the sea
level, is just 30 km to the north-east of
the city of Cusco. It was probably built
by Túpac Inca Yupanqui in 1480, as a
restinga palace. It is composed by a
set of pre-columbian wall structures,
places, andean terraces, stops,
worship places, hmong others. It is
perhaps, one of the archaeological
complexes that is in perfect conditions
in Cusco.
Chinchero is also related to one of
the stops of Qhapaq Ñan. What is
Chinchero
costumes that characterize the current
folklore of Cusco, come from this zone,
as well as many of the people who are
employed as bearers in the route that
goes from this zone to Qhapaq Ñan.
It also stands out the church that was
built during the years of the colony,
where you can appreciate beautiful
paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña.
On Sundays, there is a fair where
traders and peasants exchange
their products, even by using barter
(exchange).

AGUAS CALIENTES TRES CRUCES

WILLOC CUSCO

OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA PAUCARTAMBO

MACHU PICCHU CALCA COLQUEPATA
HISTORIC SANCTUARY
41 PÍSAC
CHINCHERO

LIMATAMBO

ANTA CUSCO
OROPESA

URCOS
N HUANOQUITE ANDAHUAYLILLAS

PACARITAMBO
PARURO
Provincial limit 41
Regional capital
Chinchero
Provincial capital ACOMAYO
District capital
Río Apurímac

Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km OMACHA

OROPESA
223
Feline Route

Maras
Maras belongs to an occupation of Tawantinsuyo and
a clear colonial occupation that has been restored
recently as part of the recreation and fundamentation
of the historical, regional and national identity.

César A. Vega

224
MARAS

Maras
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 808058 Google Earth Spot: Province: Urubamba

N 8524014 W 72 09’22” S 13 19’58” District: Maras Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Maras, 3 550 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Maras
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has restrooms and souvenir sales.

225
226
Feline Route

Jorge Sarmiento / PROMPERU Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

 The settlement of Maras rises at 3 550 a sea that disappeared in prehistoric
meters above the sea level. It is located times, leaving as remains sodium
48 km to the north-west of the city of chloride and fossils.
Cusco. It belongs to an occupation To the west side, you can find the

of Tawantinsuyo (it is probably much
older, though) and a clear colonial
occupation. It has been restored
recently as part of the recreation
and fundamentation of the historical,
regional and national identity.
To the north-east of Maras, we can find
the most famous salines of the region.
It is a zone that has been exploited
from remote times and was formed by
the evaporation of the salty water of
Maras
famous Andean terraces of Moray,
which, according to some researchers,
had been a genetics experimentation
center of native especies such as
maize, but the fact is that it was and it
is still an area of production.
This set of sites must be considered as
a Cultural Spot, and one of the most
important for the region. That is why,
this is a important route.

CUSCO

AGUAS CALIENTES TRES CRUCES

WILLOC

OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
MACHU PICCHU 42 CALCA COLQUEPATA
HISTORIC SANCTUARY
PÍSAC
CHINCHERO
LIMATAMBO
ORA
ANTA CUSCO
OROPESA

Provincial limit 42
Regional capital
Maras HUANOQUITE ANDAHUAYLILLAS
Provincial capital
District capital
PACARITAMBO
Río

Town
Asphalted road PARURO
Ap
urí

Unpaved route
ma

Railroad
c

Airport ACOMAYO
0 10 20 km

227
OMACHA
Feline Route

Ollantaytambo
This is a small prehispanic city with remainders of
Tawantinsuyo that rearranged the space, rechannel
the water from the stream, reorganized the road
system and widen the Andean terrace system. This
management of space goes from the East, at the end
of the stream, to the west, in the joint with the
river Urubamba.

Beatrice Velarde

228
 Ollantaytambo
OLLANTAYTAMBO Other names: Ollantaytampu

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 796525 Google Earth Spot: Province: Urubamba

N 8532618 W 72 15’48” S 13 15’31” District: Ollantaytambo Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Ollantaytambo, 2 900 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Ollantaytambo
500 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services at all prices.

229
Feline Route
This archaeological complex is located
60 kilometers to the northwest of
the city of Cusco, and it is placed at
2 900 meters above the sea level in an
alluvial cone of a fertile gully. We could
say that it is a small prehispanic city
with remainders of Tawantinsuyo that
rearranged the space, rechannel the
water of the stream, reorganized the
road system and widen the Andean
terrace system. This management of
space goes from the east, at the end of
the stream, to the west, in the joint with
the river Urubamba.
We can also appreciate that it has
a colonial occupation that hasn’t
disappeared as in other places; the
colonial structures have created
230
a curious simbiosis with the Inca
architecture, which is in particular in
the gardens or orchards inside the
houses.
At present, the motorway that
comes from the city of Cusco
practically reaches the main Squire of
Ollantaytambo, and if you want to go
on till Machu Picchu, you must usually
go down until the right side of the river,
where you can take the train. From
this point, you can also take one of
the roads of Qhapaq Ñan to this small
famous city.
These reasons, make this place turn
into one of the principal landmarks of
this route.
César A. Vega
 Ollantaytambo
Beatrice Velarde
MANU
N OCOBAMBA NATIONAL PARK

HUAYOPATA CUSCO

AGUAS CALIENTES
43 WILLOC

MACHU PICCHU
HISTORIC SANCTUARY
OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
CALCA

CHINCHERO
PÍSAC
LIMATAMBO
CACHORA
ANTA CUSCO
Provincial limit OROPESA
43
Regional capital
Provincial capital Ollantaytambo
District capital HUANOQUITE
Town ANDAHUAYLILLAS
Asphalted road
PACARITAMBO
Unpaved route
Railroad PARURO
Airport
0 10 20 km

231
Feline Route

Machu Picchu
It is a citadel surrounded by andean terraces, in the
middle of a dry wood or high jungle. It is believed that
it was a kind of residence or property of the first Inca
Emperor, Pachacútec, but this hasn’t been proved yet.

