Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Lunahuaná is small with little of architectural significance outside of its main square,
which is crowned by the
Iglesia Santiago Apostal
dating from 1690. The square's arched
portales
hide bars and shops that specialize in wine and pisco. From here, it's a five-
minute walk up to a scenic
mirador
with great views of the town and its surrounding
greenery.
Bodega Santa Maria
(
www.bodegasantamaria.com
;
Km 39 Carr Cañete-Lunahuaná)
A very civilized semi-in-
dustrial winemaker 1km north of the town whose flowery grounds and large wooden
casks retain the air of an Andalucian sherry bodega. Free samples of the sweet-ish wine
(red, white and rosé) and powerful pisco varietals are laid on in an aromatic tasting room.
It also sells locally made honey.
WINERY
Catapalla
A tiny settlement 6km further up the valley from Lunahuaná, Catapalla is notable for one
of the valley's oldest artisanal wineries, the venerable
La Reyna de Lunahuaná
(
99-477-7117; admission & tours free; 7am-1pm & 2-5pm)
which presides over the
main plaza. The owners here can teach you the ABCs of pisco (Peruvian grape brandy)
and wine production. The village's other main feature is its
Puente Colgante
(suspension
bridge) that hangs precariously over the Río Cañete's angry rapids. A one-way taxi ride to
Catapalla from Lunahuaná should cost from S6, but you may have to wait until a car
shows up for the return.
VILLAGE
Incahuasi
(Km 39 Carr Cañete-Lunahuaná; admission S3.50; 9am-5pm)
The most notable ar-
chaeological site in the Cañete Valley is Incahuasi, the rough-walled ruins of the military
headquarters of the 10th Inca king Túpac Yupanqui, located on the western outskirts of
Lunahuaná. It is thought that the original buildings date from 1438-ish, soon after the as-
cension of Emperor Pachacuti. You won't find a lot of signage or fellow travelers here,
but therein lies the attraction. The ruins are on the main road 10km west of Lunahuaná. A
taxi should cost S10 to S12 round-trip.
RUINS
