Maca Overview

V!VA User‘s Description

This little village, situated 23 kilometers west of Chivay, was very nearly destroyed by repeated eruptions of Sabancaya in the late 1980's, and then an earthquake in 2001. The village church, Santa Ana, was severely damaged, but continues to stand proudly today. The façade is decorated with miniature fasle pillars, carved flowers and a balcony once used by missionaries to preach to the indigenous peoples. A curious site awaits visitors just outside of town: the Choquetico Stone. Similar to Saywite Rock near Abancay, this stone is a carved scale model of nearly 10,000 hectares of Collagua terracing in Colca Canyon. Archeologists believe it may have been used in ancient rainmaking rituals. The surrounding hills are adorned with colcas, adobe stone granaries from which the canyon gets its name.