César A. Vega

232
 Machu Picchu
MACHU PICCHU Other names: Maqchu Piqchu, Machu Pichu, Machu Pichuq

UBIGEO

18L E 765992 Google Earth Spot: Machupicchu Province: Urubamba

N 8543491 W 72 32’43” S 13 09’48” District: Machupicchu Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Machu Picchu, 2 460 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Machu Picchu
500 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services at all prices.

233
Feline Route
Considered as one of the seven
wonders in the modern world, this
citadel is located at 2 460 meters above
the sea level on an artificial esplanade
or ‘pata’ 112,5 km to the north-east
of the city of Cusco. It is a citadel
surrounded by andean terraces, in the
middle of a dry wood or high jungle.
Inside, you can see extensive yards or
‘canchas’ that remark the presence of
the Incas’ typical places, ‘kallankas’,
warehouses, corridors, steps and
accesses. It is believed that it was a
234
kind of residence or property of the
first Inca Emperor, Pachacútec, but it
hasn’t been proved yet.
Together with Choquequirao and other
places, represent the magnificence
of Tawantinsuyo. The form of having
access to this Inca site is by two ways.
The ancient way, following the route of
Qhapaq Ñan and the modern one is
by train. For being a very visited place,
and one of the best conserved, it is
considered as integral part of this tour.
César A. Vega
 Machu Picchu
César A. Vega
QUILLABAMBA OCOBAMBA

HUAYOPATA
CUSCO

N
LARES
AGUAS CALIENTES TRES
WILLOC
44

MACHU PICCHU OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA

HISTORIC SANCTUARY
CO
Río
Apu
ríma
c CHINCHERO

LIMATAMBO
CACHORA CURAHUASI
ANTA CUSCO
ORO
Provincial limit
44
Regional capital
Provincial capital Machu Picchu
District capital HUANOQUITE ANDAHUAY
Town
Asphalted road PACARITAMBO
Unpaved route
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km

235
Feline Route

Tipón / Oropesa
This is a small prehispanic settlement with Inca
characteristics, furthermore, you can observe in its
surroundings archaeological evidences typical of a
cultural spot such as the andean terraces and the
channels of irrigation that are still in use.

Mylene D’Auriol

236
 Tipón / Oropesa
OROPESA Other names: Tipón or Quispicanchi

UBIGEO

19L E 200514 Google Earth Spot: Province: Quispicanchi

N 8494505 W 71 46’05” S 13 35’54” District: Oropesa Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Oropesa, 3 300 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Oropesa
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has a guide service. Restrooms.

237
Feline Route
This small settlement of Oropesa is
located 24 km to the south-west of the
city of Cusco at 3 300 meters above the
sea level, over an esplanade together
with Quispicanchis or Tipón inside
the nearby gully. It is a prehispanic
settlement with Inca characteristics,
furthermore, you can observe in
its surroundings archaeological
238
evidences typical of a cultural spot
such as the andean terraces and the
channels of irrigation that are still in
use. There, you can also see Colonial
and Republican evidences, such
as the farmhouse located in Tipón,
which is now the regional seat of the
programme Qhapaq Ñan.
César A. Vega
 Tipón / Oropesa
Mylene D’Auriol
TRES CRUCES
N
WILLOC
CUSCO
OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
CALCA COLQUEPATA PAUCARTAMBO

PÍSAC
CHINCHERO

ANTA CUSCO CCARHUAYO

OROPESA
CCATAC
45

HUANOQUITE ANDAHUAYLILLAS URCOS

PACARITAMBO
PARURO
Provincial limit 45
Regional capital Tipón / Oropesa
Provincial capital ACOMAYO
District capital CUSIPATA
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
ACCHA
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km

239
OROPESA
Feline Route

Andahuaylillas
It also seems to have originally been an Inca Llaqta
that had a strategic point related with the Collection
and redistribution of the production; At the same time,
it is considered to be important for its near position to a
junction of several roads.

César A. Vega

240
 Andahuaylillas
ANDAHUAYLILLAS

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 210427 Google Earth Spot: Province: Quispicanchi

N 8486717 W 71 40’39” S 13 40’28” District: Andahuaylillas Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Andahuaylillas, 3 200 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Andahuaylillas
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services at all prices.

