The old town of Ate-Vitarte is located 14 kilometres East of the Historic Centre, in the lower part of the Valley of the Rímac River. It is a populated district that extends along the Central Highway, linking Lima with the regions of the Central and Eastern parts of the country.

An emerging textile industry was established in the zone by the late XIXth Century, which created in turn a proletarian group who settled in the Barrio Obrero (Working-class Neighbourhood). Since then, a particular characteristic was conferred to it as a political, cultural, sports and labour union centre for many decades.

Currently, its economy is not based upon manufacturing activities any longer, but on those of commerce and services. It is going through an accelerated increase of its population, showing annual growing rates of over 7% as a result of the people migrating from the Provinces, and due to the decentralisation of the Capital city as well.

Though it is true that this locality offers a chaotic and messy landscape, due to this fast population growth which has not have an organic urban planning, archaeological remains of vital importance are located within its limits.

ATTRACTIONS OF ATE VITARTE

THE "DEAD CITY" OF CAJAMARQUILLA

You go through a dirt road bound to the Zinc refinery of Cajamarquilla at the kilometre 15 of the Central Highway. The remains of an Archaeological site of Regional importance that had its peak between the VIth and VIIIth Century A.C. during the predominance of the Lima Culture in the Valley can be found here.

With a surface of 167 hectares, it is considered the second largest mud urban complex of the pre-Hispanic Andes, after Chan Chán, close to the Northern City of Trujillo.

Its importance as a political-urban centre was increased with the passing of the centuries and, by the year 1100 A.C. (Late Intermediate), it kept growing until acquiring its current size.

The place is built over a large layer of hardened fine mud (yapana), and it has five main pyramidal structures and six secondary ones. It is surrounded by large streets, plazas, cemeteries, and one story mud buildings with straight walls and corners, some of them dedicated to the process and storage of chicha (ancient beverage) and corn.

The group of ruins looks like an architectonic complex with the appearance of a big labyrinth.
It has been established that during the early construction phases the materials used where adobe, mud, and quincha, layers of flattened reed used as reinforcement within the mud. During the late phases, the walls of the edifices were built using the tapial technique, consisting on mud poured inside a mould. Trapezoidal sections were made, along with unfinished corners and thick mud plastering painted in natural earth colours.

Amongst the objects found stand out the funerary bundles with several wrapping layers of clothe, the trophy heads, the burials laid down on reed and wood stretchers, and the remains of human sacrifices.

THE PALACE OF PURUCHUCO

It was the Palace of a ruler who governed over a small territory on the left bank of the Rímac River, a little before and during the settling of the Incas in the Valley.

It is built with rectangular adobes and exhibits a quadrangular layout defined by a thick 60 centimetre wide and four metre high wall, as well as a series of rooms, patios and corridors coherently articulated inside it, some with a public character and some rather private.

Cemetery of Puruchuco

It is the second largest Cemetery, and the one with the highest number of burials during the same time period (1480-1535). It has been recognised worldwide for the over 2200 Inca mummies that were found therein.

These bundles were found in a foetal position, accompanied by diverse objects for personal use, ceramic offerings such as keros (a typical Inca vessel), and food like corn, potato, or alpaca meat.

This group of mummies which are currently being studied and analysed in Lima and Canada, has revealed the existence of singular characters such as the "King of Cotton", a noble Inca covered with layers of unprocessed cotton accompanied by a boy, and buried with pottery works, furs and corn.

"False Heads" is another funerary bundle containing various bodies in a foetal position. Its name is due to a fake head made of cotton showing on the outside.

Archaeological Museum

There is a Field Museum at the Ruins of Puruchuco. The objects found during the excavations are exhibited in the Main Room, and it offers visitors historic information duly related to the context.

There is a Temporary Room, and a Room of Metals exhibiting objects manufactured with gold and the tools that were used in their making.

There is also a representation of the way the burials were conducted, along with a collection of still photos, and a reproduction of the Palace of Puruchuco, which has been recreated to help the children understand history in a playful and amusing way.

Address: At the Neighbourhood of Túpac Amaru. Kilometre 7.5 of the Central Highway.
Tel: (01) 494-2641.
Visits: Mondays through Sundays from 08.30 a.m. to 04.30 p.m.

HUACHIPA

ECOLOGICAL AND RECREATIONAL CENTRE
OF HUACHIPA

The Ecological and Recreational Centre of Huachipa is a Zoo and Botanical Garden. It is a nice natural refuge that has become an important part of the effort towards the conservation of the environment.

Here you can appreciate endangered species in open spaces adequately maintained. It has diverse and large natural and recreational areas, including spaces destined to the animals, gardens, parks, lagoons, playgrounds, classrooms, workshops, a library and a restaurant.

It is a very attractive alternative to spend a day in contact with nature. And whilst they relax, visitors learn a little more about the diverse flora and fauna species that inhabit the Peruvian territory and the rest of the world.

Its collection includes 2000 specimens which correspond to more than 300 species.

There are impressive felines amongst the mammals, like the Jaguar, the Puma; along with the beautiful Spectacle Bear, the mischievous Sea Lions, the curious primates such as the White faced Capuchin, the black Spider Monkey, the Common Squirrel Monkey; the Tapir, the Red Deer; South American camel species like the Vicuńa and the Llama.

You can also watch wild birds of harmonic singing and showy colours. There is the famous Cock-of-the-Rocks, the huallata or Andean goose, the beautiful Scarlet macaw, and the likeable Humboldt Penguin, an endangered species.

Or peaceful fishes such as the Golden mullet, the Dorado and the Rainbow trout; the fearful reptiles such as the Spectacle Caiman, the Crocodile of Tumbes, boas and iguanas, and the funny biter, charapa and taricaya turtles.

The beauty of the park is enhanced by a great variety of native and exotic flora.

Amongst it most important species are the tara, huarango, tamarix and the carob tree from the coast; the molle, quinual, mutuy, lloque and mito from the sierra; cedar, mahogany ceibo, topa, ishpingo, the palm trees and the much desired orchids from the forest.

The Wood of the Birds

It is the home of the Peruvian bird species. It consists of a marvellous replica of the forest wherein botanic species brought in from the Amazon have thrived, favourably adapting to the weather of the Coast.

There are more than 370 plant species amongst ornamental, medicinal and fruit trees, that can be watched hiking through a path going over wood bridges and under splendid waterfalls, in the midst of the joyous din of the wild birds flying around.

It is nice to watch animal species such as Parrots and Macaws, torcasa pigeons, toucans, white herons, fishes and turtles living together as if they were in the proper forest.

Services

It has a parking area, restrooms, restaurants and a picnic area where to enjoy a nice lunch. Besides public telephones and a first aid dispensary.

There are playgrounds for the kids and an interesting Pirate Ship. A lagoon for boat rides and a Room Museum, permanently exhibiting ceramic samples of different cultures and diverse historic periods.

Avenida Las Torres unnumbered, beside the Huachipa Bridge, in Ate Vitarte, going through the Central Highway bound to the Central Sierra part of the Country.

Te: (511) 356-3666 / 365-3141
E-mail: administracion@zoohuachipa.com
Website: www.zoohuachipa.com.pe
Visits: Mondays through Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.