Unesco World Heritage Sites in Peru
Chan Chan
The Chimú Kingdom served Chan Chan as its capital before falling to the Incas. Chan Chan is the largest city in pre-Columbian America and is known for its nine ‘citadels’.
Chavín de Huantar
The archaeological site is one of the earliest and most well-known pre-Columbian sites. Chavín gave its name to the culture that developed between 1500 and 300 B.C. in this high valley of the Peruvian Andes.
Cusco City: Cuzco formed under the Inca ruler Pachacutec, into a complex urban center with distinct religious and administrative functions. Located in the Peruvian Andes, Cuzco was conveniently surrounded by areas for agricultural, artisan and industrial production. When the Spaniards conquered the city in the 16th century, they preserved the basic structure and built Baroque churches and palaces over the ruins of the Inca city.
Historic Centre of Lima: Until the earthquakes in the 18th century, Lima served as the capital for the Spanish in South America.
Historic Centre of the Arequipa City – The White City: Constructed in white volcanic rock, this site represents a combination of European and native building techniques and characteristics. This combination of influences is illustrated by the city’s walls, archways and vaults, courtyards and open spaces, and the intricate Baroque decoration of its facades.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu: One of the most iconic destinations internationally and a world wonder, Machu Picchu stands high above sea-level in the center of a tropical mountain forest and once served as home to the Inca Empire.
Huascarán National Park: Mount Huascarán is the world’s highest tropical mountain range. The deep ravines are watered by torrents, glacial lakes and a variety of the vegetation, making it a site of true natural beauty. It is the home of notable Peruvian species including the spectacled bear and the Andean condor.
Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca and Pampas de Jumana: These lines, which were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D., are among archaeology’s greatest enigmas owing to their quantity, nature, size and continuity. The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures.
Manu National Park: This massive park is known for its tiers of vegetation. The tropical forest in the lower tiers is home to an unrivalled variety of animal and plant species. More than 850 species of birds have been identified and rare species such as the giant otter and the giant armadillo also call Manu National Park home.
Qhapaq Ñan: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru share a common cultural heritage of outstanding value: the Qhapaq Ñan, or Main Andean Road. Qhapaq Ñan was the backbone of the Inca Empire’s political and economic power. The whole network of roads connected various production, administrative and ceremonial centers constructed more than 2,000 years before Inca Andean culture.
Rio Abiseo National Park: The park was created in 1983 to protect the fauna and flora of the rainforests that are characteristic of this region of the Andes. A research initiative in the park has uncovered 36 previously unknown archeological sites from pre-Inca society.
Sacred City of Caral: The 5000-year-old archaeological site of The Sacred City of Caral-Supe is situated on a dry desert terrace overlooking the green valley of the Supe river. The site dates back to the Late Archaic Period of the Central Andes and is the oldest center of civilization in the Americas. The city’s plan show clear evidence of ceremonial functions, signifying a powerful religious ideology among early settlers.
