Sights and landmarks in Chavín de Huántar

Sights and landmarks in Chavín de Huántar

1. See

   Baños termales de Quercos

   Quercos thermal baths

   Sulfurous waters emerging from a rock formation. Pay at the ticket office, then descend a staircase towards the river.

   Open now · closes 5 pm

2. See

   Casa de Mama Rayhuana

   Mama Rayhuana house

   Perched on a mountainside, this ruined building is rather inaccessible but you can see it from the road to Nunupata. According to legend it was the residence of Mama Rayhuana, the "original mother", who created the flora and fauna of the valleys.

3. See

   Centro ceremonial Chavín de Huántar

   Chavín de Huántar archaeological site

   The remains of the administrative and religious center of the Chavín culture is the main attraction of the town and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List already in 1985. It sits at the confluence of the Huachecsa and Mosna rivers at the southern edge of modern Chavín de Huántar. Notable features are the squares; a large one, a rectangular and a circular one, as well as two kilometers of underground tunnels. Another highlight is the old temple (Templo Viejo) with the Gran Huaca, also known as the Lanzón Monolítico, a carved pillar which is a representation of a Chavín deity and still in its original place.

   Open Tue-Sun 09:00-16:00·Entrance fee S/10, students S/5

4. See

   Cueva de Yurac Machay

   Yurac Machay cave

   Yurac Machay means "white cave" and named so as it's in white volcanic tuff. In Yurac Macay there's a monolith similar to the one in the temple in Chavín. There's another cave nearby, the Cachi Machay.

5. See

   Mirador de Shallapa

   Shallapa viewpoint

   The trail to the Shallapa viewpoint is a bridle path, continuing to the Pójoc archaeological site and the town of Putcor. The hike will take 30-60 minutes uphill and from the viewpoint you can see the town and the Chavín site. Below it there's a small cave named Chico Patac.

   free

6. See

   Muro megalítico

   Megalithic wall

   A wall with carvings, created around 800 BCE. At the beginning of the Túpac Amaru there's a stone carved into the shape of a snake's head. Archaeologists are not sure whether this is the northern wall of the ceremonial complex or the southern wall of another (now obliterated) place of worship.

   free

7. See

   Museo nacional de Chavín

   Chavín national museum

   The national Chavín museum was opened in 2008 and displays artifacts from the Chavín culture. Exhibits include the Tello obelisk, carved conch trumpets (pututos) and carved stone statues and heads.

8. See

   Plaza de Armas

   The central square is lined by the cathedral, town hall, shops, cafés and other businesses. It has a fountain in the middle, benches and colorful flowers and trees.

9. See

   Sitio arqueológico de Pójoc

   Pójoc archaeological site

   The other archaeological site in the region, also serving as a ritual site, and with views to Mount Huantsán and the main Chavín site. Stone sculptures of the Chavín culture were found here during excavations led by archaeologist Richard L. Burger.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chavín de Huántar (CC BY-SA 4.0).