Pachacamac Archaeological Complex and Barranco

Overview

Begin the tour in Barranco, Lima’s most bohemian suburb. We will see Barranco’s Central Park, its Municipal Library, the traditional Bridge of Sighs, the colonial homes and its famous boulevard. Next, we will drive down the South Pacific Coast Highway to Pachacamac, the most important ceremonial center in the Peruvian coast during pre-Inca and Inca times. Throughout the centuries Pachacamac was occupied by many different Andean civilizations such as the Lima’s, the Wari’s, the Ichma’s and finally by the Inca Empire. However, the Pachacamac Oracle always remained a religious center. We will see several pyramidal temples and enclosures from different time periods: the Adobitos & Old Temple (I C. A.D.), the painted Temple (VIII C. A.D.), a pyramid with a ramp (XIII C. A.D) & the Temple of the Sun (XV C. A.D.). Besides the ruins we will also visit an on-site museum displaying pottery, textiles, shell and stone ornaments, as well as the wooden Pachacamac idol found during excavations (1938)