241
Feline Route

The beautiful population of Andahuaylillas is located 35 km to the Routh-east

of the city of Cusco at 3 200 meters above the sea level. It also seems to have
originally been an Inca Llaqta that had a strategic point related to the collection
and redistribution of the production; at the same time, it is considered to be
important for its near position to a junction of several roads.
In Andahuaylillas it is notable the colonial presence, the one that was important
in its time for the colonial, commercial administration, as well as for the catholic
administration because of its temples, especially San Pedro which is considered
as an artistic piece of jewellery and considered as the ‘Sixtine Chapel of America’.
This church was built over some important Inca building, possibly a “Waka” as
it has been found on its foundations cut andesita, which is typical of the Inca
architecture. What is more, around it, some constructions have been found,
such as the Portada, of transicional architecture (transition from the Inca to the
colonial) on the western side of the church, with sculptures of two quadrupeds
on its lintel.
For these reasons, it is considered important and worthy to visit it in this route.

Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

242
 Andahuaylillas
Carlos Sala / PROMPERU
TRES CRUCES
N
WILLOC
CUSCO
OLLANTAYTAMBO URUBAMBA
CALCA COLQUEPATA PAUCARTAMBO

CHINCHERO
PÍSAC
LIMATAMBO

ANTA
CUSCO CCARHUAYO
OROPESA
CCATAC

ANDAHUAYLILLAS
HUANOQUITE 46 URCOS
PACARITAMBO
PARURO
Provincial limit 46
Regional capital Andahuaylillas
Provincial capital ACOMAYO
District capital CUSIPATA
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
ACCHA
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km

243
OROPESA
Feline Route

Raqchi
It is a series of atypical structures for the inca
planning. They are made of mud on walls, very high in
accordance with the period and at the same time long;
up to now, it is believed that it is linked to Wiraqocha
worshiping which is one of the first gods that the Incas
adopted in their ethnical formation.

Luis Gamero / PROMPERU

244
RAQCHI Other names: Urcos

R a q c hi
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 244197 Google Earth Spot: Province: Canchis

N 8431709 W 71 22’12” S 14 10’27” District: San Pedro Region: Cusco

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Raqchi, 3 480 Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Raqchi
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TIPO DE ASENTAMIENTO
Abrigo Rocoso
Pintura Rupestre
Aldea
Centro Religioso
Complejo Monumental Monumento Centro Histórico
Necrópolis Ciudad Prehispánica Paraje Cultural
Tumba Principal Área Monumental Ciudad Colonial

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services at all prices.

245
Feline Route
At kilometer 123 of the highway to
Puno, we find Raqchi, located at 3 480
meters above the sea level. It holds
a series of atypical structures for the
inca planning. They are made of mud
on walls, very high in accordance with
the period and at the same time long;
up to now, it is believed that it is linked
to Wiraqocha worshiping which is one
of the first gods that the Incas adopted
in their ethnical formation.
Evidences found in this place, point out
that Raqchi was a complex settlement
with multiple constructions of several
246
functions including agricultural terraces,
“kanchas”, “wayranas”, “qolqas”,
varied temples, religious sources, etc.;
it was possible an important tambo on
the route to Collasuyo. Inside all the
complex, it highlightens the presence
of the one called del denominado
“Wiraqocha temple”. According to
the tradition, it was ordered to be built
by Inca Wiraqocha as a tribute to the
Andeans’ invisible superior God: Apu
Kon Titi Wiraqocha.
It is one of the least visited places of the
zone, but one of the most important.
César A. Vega
SCO CCARHUAYO
OROPESA
CCATAC

ANDAHUAYLILLAS
E

TAMBO
PARURO

ACOMAYO
CUSIPATA

R a q c hi
CUSCO

OMACHA COMBAPATA

47
YANAOCA

LIVITACA SICUANI

LANGUI
N
LAYO

EL DESCANSO Lgo Languilayo

Provincial limit 47 SANTA ROSA

Regional capital RAQCHI
Provincial capital
District capital
Town ACCOCUNCA MACARI
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km
Beatrice Velarde

247
Feline Route

Pucará
Apart from its archaeological sites, Pucará is famous
for its glazed or semiglazed handicratf, painted in
green, especially for its famous ‘toritos’.

César A. Vega

248
PUCARÁ Other names: Pukara, Pucara, Puqara

Pucará
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 353216 Google Earth Spot: Pucará Province: Lampa

N 8335258 W 70 22’03” S 15 02’34” District: Pucará Region: Puno

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Pucará, 4 200 Meters
Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
25 0 25 50 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575

Pucará
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has the Museo Lítico de Pucará, a parking area.

249
Feline Route
This population is located at 4 200
meters above the sea level, 106 km
to the north of Puno. There you can
find the Lithic Museum of Pucará,
where you can see a Group of lithic
sculptures such as monoliths, steles
and zoomorphic sculptures, ceramics
and other objects.
Furthermore, Pucará is famous for
its pottery, especially for its famous
“Toritos”. Aproximately one kilometer
250
away from the locality, it is the
archaeological complex Kalasaya,
considered to be the ceremonial center
of Pucará culture. It was risen around
the year 200 b.C., and it reached its
height between the years 250 b.C. and
380 a.C. There, you can distinguish two
sectors: a ceremonial area composed
by nine pyramids and the other is
urban. For those rehaznos, it must be
included in the Feline’s itinerary.
César A. Vega
 Pucará
César A. Vega
AZÁNGARO
PUTINA
N

PUCARÁ
PUNO 48

ARAPA
Lago Arapa

PALCA

LAMPA

PUSI
PARATIA JULIACA

Provincial limit 48
Regional capital PUCARÁ
Provincial capital Lago
District capital
Town
Titicaca
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
PUNO
Airport
0 10 20 km

251
Feline Route

Sillustani
The mausoleums or ‘chullpas’ made of stone and
that are in almost all the postcards that we observe
for Puno region, are the most interesting. These
tombs Could belong to the Regional States period,
represented by the Kolla (± 1200 a.C.).

