Which one to choose in Lima
Two ancient sites in Lima. Huaca Mateo Salado has 2 tickets and tours to book; Huaca Pucllana has 21 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Lima, Peru
Huaca Mateo Salado is a group of five stepped pyramids of mud and rammed earth in the middle of Lima, between Cercado and Pueblo Libre. Built mainly by the Ychsma people from about AD 1100 and later used by the Inca, it is the largest pre-Hispanic complex in central Lima and a short taxi ride from the historic centre.
Lima, Peru
Huaca Pucllana is a great stepped pyramid of adobe in the middle of Miraflores, built by the Lima culture between about AD 200 and 700. Over 500 metres long and 22 metres high, it rises among apartment blocks a short walk from the cliffs, and guided visits show how its millions of hand-made bricks were stacked like books on a shelf.
| Huaca Mateo Salado | Huaca Pucllana | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ancient City | Pyramid |
| Civilisation | Andean | Andean |
| Height | — | 22 m |
| Entry | Small fee in soles; guided walk with site staff | Small fee including a compulsory guided tour |
| Hours | Daytime visits, roughly morning to late afternoon; check current hours with the Ministry of Culture | About 9 am to 5 pm; night visits on some evenings |
| Time needed | About an hour | About an hour |
| Booking | Pay at the gate; book a tour to pair it with Pucllana | Pay at the gate; tours leave regularly, no booking needed |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | 2 | 21 |
| Official website | — | yes |