Lima - Peru - page 214

commonly referred to as the Acllahuasi , which boasts a series of Inca-style trapezoidal
doorways. Unfortunately, a major earthquake in 2007 has left the structure highly un-
stable. As a result, visitors can only admire it from a distance. Without funding to repair
the extensive damage, it has been listed as one of the planet's most endangered sites.
There is a visitors center and cafe at the site entrance, which is on the road to Lurín. A
simple map can be obtained from the ticket office, and a track leads from here into the
complex. Those on foot should allow at least two hours to explore. (In summer, take water
and a hat - there is no shade to speak of once you hit the trail.) Those with a vehicle can
drive from site to site.
Various agencies in Lima ( Click here ) offer guided tours (half-day around S115 per
person) that include transport and a guide. Mountain-bike tours can be an excellent option.
Alternatively, catch a minibus signed 'Pachacamac' from the sunken roadway at the
corner of Andahuaylas and Grau in Central Lima (S2, 45 minutes); minibuses leave every
15 minutes during daylight hours. From Miraflores, take a taxi to the intersection of
Angamos and the Panamericana, also known as the Puente Primavera, then take the bus
signed 'Pachacamac/Lurín' (S1 to S2, 30 minutes). For both services, tell the driver to let
you off near the ruinas (ruins) or you'll end up at Pachacamac village, about 1km beyond
the entrance. To get back to Lima, flag down any bus outside the gate, but expect to stand.
You can also hire a taxi per hour (from S25) from Lima.
ARTISAN STUDIOS OF LURÍN
Lurín is a working-class enclave 50km south of Central Lima on the Panamericana. At its southern edge, crafts col-
lective Ichimay Wari ( 430-3674; www.ichimaywari.org ; Jr Jorge Chávez, Manzana 22, Lote A; 8am-1pm
& 2-5pm Mon-Fri) has its studios. Here, talented artisans from Ayacucho produce traditional retablos (religious di-
oramas), pottery, Andean-style Christmas decorations and the colorful clay trees known as arbolitos de la vida
(trees of life). Your best bet is to make an appointment 24 hours in advance to tour individual studios and meet the
artisans.
A taxi from Lima costs around S70. By bus from the Puente Primavera, take one headed to Lurín, San Bartolo or
San Miguel. Get off at the main stoplight in Lurín. From there, hail a mototaxi (motorcycle taxi) and ask them to
take you south to the Barrio Artesano. The cost will be S2. Parts of Lurín can get rough; take taxis and keep your
cameras stowed.