Renzo Uccelli / PROMPERU

252
 Sillustani
SILLUSTANI

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

19L E 377292 Google Earth Spot: Sillustani Province:

N 8261351 W 70 12’35” S 15 41’48” District: Region: Puno

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Sillustani, 3 900 Meters
Above
Huaraz, 3 091 Sea
Cusco, 3 399 Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700

Sillustani
1200 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has services and handicraft sales.

253
Feline Route
This settlement is located at 3 900
meters above the sea level on a soft
hillock and on the Eastern peninsula of
the lagoon Umayo, 34 km to the north
of the city of Puno.
As well as in other sides of the
highlands and in some places of the
coast, it goes from the lithic (± 12000
b.C.) with campsites and workshops
to the Formative with Qaluyo (± 1000
b.C.). This place is well known for its
chullpas, that are circular stone towers
254
risen to hold the funerary remains of
the principal authorities of the ancient
settlers, the Kolla (± 1200 a.C.). Some
of them reach up to 12 meters high and
they characterize because its low part is
less than its higher part. A little distance
from the archaeological complex, you
can find the Site Museum, where there
are several pieces from the cultures
Colla, Tiahuanaco and Inca. For these
reasons, Sillustani is included in this
route.
Archivo Renzo Uccelli
 Sillustani
Archivo Renzo Uccelli
AZÁNGARO
PUTINA

ARAPA
Lago Arapa

PALCA

LAMPA
N
PUSI
PARATIA JULIACA

PUNO
CABANILLA

49
Lago
Lagunas Titicaca
Lagunillas
PUNO
CHUCUITO

ACORA
SAN ANTONIO
Provincial limit 49 DE ESQUILACHE
Regional capital SILLUSTANI
Provincial capital
District capital
LARAQUERI
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Railroad
Airport
0 10 20 km

255
Feline Route

Heinz Plengue / PROMPERU

Geographical means

The area of Cusco, has a landscape of strong contrasts, where high

alignments of mountains, combine with dilated altiplanos and plateaus of
soft relief. As well as deep valleys and canyons, furthermore, part of the
high jungle where man got used to. In Cusco the Incas knew perfectly
about the physical nature of the territory, according to some chroniclers,
they made maps in relief made of clay, marking on them the geographical
accidents of a space about which they set up population sensus and
production records.
The historian Luis Valcárcel points out that the Inca expeditions, whenthey
reached a province, they proceded to make up a map, meanwhile,
Waldemar Espinosa in his book about “The Incas”, he mentions that they
made up maps of stone or material about foreign regions; with a clear
intention of exploiting the resources.
The control of the geographical space in the Inca period is also shown in
the extensive road nets that ran the Empitre in different directions, reaching
an extension of 40 000 km.

256
 Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

257
 Imperial Cities Route

258
 This is a route refered to the principal
César A. Vega

urban centres of the Andean area and

that are associated mainly to the first
and second Imperial development in
this part of the American Continent.
The visit of this Imperial Cities Route will
allow to admire a notable monumental
patrimony that outstand due to the
successful planning and rational use
of the natural ecosystems.
We can even remark that the extension
of these evidences overcome in some
cases the principal European urban
centres. This makes our monumental
patrimony a valuable option of
patrimonial management and social
use of the different prehispanic
buildings that exist and are necessary
to study and conserve.
The sites involved on this route are:
Cajamarca, Marcahuamachuco, Wira-
cochapampa, Wari, Huanucopampa
and Vilcashuamán. Other important
places of this route are: Cajamarqui-
lla, Pachacámac, Pikillacta and Chan
Chan.

259
 the Imperial Cities Route

50 Cajamarca
This place is located in the historical center of the same
city, where the Spaniards settled directly modifying its
architectural program, but we can still observe some
Inca’s evidences.

51 Marcahuamachuco
It seems to be that by the year 500 a.C. It was the largest
urban center of all the northern highlands. At present,
some studies are being developed to put it in value.

52 Wiracochapampa
It is clearly a great city that possibly belonged to the end
of the (Wari) empire and was built by the year 900 a.C.

53 Wari
It is located in a semi-arid open area in the North-east of
Ayacucho city and to the South-west of the village of
Quinua, at about 3 000 meters above the sea level.

54 Huanucopampa
In this occupied space there are a large amount of
kallankas (The Incas’ typical architecture), depots
(collcas) for food and clothes among others.

55 Vilcashuamán
The work of several chroniclers (e.g. Waman Poma y
Pedro Cieza) mention it since the beginning of conquest
and the colony as one of the most opulent and luxurious
Inca’s Llaqtas.

