Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
16th century. Standouts include a 2m-wide canvas that depicts a Corpus Christi procession
in turn-of-the-17th-century Cuzco.
Detour:
Pachacamac
If you've been to Machu Picchu, the archeological complex of
Pachacamac
( 430-0168;
ht-
tp://pachacamac.perucultural.org.pe
; admission S6; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
, 31km south of Lima, may not
seem like much. But these dusty piles of adobe and stone couldn't be more important.
Pachacamac began life as a ceremonial center for the Lima culture beginning at about AD 100 and was later ex-
panded by the Wari, as well as the Incas. When the Spanish arrived it was a bustling coastal city. The name
Pachacamac, which can be roughly translated as 'He who Animated the World,' comes from a Wari god, whose
wooden, two-faced image can be seen at the on-site museum. Centuries later, archaeologists are still unraveling the
citadel's history: in 2012 an untouched burial chamber with 80 bodies was uncovered.
Visitors can climb various temple mounds, including the
Templo del Sol
(Temple of the Sun), which has nice
views of the ocean. But the most remarkable structure is the
Palacio de las Mamacuna
(House of the Chosen Wo-
men), lined with a series of trapezoidal doorways. (Due to earthquake damage, it can only be admired from a dis-
tance.)
A simple map can be obtained at the ticket office. Those on foot should allow several hours to explore. (Take wa-
ter and a hat - there is no shade to speak of.) Those with a vehicle can drive from structure to structure.
Agencies in Lima (
Click here
) offer guided tours (about S115 per person). You can also hire a taxi (from S25 per
hour) from Lima.
Activities
Cycling
BIKE TOURS OF LIMA
( 445-3172;
www.biketoursolima.com
; Bolívar 150, Miralores; 9am-7pm Mon-Sat)
Great for day
trips around Miraflores and San Isidro, as well as Sunday excursions into downtown
(from S30 for a half day).
| Cycling Tours
