Near Lima, there are ancient ruins that were once a popular pilgrimage site but are now less crowded. We found it ironic that we were discussing a significant archaeological site on the coast of Peru.
The Pachacamac ruins in Peru have a rich history and many attractions. Tourists often overlook them, but scholars and locals highly value them.
With the help of Machu Travel Peru experts, we want to share more about this unique archaeological site. This old site was a religious center for nearby communities, and we hoped you could learn about it.
Pachacamac, one of the first Pre-columbian citadels
- Overview
- Location
- Who was Pachacamac?
- History
- Purpose of the site
- Complex distribution
- Climate
- How to get
- The Museum
- Entrance and schedule
Overview
Pachacamac is an ancient site near Lima, built around 200 AC. It has adobe, stone palaces, and pyramids used as temples by those living there. The main pilgrimage center for Lima, Wari, Moche, and Ychma pre-Inca cultures. The complex has old pyramids with ramps, temples, palaces, and artifacts showing how people lived there in the past.
Even though it is ancient, most of the structures at this site are still in good condition. Because of this, it is now one of the most famous places in Peru. If you’re in Lima for a few days, don’t miss this tour near the city. You will find it a must-see attraction that you won’t want to skip; you will feel like an exhibition in the museum.
Location
This ancient site is in the Limenean district of Lurin, 47 km. southeast of Lima. It has the same name, is on the right bank of the river, is near the Pacific Ocean, and has a group of islets. A car trip to get there takes approximately 02 hours.
Who was Pachacamac?
One can translate Pachacamac differently, such as “soul of the Earth” or “creator of the earth and time”. In pre-Inca Peru, the people on the coast believed in a powerful god who was very important to them. His name implied that he was the creator of everything and the main god of the region. However, when the Incas arrived, they made their main god, the Sun, the focus of worship.
The Andean culture did not erase him. They embraced him as a god in their Pantheon considered him the direct son of the Sun, and even created a legend. This story tells how the god Pachacamac made man and woman but forgot to give them food. He left them to fend for themselves while he focused on other tasks.
Upon returning, the man was dead, and the woman wandered, cursing and crying. The Sun God (Inti) moved by the woman’s crying, bathed her with her rays, and comforted her. This union produced a son. Pachacamac was angry when he found out what had happened, so he killed the son of the couple. He spread the son’s remains worldwide, which became food for the women and other animals.
The woman who was in pain went back to the Sun God. He asked her to bring the placenta and umbilical cord of her dead son. The woman followed instructions, and the Sun created Vichama, her second son. This time, the mother helped her son escape from his enraged father.
But years later, Pachacamac managed to kill the woman, and Vichama learned of the death of his mother. The mother had offered her life for her son to escape. Vichama sought revenge on his father but only found his mother’s bones and heard rumors that his father had fled to the seas. Vichama watches the coast to ensure his father stays in the sea and doesn’t return to dry land.
History
Before becoming a popular tourist spot in Lima, this site was discovered in 1890 by brave archaeologists. Since then, well-known researchers like Ernst Middendorf, Adolph Bandelier, Max Uhle, and Alberto Giesecke have studied it. Giesecke found the main idol in 1939 and restored the Painted Temple.
However, more modern scholars like Julio C. Tello, John Corbett, William Strong, and Dr. Arthur Jimenez Borja gradually revealed the mysteries and legends that the site still held. Even from 1990, some non-profit foundations began to support economically, to research project on-site research projects.
Researchers valued many sites, including the Temple of the Sun and Ajllawasi, for their essential history. To better understand how it formed, we will divide it by the period of each pre-Inca culture that lived there.
Pachacamac in the Lima pre-Inca culture
This area was an important religious center before the Inca soldiers and Spanish conquerors arrived. Large ceremonial pyramids, homes, and other buildings were nearby. Different cultures that inhabited the site progressively carried out the constructions. The culture of Lima was created on the site in 200 AD.
The Lima culture developed after the ancient Chavin pre-Inca civilization declined. The stone bases influenced religious buildings, which were built with small adobe bricks called “Adobitos.” Templo Viejo (the Old Temple) and the Urpiwachac Temple are other proofs.