Other important places

30 Cajamarquilla View page 166

31 Pachacámac View page 170

40 Pikillacta View page 216

14
260 Chan Chan View page 92
TIME LINE
b.C. a.C.
2100 1800 1500 1200 900 600 300 0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800

Cajamarca
Marcahumachuco
Wari Wiracochapampa
Huanucopampa

CAJAMARCA

CAJAMARCA
N 50

51 52
14 HUAMACHUCO
TRUJILLO

PACIFIC 54 HUÁNUCO
OCEAN

30
LIMA
31

Detailed area
53
AYACUCHO
CUSCO

55 40
Route of the Imperial Cities APURÍMAC

50 Cajamarca
Provincial limit 514 Marcahuamachuco
Regional capital 52 Wiracochapampa
Provincial capital 53 Wari
District capital 54 Huanucopampa
Town 55 Vilcashuamán
Asphalted road 30 Cajamarquilla
31 Pachacamac
Unpaved route
40 Pikillacta
Airport, port
14 Chan Chan
0 50 100 150 km 261
The Imperial Cities Route

Cajamarca
In the historical center of the city, you can see Inca
evidences such as the Rescue Room on the block 7
of Amalia Puga street, the designs of Qhapaq Ñan,
The Inca Bath, where Atahualpa stayed before he was
captured. It is probably the main square now.

César A. Vega

262
 Cajamarca
CAJAMARCA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 774285 Google Earth Spot: Cajamarca Province: Cajamarca

N 9208035 W 78 31'03" S 7 09'25" District: Cajamarca Region: Cajamarca

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Cajamarca, 2 720 Cusco, 3 399
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
2200 2000 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Cajamarca
2000 b.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has several handicraft centers. it also has in association, nearby lodges at all prices.

263
The Imperial Cities Route
Evidences of an Inca urbe are located
in the historical center of the same city
of Cajamarca, where the Spaniards
settled down, modifying its architectural
programme, but you can still observe
Inca evidences, such as the Rescue
Room on the block 7 of Amalia Puga
street, the designs of Qhapaq Ñan,
The Inca Bath, where Atahualpa stayed
before he was captured. It is probably
the main square of Cajamarca now.
What you can now see is the remainder
of what one was an Inca llaqta
(Second Empire) that occupied a zone
of the Cajamarca. After Atahualpa’s
death and during the first years of the
264
Spanish occupation, the destruction of
th Inca Llaqta to to turn it into the city of
San Antonio de Cajamarca. For being
an important part of our history, and
for its legacy, is one of the principal
landmarks of this cultural route. The
Inca bath is located 6,40 km away from
the Center of the City andi t connects
the city with two possible branches of
Qhapaq Ñan that are still in use.
One of the tangible examples of an inca
city that you can still admire, in spite
of the transformations suffered during
centuries, that’s why it is important for
this route.
Mylene D’Auriol / PROMPERU
 Cajamarca
César A. Vega
CHOTA

SUCHUBAMBA N
BAMBAMARCA
LEYMEBAMBA

CELENDÍN

LUCMAPAMPA

SAN PABLO ENCAÑADA

CAJAMARCA
Río

CHETILLA 50 NAMORA BOLÍVAR

Mara

MATARÁ
MAGDALENA SAN JUAN
ñón

SAN MARCOS
CONTUMAZÁ

CASCAS
Provincial limit 50
a Regional capital
am Cajamarca
Chic ProvincialCAJABAMBA
capital
Río District capital
HUARANCHAL Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

265
The Imperial Cities Route

Marcahuamachuco
It is composed by a series of places marked by walls
made of quarried Stones placed in double facing of
two or three floors. They contain public areas and
aparently domestic with a large occupation that
appears to be originated since 400 a.C.

Luis Yupanqui

266
 Marcahuamachuco
MARCAHUAMACHUCO Other names: Markawamachuku, Markawamachuco

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 822628 Google Earth Spot: Marcahuamachuco Province: Sánchez Carrión

N 9138417 W 78 04'32" S 7 47'16" District: Huamachuco Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Marcahuamachuco, 3 200 Cusco, 3 399
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Marcahuamachuco
400 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trai

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has no proper infrastructure except for the Entrance and the access motorway.

267
The Imperial Cities Route
When Marcahuamachuco appeared
by the year 500 a.C. It was the largest
urban center of all the Northern
highland. The occupied territory was
limit and obstacle for the expansion
of the first Empire (Wari) between
the years 600 and 900 a.C. They
were not able to occupy the zone
and it remained imperturbable until
its incorporation to the Tawantinsuyo
(± 1450 - 1532 a.C.)
The place is located at, 3 km from
Huamachuco, on the highlands of La
Libertad. It is at 3 700 meters above the
sea level. It is composed by a series
of places marked by walls made of
quarried stones placed in double facing
of two or three floors, being notorious
several kilometres away. It contains
268
public and domestic areas, with a large
occupation that seems to be originary
from the year 400 a.C., preceding the
Wari and Inca. The occupation is given
until the Inca period, but not totally and
without fulfilling all its functions.
All the material for the construction of
this city was obtained from the nearby
hills, a quarry where the stone was
carefully worked and cut, in rectangular
blocks, they were placed alterning
their position, vertical or horizontal.
This calls the attention of travellers and
researchers who come to its borders.
At present, some Studies are being
performed to put this place in value. It
is an important example of pre-urban
development in the north of Peru.
Willian Zanatta
 Marcahuamachuco
Willian Zanatta
CHOTA

SUCHUBAMBA
BAMBAMARCA
LEYMEBAMBA

CELENDÍN

LUCMAPAMPA

CHETILLA
CAJAMARCA Río
MATARÁ
SAN JUAN
Mara
N SAN MARCOS
ñón

CONTUMAZÁ
GUZMANGO COTO DE CAZA
SUNCHUBAMBA LLUCHUBAMBA
CASCAS

ama CAJABAMBA
Chic
Río
SARTIMBAMBA
HUARANCHAL
51

HUAMACHUCO
OTUZCO SARÍN

SITABAMBA
TRUJILLO CACHICADÁN

MOCHE Provincial limit 51

LA LIBERTAD Regional capital Marcahuamachuco
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
VIRÚ Unpaved route CABANA
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

269
The Imperial Cities Route

Wiracochapampa
This city occupies an area of 500 meters; where there
are a series of public and administrative spaces such
as warehouses, watering network, means of communi-
cations, and places in a clear orthogonal planning.

