Many are mistaken in thinking that Lima was nothing but a desert before the arrival of the Spanish. Others are also wrong in believing that the ancient civilisations left no trace of their development and greatness in this city of over 10 million people.
This false idea—that there’s nothing pre-Hispanic to see in Lima—often misleads travellers. When planning their trips, they usually leave out the capital’s archaeological zones from their itineraries, convinced that all the important heritage is found only in Cusco, the Andes, or perhaps the northern coast.
But don’t worry—you won’t make that mistake after reading this text, in which you’ll “discover” the Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary. Its name comes from the Quechua words pacha (meaning earth, world, universe, space, and time) and camac (meaning creator, maker, or origin-giver).
Welcome to the oracle, the temples, and the pyramids built to worship Pachacamac—the creator or maker of the earth and the universe. This god was so powerful that various peoples and cultures from the coast and the Andes, including the Incas, worshipped him from the 3rd to the 15th century AD.
In pre-Hispanic times, pilgrims from distant regions made their way to this archaeological site in the Lurín district (31.5 km south of Lima’s Historic Centre). They believed in and trusted the will of Pachacamac, whose totemic image was displayed in one of the chambers of this vast ceremonial complex.
Don’t ignore the past or the native roots of Peru’s main metropolis. Visit Pachacamac, explore its adobe walls, and gaze from its high points toward the sea horizon, where you’ll see two small islands which, according to legend, were once a maiden and her young daughter. If you’d like to uncover that story and many others, continue your journey to the capital’s most important archaeological site—an ancient city that is pre-Inca, colonial, republican, and globalised, waiting to reveal its millennia-old past.
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Pachacamac: Soul of the Earth
Oracle and deity, Pachacamac—“the soul of the earth”, one of the meanings of his name—was regarded as the “creator and energiser of the universe”. Thanks to his immense power, he could rejuvenate people, foresee the future, bring wellbeing to pilgrims, heal illnesses, and improve agricultural yields.
He also had control or influence over the elements of nature—such as water, fire, and even earthquakes. He was seen as the cause of tremors, but at the same time, he protected those who believed in him—so long as they worshipped and honoured him with tributes and offerings.
His influence endured over time. The various peoples and cultures who settled in Pachacamac upheld the sacred cult and respected the pilgrims. This was true for the Wari and later the Incas as well. “The Children of the Sun” beautified the sanctuary and incorporated the coastal god into their own worldview.
This attitude of openness was not shared by the Spanish. In 1533, the decline of Pachacamac began. There were no more prophecies or pilgrims in the temples and pyramids—but this was not the end of the story. Today, thousands of Peruvians and foreigners visit the sanctuary to discover the beliefs of the ancients.
The Legend of Cavillaca
She was a stunningly beautiful woman—so beautiful that the gods themselves wished to make her their wife. They all tried, yet none succeeded in winning the heart of Cavillaca. Frustrated by their failure, the wise god Cuniraya Wiracocha devised a cunning and deceitful plan to overcome the young woman’s resistance.
His strategy was based on trickery and magic. That’s the only way to explain how the wise man transformed himself into a bird. In this form, he cleverly dropped a piece of fruit in front of the maiden. Surprised and delighted by the little bird’s charm and skill, Cavillaca gladly ate the unexpected gift.
What she didn’t know was that with every bite, her innocence was being stolen. Weeks later, she discovered she was pregnant. After giving birth to her daughter, she organised a gathering to uncover the identity of the father. But it was no use—no one spoke a word.
Yes, no one—not even Cuniraya Wiracocha. He didn’t sit at the head table. Instead, dressed in rags, he waited quietly in a corner, hoping for a scrap of food to fall so he could eat it. That’s when he heard Cavillaca tell her daughter, “Go and find your father—he is here among us.”
The little girl obeyed and, without hesitation, crawled straight towards the ragged man in the corner. Horrified, Cavillaca scooped up her child and ran towards the sea, intending to drown herself in its waters. So desperate and swift was her escape that she didn’t hear the wise man’s explanation.
As she fled, Cuniraya—now dressed in a robe glittering with gold—confessed that his aim had been to humble the vain maiden. But Cavillaca, unaware of the truth, threw herself into the Pacific with her child. The gods then transformed them into two stone islets as punishment for rejecting a man in rags.
When you visit Pachacamac, turn your gaze towards the sea on the horizon. There, you’ll spot two rocky islets of different sizes. The larger one is Cavillaca, and the smaller one, her innocent daughter.
The Occupation of Pachacamac Over Time
Before the arrival of the Spanish in the Andean cultural sphere, Pachacamac was inhabited and administered by the following civilisations and peoples:
Lima Culture (250–650 AD)
The Lima culture were the first settlers and builders of Pachacamac. This society constructed the early temples in the religious sector. Their building techniques were very simple, using basic and rustic materials such as adobitos—small, thin, rectangular adobe bricks. The architectural simplicity is due to a lack of technological exchange with other civilisations.
Wari or Huari Culture (650–1200 AD)
Los hombres del que es considerado la primera organización imperial en los Andes, ocuparon los territorios de los lima, incluyendo Pachacamac en el 650 d. C. Durante su predominio se levantaron nuevas edificaciones, como el templo de Pachacamac, conocido como el templo Pintado.
Las excavaciones en la zona arqueológica evidencian que los habitantes de la cultura wari derrotaron militarmente a los lima, pero los vencedores mantuvieron las tradiciones y el arte de los derrotados.
The Wari, considered the first imperial organisation in the Andes, occupied the Lima territories—including Pachacamac—around 650 AD. During their dominance, new structures were erected, such as the Temple of Pachacamac, also known as the Painted Temple.