Pachacamac in the Wari Culture
The Huari culture controlled the ceremonial site from 600 AD. to 1100 AD., during which it grew to its largest size. They rebuilt the city to establish it as an administrative center, besides religious. During this period, the site peaked and became a spiritual pilgrimage destination for people from surrounding areas.
The Huari people constructed some new buildings. The most significant one was the Painted Temple.
They also repaired their existing buildings. The current excavations found ceramics, beautiful fabrics, and a complete cemetery belonging to this culture. After Wari, the complex survived as an independent unit and received pilgrims until the Ychma culture period.
Pachacamac in the Ychma culture
After 1100 AD. the Ychma culture took control of the site. Its administration began in the middle of the V century and finished in the middle of the VI century.
The complex became a popular pilgrimage site again. It has impressive buildings, including 16-step pyramids. There are also ramps and patios made of adobe and mortar.
The area has many buildings, streets, roads connecting houses, administrative buildings, temples, and pyramids. Remember that the complex had reached its maximum expansion again, and we needed paths to connect each enclosure. Also, they rebuilt Templo Pintado (the Painted Temple).
Pachacamac with the Incas
In 1470 AD. the Inca army led by Tupac Inca Yupanqui invaded the complex. He continued his father Pachacutec’s legacy by expanding the Tawantinsuyo territory to the north. Once they arrived at the site, the young Inca saw the strong cult toward a god unknown to him.
In this sense, he respected the cult and religion of the pilgrims who lived there. He accepted the unknown god and added him to the Inca pantheon. Pachacamac became the son of the main Inca god, the sun. (known as the one who animated the world)
Also, the Incas modified and expanded the enclosures at their convenience, building some new pyramids. The Sun Temple is situated on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was the most significant legacy of the civilization. Nowadays, people consider this edification one of Lima’s most impressive ancient buildings.
They constructed the walls using small mud, straw bricks called Adobitos, and small stones. They also painted the walls red and yellow. Another important building was the Acjallawasi (place of chosen women).
When the Incas arrived in the zone, they found a similar enclosure called Mamacona. Priests and experts lived there to see the oracle (The most essential object on the site). They could predict the future. The Incas made the enclosure a monastery for young women. These women would worship the Sun, marry important warriors, or be sacrificed to honor the Sun god. Other important buildings were the Pilgrim’s Palace and the Taurichumbi Palace. In this form, the complex continued under the Inca’s control up to 1533.
Pachacamac with the Spanish invaders
Research shows that the Incas lost faith in the complex and its oracle. This happened when the last ruler, Huascar, sought the oracle’s prediction for a battle against his brother Atahualpa. The oracle wrongly predicted that Huascar would win, but Atahualpa emerged victorious. In this sense, when Atahualpa learned about this oracle, he did not appreciate him enough.
The Inca Civil War ended, and in 1533, the Spanish captured Atahualpa. He told them where a valuable site was to secure his release, aware that they would likely steal from and damage it. Europeans arrived, took gold and silver, and then lost interest, ignoring ongoing pilgrimages.
Purpose of the site
This pilgrimage center was one of the most important deities for pre-Hispanic cultures, so the site was mainly a place of worship.
- Religious site: People from various cultures visited this place for religious ceremonies. It was a center for worship and rituals in the coastal region. There was an oracle in the area. People asked the oracle about future harvests, next year’s weather, and upcoming diseases in the region.
- Only one priest could enter a particular area to talk to the Oracle and answer questions. Some scholars believe that people used this complex as an administrative center.
- It had other functions as well. Some evidence indicates that important rulers used certain buildings as royal palaces during that time. Remember that this complex has significantly expanded to 465 hectares and requires efficient management.
- Today, people consider the site one of the best day trips from Lima. It lies just a few kilometers away from the Peruvian capital.
Complex distribution
The archaeological site can be divided into two main sections. The first area was sacred, containing important temples, a large cemetery, and the site’s three main pyramids. The burial site is mentioned.
Within the second region, you can discover numerous constructions without ceremonial purposes, including some adobe pyramids. Nowadays, visitors can also enjoy the on-site museum near the site, which gathers different artifacts and historical objects.
