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Archaeological site · Lima, Lima Metropolitana
Huaca Pucllana
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture, built between the 3rd and 7th centuries, in the middle of a block in Miraflores. The guided tour climbs the platforms and goes through a small site museum.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Huaca Pucllana
Huaca Pucllana is a large adobe ceremonial center built by the Lima culture between 200 and 700 AD, in what is today the Miraflores neighborhood. The main pyramid has seven stepped platforms and reaches about 22 meters in height, surrounded by courtyards and walls that occupy several blocks. The neighborhood buildings are built up against the site's walls, and the contrast is part of the visit.
The construction uses a technique called "librero": small adobe bricks placed on end, side by side, like books on a shelf, with gaps between them. The technique helped the structure withstand earthquakes. Archaeologists have found offerings, textiles and burials of the Wari culture, which occupied the huaca later.
The visit is guided and follows the ramps and platforms, with explanations about the ceremonial use of the place and about the excavations, which continue. The route passes a small site museum, with pottery and textiles found there, and an area with plants and animals of the Peruvian coast, such as cuy, llama and alpaca.
At night the pyramid is lit, and the restaurant next to the site has a view of the platforms. Guided tours have specific schedules and the site usually closes one day a week: check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour for the guided visit.
Best time
In the morning or afternoon, at the times of the guided tours. There are night tours on some days, with the pyramid illuminated. The site usually closes one day a week: check before you go.
How to get there
It is in Miraflores, about 2 km from Parque Kennedy and the Malecón. You can walk from neighborhood hotels, take an app taxi in a few minutes or a bus along Avenida Arequipa.
Tip
Do the visit in the late afternoon and stay to see the pyramid illuminated. Notice the pattern of the adobe bricks placed upright, like books, on the walls near the entrance.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Huaca Pucllana
Who built the Huaca Pucllana?
The Lima culture, which occupied the central coast of Peru between the years 200 and 700. Later, the Wari culture used the place as a cemetery.
Can you visit without a guide?
No. The visit is always guided, in groups that depart throughout the day, in Spanish and in English.
Why are the adobe bricks placed upright?
It's the bookshelf technique: the bricks are placed side by side like books on a shelf. This arrangement helped the structure resist earthquakes.