Unraveling The Mysteries Of Pachacamac: An Ancient Peruvian Archaeological Wonder

pachacamac peru

1.- WHAT IS THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX OF PACHACAMAC PERU?

The Pachacamac ruins are part of the archaeological center of Pachacamac Peru. A citadel built on the Peruvian coasts, with more than 600 hectares contained in its interior palaces and buildings made of adobe and stone. In spite of the antiquity that it has, it is possible to appreciate that most of the places have good conditions.

1.1.- Tracing the civilizations of Pachacamac Peru

During the investigations it was evidenced that there are about 4 interactions with cultures throughout this time: Lima, Wari, Ichma and Inca. The construction began first with the Ichma culture who built a total of 16 pyramidal structures, with the passage of time and the Wari are those who rebuilt the area, then the Lima culture and finally the Incas until the arrival of the Spanish in 1533.

1.2.- Etymology of the word Pachacamac Peru

According to Inca mythology, the Pachacamac god was part of the Andean belief and according to stories is a representation of the earth.

• Pacha: Earth
• Camac: Soul

“A place where the soul of the earth is found, the one that animates the world”.

1.3.- Where is Pachacamac Peru located?

The archaeological center of Pachacamac Peru is located in the southern part of the city of Lima, at the right end of the Lurin River, in the district of Lurin. About 40 kilometers from the historic center, 1 hour drive. Unlike other archaeological centers that are far from urban areas, this one has a proximity to houses and towns due to the overpopulation and extension of Lima.

2.- EXPLORING THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE:

The archaeological center of Pachacamac Peru contains in its interior incredible constructions that stand out and surprise all visitors. Among the enclosures that you can appreciate there are also representations of worship to the Pachacamac god, the main buildings are:

pachacamac

2.1.- The Temple of the Sun (Inti Huatana)

For the Inca culture the main god was always the Inti, or Sun God, so in all the sanctuaries there is always an enclosure that is the main one where he is worshiped. Inside Pachacamac Peru you can also find one, built with adobe and stone but with fine finishes which gives it a greater importance to the rest. It is located at the top of the high area which gives an overview of the entire valley and is the center of the entire citadel.

temple of the sun

2.2.- The Palace of the Chosen Women (Mamacona)

One of the main enclosures was also known as Mamaconas, a place where the chosen women lived for religious purposes. They were considered as sacred virgins, who performed rituals as well as taking care of the temples and offerings. This enclosure stands out for its relief decorations and mural paintings that show part of daily life as well as the religious ceremonies that took place.

2.3.- The Acllahuasi (House of the Chosen)

It was a place very similar to the palace of the chosen woman, but here only lived the acllas, very young women who were chosen to serve the Inca culture, these women were instructed in special skills such as food preparation and weaving. Their activities were mainly religious, the structure also contains mural paintings and finely finished reliefs.

2.4.- Other Notable Structures and Archaeological Remains

Within Pachacamac Peru there are also other very important temples, among these are:

2.5.- Old Temple

According to studies this is the oldest enclosure within all Pachacamac Peru, its construction currently looks deteriorated but if you can see that it was built with small bricks in a more rustic way.

2.6.- Painted Temple

It is located next to the old temple, this stands out from the rest of the enclosures of Pachacamac Peru because its walls are polychrome containing drawings of men, animals and plants, although of course these are also in poor condition by the passage of time.

2.7.- Pyramids

In Pachacamac Peru you can find 15 pyramids, although at first they were considered part of the religious area, with studies and research it was determined that they served more as an urban area where the nobles and priests lived.

3.- VISITING PACHACAMAC:

3.1.- Getting to Pachacamac

Pachacamac Peru is located 40 kilometers from the city of Lima so visiting it is easier than it seems. There are options of a full day or half day depending on the availability of your time. What is important to know is that we recommend you to visit all the interior of Pachacamac Peru in the company of a specialized guide. The options you have to get here are:

3.2.- Guided Experience

It is one of the tour options that you can find from Lima, the visit to Pachacamac Peru is actually an experience that can start even from your hotel in Miraflores or Barranco. Usually this experience lasts between 4 to 5 hours for the tour, this already includes all the details such as transportation, guide and income so you don’t have to worry about anything, you will find prices from $40.00 dollars per person and you can book it 24 hours in advance.

guided experience

3.3.- On your own

You can also make use of private transportation without any problem, either with a cab app like Uber or hiring the transportation service only with a Travel Agency, avoid in any circumstance taking a cab from the street. The trip takes about 1 hour to get to Pachacamac Peru (for each leg of the trip) so we recommend you to start between 9:00 am, plus it is the best time during the day. The price of this service ranges from $30.00 dollars on the application and about $50.00 dollars as transportation from a formal travel agency.

4.- UNIQUE FLAVORS IN THE WORLD

 “Although it is not certain, it is believed that in Pachacamac Peru human sacrifices were performed due to the presence of mummies found in several offerings, in addition to cotton strings around their necks. It is believed that these offerings were made for the Pachacamac god.”

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5.- Pachacamac Entrance Fees and Opening Hours

opening hours

**You can get admission tickets Tuesday through Saturday until 3:30 pm, Sundays until 2:30 pm.

We are sure you will love your visit inside the Pachacamac ruins, every step will take you on a journey through time creating unforgettable moments. Auri Peru can organize this experience for you and your travel companions, contact us now and discover all the surprises we have for you.

“A journey of a thousand kilometers always begins the same way, with a single step.”