Huanuco Pampa Monumental Archaeological Zone

Also known as Huánuco Marka or Huánuco Viejo. This place was an Inca administrative center, as well as an important center for the production of high-quality fabrics. Its construction would have begun in 1460 and interrupted in 1539 due to the arrival of the Spanish. Highlights include the Ushno, the Inca Wasi, the Inca Bath, the Palace of the Three Doors and the unfinished Temple. It is located 149 km west of the city of Huánuco (4 hours 30 minutes by car). Visits: Tue-Th-Sun 10:00 – 15:00 h

Description

The place is also known by the names of Huánuco Marca and Huánuco Viejo. It is an architectural legacy from the late Inca phase, considered the most important in the region, whose construction according to studies began around 1,460 AD. but it was interrupted in 1536 by the Spanish conquest. Research indicates that this complex was conceived as an administrative center, as well as a center producing fine quality textiles. In the Huánuco Pampa complex, the presence of a Kancha or plaza in front of an Ushno or ceremonial wall stands out. According to archaeological investigations, the presence of these two spaces had the purpose of recognizing Inca power in the dominated provinces.

This duality also made these places key points where different ceremonies and festivities were held through which the Incas ensured the loyalty and tributary support of the dominated peoples. The Ushno found at this site has a rectangular base and its height exceeds three meters. Here you can see the presence of stairs that are directed towards the top of the wall. As links between this construction and the square, there are some trapezoidal-shaped doorways, in which some images of felines can be seen. Also notable in Huánuco Pampa is the presence of kallancas or enclosures intended for administrative work; as well as the presence of colcas or deposits in which foods such as corn and various tubers, as well as some goods, were stored. The colcas found in this archaeological site have a circular and rectangular shape.

In July 2016, Huánuco Pampa was the scene of the celebration of the second anniversary of the Qhapaq Ñan as world heritage, an event that revalued the work carried out by the population in the preservation and conservation of cultural expressions and ancestral traditions associated with the Inca Trail. It has also been the scene, for 20 years, of the celebration of the emblematic Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun in the Huánuco region. Huánuco Pampa is open to the public from April to October, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

Tourism in Huánuco Pampa Archaeological Site

It is a late Inca legacy - the most important in the region - whose construction began in 1460 and was interrupted in 1536 due to the Hispanic invasion of Inca lands and which would have had the purpose of being an administrative center as well as a town. producer of fine quality textiles. As for what makes up the complex, we can find in Huánuco Pampa the presence of a Kancha in front of an Ushnu. According to the investigations of Morris and Thompson, the presence of this duo had a purpose, and this was to support Inca power in the dominated provinces; This duality also made these places key points where different ceremonies and festivities were held through which the Incas ensured the loyalty and tributary support of the dominated peoples.

The Ushnu that we found at this site has a rectangular base and occupies an area of 1,536 m2 and has walls that reach a height of more than three meters. In this we can observe the presence of stairs that are directed towards the upper part of it. As connectors between this construction and the square we can see some trapezoidal doorways, in which some feline motifs can be seen. At an architectural level we can find in Huánuco Pampa the presence of the so-called kallancas, which were large enclosures intended for state purposes; The presence of colcas is also considerable, which were deposits in which foods such as corn and tubers, as well as some goods, were stored. The colcas found in this Archaeological Site are of two shapes: circular and rectangular and Huánuco Pampa includes at least 500 of them.

In order for the visitor to access this Huanuco Archaeological Site, they must first go from the city of Huánuco to the district of La Unión, on a bus tour that will take about 3 hours. Subsequently, in La Unión, another vehicle must be taken to take the tourist to Huánuco Pampa itself. This nine-minute journey takes 40 minutes for a distance of 7 kilometers. In order to enter to observe the Inca architectural remains, it is necessary to pay for a ticket whose cost is s/3.50 for adults, s/1.50 for children and s/1.00 for schoolchildren. This is open to the public during the months of April to October from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

Best Trekking and Tours in Peru

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Peru, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.

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