Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary

Pachacamac is the largest archaeological site within easy reach of Lima and one of the great pilgrimage centres of ancient Peru. It lies in the Lurín valley, about 40 kilometres south-east of the city centre, and was occupied for around 1,300 years, from about AD 200 until the arrival of the Spanish. Several cultures left their mark: the Lima culture influenced the Old Temple, the Wari rebuilt the city, the Ychsma put up most of the temples and buildings between about 800 and 1450, and the Inca took control around 1470.

The highlight is the Temple of the Sun, a trapezoidal stepped pyramid covering about 30,000 square metres dating from the period of Inca rule. The Painted Temple is where, in 1938, archaeologists found the wooden idol of Pachacamac, 2.34 metres tall, dated to between about 760 and 876 and once painted with cinnabar. Look out too for the Old Temple on its rocky outcrop and the Mamacones enclosure, linked to the women who served the sun in Inca times.

The visit starts at the site museum run by Peru's Ministry of Culture, whose permanent exhibition hall has a Braille guide. From there the archaeological circuit covers large distances on sand and dirt tracks, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water, as the museum itself advises. Free electric carts are available from Tuesday to Friday for older visitors and people with limited mobility; arrange them at the ticket office. A guided service of about an hour and a half can be booked on site, subject to availability. The Pilgrims' Route is temporarily closed for conservation work.

The sanctuary is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 09:00 to 17:00, and on Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00; ticket sales stop half an hour before closing, and Monday is not an opening day. Entry is free for Peruvian citizens and residents on the first Sunday of each month, so that day can be busy.

Pachacamac is a half-day trip from Miraflores or Barranco by taxi or with an organised tour. Allow two to three hours on site. It is an excellent complement to Huaca Pucllana if you want to see how pre-Inca Lima looked on a much larger scale.