Kuntur Wasi & surrounding Andean scenery.
Kuntur Wasi, which means Condor House in Quechua, is located in Peru’s Northern Andes, 68 km (42 miles) from the city of Cajamarca.
It is an impressive archaeological site, set at 2,300 m (7,546 ft) above sea level on Cerro Copa (Copa Mountain), with lovely views over the surrounding farmland.
This location, in the headwaters of the Jequetepeque River, was strategic, as the Jequetepeque valley was a transportation corridor between the coastal region and the highlands.
Terraces & staircase at Kuntur Wasi.
As such, Kuntur Wasi combined the roles of political and religious centre, boasting a complex architecture and impressive stone sculptures.
Archaeologists reckon that the site was occupied from the year 1200 to 50 BC, with the main construction taking place between 1000 and 700 BC, during the Formative Period of Peruvian archaeology.
Carvings on Kuntur Wasi monolith.
Kuntur Wasi has four different terrace levels cut into the hillside, connected by a wide stone staircase.
At the top of the hill, there is a level area covering 13 hectares (32 acres), and featuring a sunken courtyard decorated with murals, which is believed to have been part of a temple.
Kuntur Wasi’s four famous stone monoliths are carved with feline and serpent designs, similar to those on the lanzon found at Chavin de Huantar in Ancash.
For this reason, it is assumed that the inhabitants had strong links with the Chavin culture.
Eight tombs have been uncovered at the site, containing intact burial objects, such as those found at Sipan, El Brujo and Sican.
Amongst the treasures that accompanied the bodies were gold decorative breastplates, crowns, earrings, dishes … and spondylus shells from Ecuador, and lapis lazuli from northern Chile, indicating trade with other cultures.
Gold earrings at Kuntur Wasi Site Museum (lent to British Museum for a 2021/22 exhibition).
Many of these objects can be seen at the site museum, located at the entrance of the complex. This was opened in 1994, to showcase the discoveries made by archaeologists from the University of Tokyo, and is now managed by the local community.
How to visit Kuntur Wasi:
Kuntur Wasi is near the small town of San Pablo, which is roughly a two-hour drive from Cajamarca. From here, you can either walk (3 km / 2 miles) to Kuntur Wasi or take a mototaxi.
If arriving from Trujillo or Chiclayo, you need to stop in the town of Chilete, from where it is about one hour by vehicle to San Pablo. Minibuses operate this route.
PeruNorth can arrange a day trip from Cajamarca, with transportation and expert guide, as an extension to our Chiclayo - Cajamarca itinerary, for example.
This excursion to Kuntur Wasi is included in our Cajamarca Cultural tour of either 4 or 5 days.