Walter Silvera / PROMPERU

270
 Wiracochapampa
WIRACOCHAPAMPA Other names: Wiraqcochapampa, Huirakochapampa

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

17M E 825572 Google Earth Spot: Wiracochapampa Province: Sánchez Carrión

N 9138543 W 78 02'51" S 7 47'17" District: Huamachuco Region: La Libertad

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Wiracochapampa, 3 000
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

LÍNEA DE TIEMPO

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Wiracochapampa
900 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

GRADO DE CONSERVACIÓN
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
Nothing suitable in the locality, and fairly acceptable in the city.

271
The Imperial Cities Route
It is located at 3 000 meters above the
sea level on an esplanade or ramp,
and it forms a triangle between the city
and the place of Markahuamachuco.
The city occupies an area of 500 m; in
this space there are a series of public
and administrative spaces such as
warehouses, watering network, means
of communications, and places in a
clear orthogonal planning.
The constructive material employed
are quarried stones, generally clear
sandstone balanced and fastened
with small stone wedges (pachillas o
paqchas), that are placed on the walls
of double facing and using clay land as
mortar; in some front walls some stone
corbels (perhaps quartz) have been
272
identified, maybe with the purpose
of supporting the vegetal origin
ceilings. Inside the construction, you
can still see some traces of irrigation
ditches, that carried the water for the
population.
This city possibly belongs to the end
of the first Empire (Wari) and was built
by the year 900 a.C.; It seems that they
didn’t finish building the city, perhaps
because of the weakness of the
metropoli or due to the colapse of the
Empire, the same as what happened
later in Huanucopampa in the second
Empire.
It is one of the latest Wari cities that
were built andi t is located in the
Northern extreme of its expansion.
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
 Wiracochapampa
Walter Silvera / PROMPERU
CHOTA

SUCHUBAMBA
BAMBAMARCA
LEYMEBAMBA

CELENDÍN

LUCMAPAMPA

Río

CHETILLA CAJAMARCA
Ma
rañ

MATARÁ
SAN JUAN
ón

N SAN MARCOS
CONTUMAZÁ
GUZMANGO COTO DE CAZA
SUNCHUBAMBA LLUCHUBAMBA
CASCAS

ama
Chic CAJABAMBA
Río
SARTIMBAMBA
HUARANCHAL
52
HUAMACHUCO
OTUZCO SARÍN

SITABAMBA

TRUJILLO CACHICADÁN

MOCHE Provincial limit 52

LA LIBERTAD Regional capital Wiracochapampa
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road
VIRÚ Unpaved route CABANA
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

273
The Imperial Cities Route

Wari
This place is composed by a fairly multicolored, a little
orthogonal core that later it adapted to this pattern by
forming large streets, high perimetric walls, accesses,
squares, temples, administrative areas, mausoleums,
tombs, workshops, neighbourhoods.

Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

274
WARI

Wari
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 592517 Google Earth Spot: Wari Province: Huamanga

N 8555221 W 74 08'47" S 13 04'04" District: Quinua Region: Ayacucho

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Wari, 3 000 Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Wari
500 a.C. 900 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has an on-site museum, signposting and a car park.

275
The Imperial Cities Route
The citadel Wari is considered as the
state capital of the same name. Before
the Inca culture, it had become the first
great andean Empire. Its occupation
would have reached 2 000 hectares in
its most important moment.
This complex is located in a semiarid
esplanade to the north-east of the city
of Ayacucho and to the south-west of
the town of Quinua, at about 3 000
meters above the sea level.
Wari is composed by a fairly
multicolored, a bit orthogonal core,
that later it adapted to this pattern by
forming large streets, high perimetric
walls, accesses, squares, temples,
administrative areas, mauloleums,
tombs, workshops, neighbourhoods,
etc. This characterize a city or llaqta. The
origins of Wari (500 - 600 a.C.) as a city
is found in a settlement Warpa which
must have been the basis of its origins,
together with influences by contact
with Nasca y Tiwanako cultures, the
276
ones with it had conflicts later. This
forced its state to redesign a general
policy by developing a secular form
supported in a regular army. In this way
it started its expansion, transformation
and resource management.
As part of an expansion policy, an
official language was imposed, the
runa simi or quechua. An oficial
ideology sustained by administration
and religion; an accounting system
represented by the kipu, the
sistematization and formalization of
roads, the creation of cities as political
and military centres; furthermore,
the creation of military groups, the
imposition of the orthogonal pattern.
Wari turned into a metropoli (± 600 -
900 a.C.) until the Empire colapsed.
Very little is known about what
happened after the year 900 a.C.
with Wari, but it seems that it was
abandoned and pillaged. Practically it
was never occupied.
Carlos Sala / PROMPERU
 Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

