Local Artisans and Pachacamac Tour
Lima, Peru
Trip Type: Full-day Tours
Duration: 7 hours 30 minutes
On this Pachacamac Tour, learn more about the fascinating pre-Inca and Inca history of Lima as well as present day Lima! The tour starts with a visit to the impressive archaeological complex of Pachacamac. In the afternoon, the tour goes off the beaten path on a visit of a local neighborhood known for its talented artisans and beautiful handicrafts. You'll share some stories and conversations while having lunch with a local artisan family and visit some of the workshops of the local artisans where they make their beautiful handicrafts.
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On this Pachacamac Tour, learn more about the fascinating pre-Inca and Inca history of Lima as well as present day Lima! The tour starts with a visit to the impressive archaeological complex of Pachacamac. In the afternoon, the tour goes off the beaten path on a visit of a local neighborhood known for its talented artisans and beautiful handicrafts. You'll share some stories and conversations while having lunch with a local artisan family and visit some of the workshops of the local artisans where they make their beautiful handicrafts.
We pick you up at 9:30am from your hotel in Miraflores and then travel 30 km south of Lima while seeing the landscape change from the beautiful views of the coast to the dry desert. We pass through sections of Lima you probably haven’t and won’t visit to arrive to the impressive archaeological complex of Pachacamac. In the afternoon, we go off the beaten path and visit a local neighborhood known for its talented artisans and beautiful handicrafts.
Pachacamac Tour
Pachacamac is the most important archaeological site in coastal Peru and consists of more than 20 pyramids. It was the main sanctuary of the Andean coast for more than 1500 years. Pilgrims from different areas came here asking for advice and omens to an idol that served as an oracle. Today, Pachacamac shelters more than 50 temples and buildings making it the largest archaeological complex in the city of Lima. Construction started about 200 A.D. and each succeeding culture added their own temples. The site grew to over 80 hectares or 200 acres. When finally the Incas arrived they built a huge Sun Temple as well as a house for young women who served as priestesses. This building is a well maintained, partially rebuilt large compound. On the Pachacamac tour, our guide will show us around temples from different pre-colonial civilizations and in the brand new Pachacamac museum, where we will discover the history and artifacts of the different cultures that used to occupy this sanctuary.
Authentic Peruvian Handicrafts - Visit to Artisans’ Workshops
After the Pachacamac tour, we head to a close-by local neighborhood that houses many artisans from Ayacucho who fled the violence of the Shining Path in the 80’s and 90’s by moving to the outskirts of Lima. We first have lunch with a charming local family in their house and share some life stories and conversations. In this neighborhood, local artisans continue to make the traditional handicrafts and artworks from Ayacucho. With a full stomach, we visit workshops where they make textiles, ceramics and other beautiful handicrafts. The artists will explain to us how everything is made, and maybe we can try out some of these techniques ourselves! In a place where the government is mostly absent, these people have built their own community and are developing the local economy with their art. You’ll leave this place very inspired!
You should be back in Miraflores around 4:30 - 5pm, depending on traffic.
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