This site is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Lima, and it is an attraction that you should experience after knowing. For this reason, you’ll find the most important buildings on the site in the lines below.
- Sun temple (Incas culture legacy)
- Templo Viejo (Old temple)
- Templo Pintado (Painted temple)
- Ajllawasi (house of the chosen- refurbished by the Incas)
- Pilgrims square (Incas culture legacy)
- Taurichumbi palace
Climate
Pachacamac, named after the most representative god of the coast, has a climate reflecting its beauty and history.
Likewise, Pachacamac has a temperate climate throughout the year. The average temperature is between 23°C, and the hottest months are January and February, when the maximum temperature is approximately 28 °C.
From June to September, temperatures drop to around 17°C (63°F), and cool breezes and calm winds can be experienced. Rainfall is minimal and occurs between January and March. However, it does allow for exuberant vegetation.
How to get
These ruins are located only about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the capital of Peru, so getting them is not complicated at all. You can enjoy these ancient ruins on a half or full-day tour; everything will depend on your interest in the site.
To fully enjoy your tour, having a certified guide who can share the stories and meanings behind the various buildings is best. You can visit this complex after touring Lima and seeing other attractions like Huaca Pucllana. You will have numerous alternatives to enjoy this incredible historical site.
- As mentioned, we recommend visiting this site with an expert tour guide through a travel agency. If you’re adventurous and know about the site’s history, visiting an Archaeological site can be exciting.
- Visiting an Archaeological site can be exciting if you’re adventurous and know the site’s history. The best option is to go with someone who knows the area well, such as a historian or tour guide.
- Consider taking a taxi to the Lurín district to make the most of your visit. You can use a taxi app (recommended) or hail a cab on the street (less recommended). This will help you get to your destination quickly and efficiently.
- The taxi service, round trip, costs around 120 Peruvian Soles, add the 2 hours of wait, and 60 soles more. The total cost can reach 180.00 Soles ($ 48)
- Public Bus: If you have a real adventure spirit, you can take a public bus from the Miraflores district. Usually, these buses have a giant sign on one of their sides that says “Pachacamac” or simply the letter “S. ” Before taking one, you have to ask the driver to inform you when you are close to the attraction.
- Also, remember that Peru’s public transport service is the worst in South America. Old buses and vans are uncomfortable, with small seats and little space, forcing many passengers to stand in the aisle. Additionally, there are safety concerns due to crime on these vehicles. The only detail will be the return way.
The Museum
The Pachacamac site museum was built in 1965. Peru’s government built it near the city’s main entrance. The museum aims to educate people about the city’s history, functions, and importance. It was one of the first on-site museums in Peru. Many artifacts are on display.
These include ceramics, textiles, and ceremonial items. They represent over 1,000 years of history, dating from the 19th to the 20th century. Each artifact contains a minor legend in English and Spanish that explains its function, the date, and the exact location where it was found.
The visitor will also find a brief history of the general site. In addition, its purpose and the displacements of the different buildings made it up. This museum is one of the tourist attractions in Lima that you must visit sometime in your life.
Entrances and schedule
The archaeological site receives visitants Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The entrances and ticket office are sold from Tuesday to Saturday until 3:45 p.m. and Sundays until 2:45 p.m.
The entrance prices are general for all people, 0no matter if they are national or foreign:
- $ 4 General Entrance
- $ 1.5 Higher student (accredited)
- $ 0.20 (dollar cents) for Children and/or School
- $ 9 Guide service (depends on availability)
“WHAT’S OLD COLLAPSES, TIMES CHANGE, AND NEW LIFE BLOSSOMS IN THE RUINS”
Peru boasts many attractive archaeological sites throughout the country, some within easy reach of just a bus ride away. We hope, together with the experts of Machu Travel Peru, to have been of help. You can consult our advisers for free if you want more information about this incredible destination. Make sure to add Pachacamac to your travel list; you won’t regret it!
Peru has so much to offer, it can be hard to know where to start. With many years of experience in the tourism sector, Machu Travel Peru is happy to help with anything regarding your trip to Machu Picchu and any tours around it. Make your Machu Picchu experience an unforgettable one!
