Huaca Pucllana and La Tarumba’s Hechicero

South America » Peru » Lima
August 29th 2009

Published: August 29th 2009

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At Huaca Pucllana

The three of us were feeling a lot better on Friday morning (08/21/09) but, still, we decided to take it easy. We putzed around the condo, grazing (yes, we finally had gotten some food) and watching TV, just like normal people do when they are ON VACATION. I gotta remember that.

Around 2pm we headed over to Huaca Pucllana (Huaca means Sacred Place in Quechua, the language of the Incas), located in Miraflores. Huaca Pucllana was built by the Lima Culture around 600AD. It was built using adobe bricks, made of a mix of mud, clay, pebbles, and seashells. The architecture shows the use of the trapezoid technique to ensure the stability of the structure (the area is prone to earthquakes). The walls are between 1 and 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) thick, not hollow. Archeologists estimate that the entire complex occupied 18-20 hectares (about 44-50 acres) but most of it has been lost to modern construction, as the structure sits within modern Lima and it was not protected until recently. The current structure occupies about 6 hectares and excavations and restorations are still taking place. Huaca Pucllana functioned as a religious, ceremonial, and administrative center and the members

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of the Lima Culture (or civilization/group) practiced various rituals: Human sacrifices to appease the gods, breaking pottery when starting new constructions, and banquets/food offerings.

We were planning to have a meal at the on-site restaurant, as it had been recommended by several people, but the kitchen had closed for lunch and it would reopen at 7pm for dinner (people eat late here). So we took a taxi back to Centro de Miraflores to eat at Rincon Chami on Calle Esperanza, which I had visited last time I had been to Lima. The food’s really good there. Ben and I split a Cebiche; Cathy had Tallarines verdes (spaghetti in pesto sauce). Ben also had a Lomo a lo pobre and I had the Piqueo (a sampler with Paptita con Mani, Cau-cau, Carapulcra, and Aji de gallina). To drink, Cathy had Inca Kola and Ben and I shared a pitcher of Sangria—it was strong!

After dinner, we headed to see the show “Hechicero” (Wizard) presented by La Tarumba, a Peruvian circus troupe that combines acrobatics, storytelling, and humor performed with Peruvian dance, music, and costumes. Very good show—fun and entertaining. No pictures are allowed, though. If you’re in town, see

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if you can get tickets to one of their shows. This one runs through the end of the year. I recommend it.

After the show we headed back home. A full day of activities awaited us on Saturday!

Additional photos below

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