In a city like Lima, it is very easy to find a large number of huacas. They share the urban space with modern buildings and real estate projects, which is why they have become part of the typical landscape of the capital.
On the other hand, besides functioning as a gateway to the past, having huacas among our streets helps to raise awareness and revalue our history. Here is a list of the main huacas in Lima that you can visit.
While you are traveling to Peru you may need to keep communication or a translation app. That’s why you may need to use one of our mobile phone plans for tourists to have a tourist sim card. In order to make a nice trip here in PeruSIM. Here we show you the most important huacas of Lima..
1.- Huaca Maranga – San Miguel
The huacas of Maranga are a group of 54 adobe buildings whose construction dates back to the beginning of our era and is currently located within the Park of Legends. Its great extension and historical importance made it to be declared cultural patrimony of the nation in 2003.
Being within the park boundaries, the huacas are available to anyone who wishes to visit them. The facilities include a site museum and offer the possibility of touring the Cruz Blanca and San Miguel huacas.
2.- Huaca Mateo Salado – Pueblo Libre
It is made up of five staggered pyramids whose 17 hectares make it one of the most important archeological complexes in the city. Because of this, the complex was declared cultural patrimony of the nation in 2001.
If you want to know closely the Huaca Mateo Salado, you should know that it is possible to visit the set of gigantic structures and make an educational guided tour. It is currently located on Mariano Cornejo Avenue, between blocks 12 and 13, very close to the Plaza de la Bandera.
3.- Huaca Pucllana – Miraflores
Built by the Lima culture around the year 200 of our era, the Huaca Pucllana is quite particular. It was built using adobe bricks placed vertically, an unusual procedure known as the bookcase technique.
Today, the huaca is located on Calle General Borgoño block 8, at the 45th block of Avenida Arequipa in Miraflores. If you plan to visit it, you should know that the site also has an exhibition hall in which various ceramics are exhibited and even has a restaurant, so it represents a great way to spend the weekend.
4.- Huaca Puruchuco – Ate Vitarte
Located in the district of Ate and more than 500 years old, the huaca Puruchuco was built in the time of the Incas. Although the purpose of many of its enclosures is still shrouded in mystery, it is known that the huaca functioned as the place of residence of the curaca of this area.
Currently, the huaca is located on the central highway km 4.5. The museum has rooms with exhibits of ceramics and metal artifacts obtained during excavations. In addition, the facilities have parking, recreational spaces for children and workshops with many different activities.
5.- Huaca Huallamarca – San Isidro
This is a huaca that was a precinct of the Pinazo culture and whose construction dates back to approximately 200 AD. Later, it was used as a cemetery by cultures such as Sicán, Lima or Chincha, and it was not until around the year 1500 that it was no longer used. In 1958, the municipality of this district began the work of recovering the area, which culminated in 1993.
Today, it is located at 201 Nicolas Rivera Avenue, exactly on the corner of El Rosario Avenue in San Isidro. The huaca has a site museum that opens its doors every day of the week.
6.- Huaca Pachacamac – Lurin
A little farther away from the rest of the Huacas is the one that, in its period of maximum splendor, was the most important pilgrimage center of the coast. The archaeological site of Pachacamac has constructions from different cultures that occupied it and kept it active for 1200 years. Undoubtedly, its most important building is the temple of the sun, built by the Inca culture around 1450.
If you plan to visit it, the complex is located at km 31.5 of the old Pan-American Highway. The archeological site also has a modern and attractive museum, which offers visitors a variety of exhibits.
Very good! Now that you have a list of the main huacas in Lima and you also know their importance, are you ready to start visiting these archaeological complexes? You probably have one closer than you think.
Finally, we know that you have to keep communication with your relatives and friends, that you need to be able to orient yourself in new cities, that you might need help with translation and that you might need to search for restaurants or hotels. That’s why with PeruSIM you can buy a SIM card including the data plan of your need without having to worry about high roaming costs.