Wari
MAYOC

Rí
ACOBAMBA
oA
pu
HUANTA
rím
ac
HUANCA HUANCA
HUAMANGUILLA
LIRCAY SAN MIGUEL
53 QUINUA
SAN PEDRO DE CACHI

N AYACUCHO

Río
Pa
mpa
s
ONGOY
AYACUCHO
CHINCHEROS
TOTOS CHUSQUI
PARAS
CANGALLO VILCASHUAMÁN
CARHUANCA
HUANCAPI
Provincial limit 53
Regional capital
Wari CHILCAYOC
Provincial capital
HUANCASANCOS
District capital
Town
Asphalted road APONGO PAICO
Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

277
The Imperial Cities Route

Huanucopampa
In this occupied space there are a large number
of kallankas (typical architecture of the incas),
warehouses (collcas) for food and clothes among
others. It was going to be a great llaqta; but due to the
Spanish invasion and the breakup of the established
order made it impossible to finish and occupy this city.

Mylene D’Auriol

278
 Huanucopampa
HUANUCOPAMPA Other names: Wanukupampa, Wanuku Viejo, Huánuco Viejo, Huanucomarca

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 301291.96 Google Earth Spot: Huanucopampa Province: Dos de Mayo

N 8908120.57 W 76 48'43" S 9 52'17" District: La Unión Region: Huánuco

ALTITUD Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Cusco, 3 399 Above
Huanucopampa, 3 700
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
200 0 200 400 1440 1460 1480 1500 1520 1540 1560 1580

Huanucopampa
1470 a.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
This place has minimal signposting in different areas.

279
The Imperial Cities Route
The city of Huánuco Pampa is at 3
700 meters above the sea level on
an esplanade or ramp, where comes
part of its name, covering about five
hectares.
This site presents between 3 500 to
4 000 visible structures. At first, the
architectural programme was aimed
to form four great sectors according
to the Qhapaq Ñan and the Ushnu,
and these sectors, at the same time,
subdivided into four. Among these
structures we have the large square
(cancha) from which the streets start.
In the occupied space, there are a
large number of kallankas, a kind of
stone basis on which the houses,
palaces and inca temples, warehouses
(collcas) for food and clothes among
others were built.
280
Huánuco Pampa was going to turn
into a great llaqta; but it seems that
the Spanish invasion and the breakup
of the established order didn’t make it
finish and occupy this city. Huánuco
Pampa had a short existente like
Wiraqochapampa. The Universidad
Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in the
latest time, is carrying out research
in the line of archaeoastronomy
or paleoastronomy, as there is a
hypothesis that the Inca Llaqtas, as well
as other structures of the andean area,
were designed in accordance with
stellar, lunar and solar observations.
Although it was never finished, we
can say that Huánuco Pampa is an
important landmark to understand the
route of the Imperial cities.
Mylene D’Auriol
 Huanucopampa
Mylene D’Auriol
HUARAZ LLATA
PARQUE NACIONAL CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR HUÁNUCO
HUASCARÁN
RECUAY

LA UNIÓN CHAVINILLO
54

HUALLANCA
N HUÁNUCO

JESÚS
BAÑOS AMBO
CHIQUIÁN

TICLLOS

Provincial limit 54 YANAHUANCA

Regional capital Huanucopampa
Provincial capital
District capital
Town
Asphalted road CERRO DE PASCO
OYÓN
Unpaved route
Airport, port
0 10 20 30 40km

281
The Imperial Cities Route

Vilcashuamán
The city or llaqta of Vilcahuamán was used, as many
Inca cities as a Tambo or collecting and distribution of
material and human resources. You can observe here
structures such as the Kallankas built with quarried
stones, fenced places, the just mentioned ushnu and
the square or trapezoid cancha.

Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

282
 Vilcashuamán
VILCASHUAMÁN Other names: Willcahuaman, Willcas Waman, Vilcas

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

18L E 613229 Google Earth Spot: Vilcashuamán Province: Vilcashuamán

N 8490277 W 73 57'11" S 13 39'13" District: Vilcashuamán Region: Ayacucho

ALTITUDE Huascarán mountain, 6 768

Meters
Above
Vilcashuamán, 3 200 Cusco, 3 399
Sea
Iquitos, 104
Pacific Ocean, 0 Level

TIME LINE

b.C. a.C.
600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Vilcashuamán
500 b.C. 1532 a.C.

TYPE OF SETTLEMENT
Rocky Shelter Monumental Complex Monument Historical Center
Cave Painting Necropolis Pre-hispanic City Cultural Spot
Small Village Principal Tomb Monumental Area Colonial City
Religious Center

PRESERVATION DEGREE
Excellent Good Regular Bad

ACCESSIBILITY

Without visible access Pedestrian Road Fluvial or Maritime Car trail

Asphalted road Unpaved road By Plane

ACCESSIBILITY DEGREE

Excellent Good Regular Bad

SERVICES
It has accomodation service and basic catering.