Excavations in the archaeological zone show that the Wari defeated the Lima in battle, but despite their military victory, they preserved the traditions and artistic styles of the conquered people.
Ychsma or Ichma Culture (1200–1470 AD)
The decline of the Wari in the Andes—who were later defeated by the Incas—paved the way for the expansion of the Ichma, who took over Pachacamac in 1200 AD.
During their time, stepped pyramids with ramps and around 15 temples were built. They also established storage areas, fortified the Painted Temple, and increased the number of ceremonial patios for ritual activities.
Inca Empire (1470–1535 AD)
After defeating the Wari in the Andes, the Incas began expanding towards the coast around 1450 AD. Under the skilled leadership of Tupac Yupanqui, the “Children of the Sun” forcefully or diplomatically annexed the territories of the Chimú, Chincha, and Ichma cultures, among others.
The successful campaign, which lasted until around 1470 AD, allowed the Incas to take control of Pachacamac. Like the Wari and Ichma before them, the Incas allowed the worship of “the soul of the earth” to continue, while also introducing their own deities such as Inti (the Sun Father) and Wiracocha (the creator of the universe).
The Incas built the Temple of the Sun and the Acllawasi—the House of the Chosen Women. In this enclosure lived young women who were taught by the “mamaconas”. These elder women instructed them in honouring the gods and trained them in various manual skills such as weaving and cooking.
At the end of the 19th century, excavations revealed important buildings and burial areas that, sadly, had been destroyed during colonial times.
Pachacamac: Pyramids and Much More
The archaeological site of Pachacamac is divided into two clearly defined sectors. In both, you’ll find stepped adobe pyramids, one of the most distinctive features of Pachacamac—the deity worshipped and respected along the coast and in the Andes.
Religious Sector
Here you’ll see three truncated, stepped pyramids, along with the following temples: the Painted Temple, which housed the sacred chamber and entrance of the idol of Pachacamac; the Temple of the Sun (Punchao Cancha), located at the top of the sanctuary facing the sea; and the Old or Ancient Temple, a large platform built from millions of small adobe bricks (adobitos). This area also contains a pre-Hispanic cemetery.
Pyramid Sector
This part of the site dates from the late 14th to early 15th centuries. For many years, researchers and archaeologists believed this area of pyramids and open spaces served as a religious centre, offering rest and lodging for pilgrims from distant communities.
However, archaeologist Peter Eekhout has a different view. After studying and excavating the area with his team, he concluded that the structures lacked the typical features of religious centres of the time. He believes the area was a residential zone, reserved for the ruling elites.
In this space, you’ll be impressed by the secular stepped pyramids built with adobe blocks. You’ll also find ramps and open areas that functioned as plazas or canchas, as they were called before the Spanish conquest.
Pachacamac Museum
Established in 1965 as one of Peru’s first site museums, its modern design is inspired by pre-Hispanic architectural styles. Covering an area of approximately 1,000 m², its exhibition halls display “the cultural sequence of Pachacamac from around 200 AD to the Inca settlement in 1470,” as explained on the museum’s official website.
Thanks to its significance, the museum is referred to as the “gateway to the sanctuary,” as it preserves “the site’s most important archaeological finds,” including “the idol of Pachacamac and the ornamental textile doorway adorned with spondylus shells,” discovered in the Painted Temple by Alberto Giesecke.
Opening Hours and Admission Fees
From Tuesday to Saturday, the Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary welcomes visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ticket offices are open until 4:30 p.m.). On Sundays, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (ticket offices close at 3:30 p.m.).
Please note that on the first Sunday of each month, admission is free for Peruvian citizens and foreign residents with a valid DNI or residency card.
Below is a detailed chart of the current ticket prices at Pachacamac:
| Type of visitor | Price in Soles | Price in USD |
| Adults | 15 Soles | 5 USD |
| Universities and institutes students (with vigent carnet) | 5 Soles | 1.8 USD |
| Teachers, active military personnel, and adults over 65 years of age with an identity document | 7.50 Soles | 2.5 USD |
| Children under 12 years old, primary and secondary school students | 1 Sol | 0.40 USD |
The ticket includes:
- Access to the archaeological site.
- Access to the Pachacamac Site Museum.
The ticket does not include:
- Guided tour service (guides charge approximately 30 soles for 1.5 hours of service).
How to Get to the Pachacamac Ruins?
How to Reach Pachacamac?
The museum and sanctuary are located at kilometre 31.5 of the old Panamericana Sur (Lurín district, Metropolitan Lima). The easiest and safest way to visit this archaeological and cultural site is by joining a tour offered by local travel operators.
If you prefer to go on your own, the fastest—though not the cheapest—option is to request a ride using a ride-hailing app (for safety reasons). From the Historic Centre of Lima, the journey takes approximately 90 minutes. From Miraflores or Barranco, it will take around 45 minutes.
If you want to save money, though not time, you can use public transport. This option is recommended for locals or travellers already familiar with the bus systems in the Peruvian capital. If that’s your case, the following companies offer direct routes to Pachacamac:
- E.T. San José S.A. (purple and white) / Route 8504: San Bartolo–Breña.
- E.T. Royal Express (white with black letters) / Route 8508: Lima–Pucusana.
- E.T. GUSICSA (brown and orange) / Routes 8510/8511: San Miguel–San Bartolo.
Another option is to take the Metropolitano bus to the Matellini station in Chorrillos. From there, board the feeder line to Villa El Salvador (Route AS-04 – Platform 11) and get off at the Supro stop. Then cross the pedestrian bridge over the Panamericana, and at the bus stop near the Universidad Científica del Sur, hop on any of the routes mentioned above.
Despite the transfers and travel effort, your journey will be rewarded by the archaeological and cultural grandeur of Pachacamac.
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