283
The Imperial Cities Route

The citadel of Vilcashuamán is located on an esplanade, at 3 200 meters above

the sea level on the left side of the riverPampas in Ayacucho. The current
population live on the clear superposition of the colonial and Tawantinsuyo
periods, but its origins go back at least to the Formative (± 1500 b.C. - 0 a.C.),
According to the latest investigations performed by a Peruvian-Japanese project,
whose evidences are under the Ushnu. The city or llaqta of Vilcashuamán, was
used as many Inca cities as a Tambo or collecting and distribution of material and
human resources center. You can observe here structures such as the Kallankas
built with quarried Stones, fenced places, the just mentioned ushnu, the square
or trapezoid cancha, etc. It also seems that it had an important meaning for the
Incas, as the city was built on their rivals’ territory: the Chanka.
Several chroniclers mention them in their work (e.g. Waman Poma and Pedro
Cieza) they are mentioned from the beginning of the conquest and the colony as
one of the most splendid and opulent Inca llaqtas. Its state of conservation, the
architectural syncretism and its symbolic value make Vilcashuamán a principal
component of the Imperial Cities Route.

Carlos Sala / PROMPERU

284
 Vilcashuamán
Carlos Sala / PROMPERU
MAYOC

Rí
ACOBAMBA

o
Ap
ur
ím
LIRCAY ac
QUINUA

N
AYACUCHO
Río
Pa
mpa
s
ONGOY

CHINCHEROS
TOTOS CHUSQUI
PARAS ANDAHUAYLAS
CANGALLO 55 VILCASHUAMÁN
AYACUCHO CARHUANCA
HUANCAPI
LUCANAMARCA TURPO
CHILCAYOC
HUANCASANCOS

APONGO PAICO

Provincial limit 55
Regional capital Vilcashuamán
Provincial capital
District capital HUAYCAHUACHO SAÑAYCA
PAMPACHIN
Town
Asphalted road
Unpaved route
Airport, port CHIPAO
0 10 20 30 40km
ANDAMARCA

285
Participatory
archaeological
tourism
This is an interesting opportunity
for the visitor to get involved in
scientific work and at the same time,
to go deeply into some knowledge
additional to the conventional, that
means, the one that is used to getting
acquired in a traditional tourist visit.
It can be understood as a different
way of perceiving the culture and
mechanisms that social sciences have
to develop the historical discourse. The
methodologies that scientists apply,
can be attractive to a certain type of
specialised tourist who finds more and
better emotions and learning in an
archaeologist’s specialised discourse
and work.
This type of participatory archaeological
tourism can be tackled in three different
forms:
1. Visits or archaeological
explorations
This tourist circuit that considers
the visit of archaeological projects
in progress apart from other sites
connected to the scientific problems
they face. It can be the case of
being privileged spectators of the
286
archaeological findings that take place
in this type of projects.
2. Archaeological Digs and
Restorations
This tourist circuit implies direct
participation in field activities of
archaeological digs and restorations,
the one that includes, to take part of
the field team in the different scientific
tasks permanently supervised by
professional archaeologists. This type
of visit is the one that considers public
specifically formed in these scientific
activities.
3. Preliminary treatment of the
findings and archaeological
collections
This tourist circuit allows you to
participate in complementary Works
of the archaeological projects such
as the treatment of the findings and
their preventive treatment for their
subsequent study. It also allows you
to participate in certain museums that
devote permanently to the research
of archaeological collections; this
includes the learning of register
techniques handling of all type of
287
288
Participatory
archaeological
tourism

collections.
For this last thematic core, we have identified the archaeological sites that
currently have projects almost permanent in progress, in terms of field works as
well as material process in offices or museums, the ones mentioned bellow:

INFRASTRUC- OTHER TIPE OF

REGION PLACE WORKS
TURE WORKS VISIT
Huacas del Sol y de Interpretation
North Coast Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
La Luna Center
National Museum
North Coast Huaca Rajada Sipán Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
and Place
Interpretation
North Coast Huaca El Brujo Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
Center
North Coast Túcume Place Museum Laboratory 1,3

North Coast Chan Chan Excavat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3

North Coast San José de Moro Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3

Near North Las Chicras Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3

Caral, Áspero, Excavat. and Interpretation
Near North Laboratory 1,2,3
Vichama restorat. Center
Near North Sechín Restorat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,3
Central Coast Pachacamac Excavat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Central Coast Pucllana Excavat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Central Coast Puruchuco Restorat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Central Coast Cajamarquilla Restorat. Laboratory 1,2,3
Excavat. and
Central Coast Mateo Salado Laboratory 1,2,3
restorat.
Excavat. and
Central Coast Maranga Chayavilca Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
restorat.

289
Participatory
archaeological
tourism

South Central
Huaca Malena Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Coast
South Central
Tambo de Mora Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
Coast
Excavat. and
South Coast Cahuachi Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Restorat.
South Coast Geoglifos de Palpa Excavat. Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Municipal
South Chiribaya Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
Museum
South Cerro Baul Excavat. Laboratory 1,2,3
South Omo, Chen Chen Museum Laboratory 2,3
Excavat. and Centro de
North Jungle Kuélap Laboratory 1,2,3
Restorat. Interpretación
North Jungle Pinchudos Restorat 1,2
North Jungle Leymebamba Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
North Jungle Karajía 1
Central Saw Lauricocha 1
Central Saw Wari Excavat. Place Museum Laboratory 1,2,3
Excavat. and
Central Saw Vilcashuamán Laboratory 1,2,3
Restorat

290
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