San Francisco de Miculla Petroglyphs - Ruin Tacna - Peru

On the road heading to Bolivia are the San Francisco de Miculla Petroglyphs. The drawings show people of dancing, playing music, fighting and hunting animals. Other figures are animals, like guanaco, vicuña, lizards, serpents, fox and felines, native flora of the area and constellations. The carvings, which are of all different sizes, are done on the surface of red silica rocks, and cover 16 square kilometers (6 square miles). Many archaeologists attribute the petroglyphs to 500-1445 AD., and believe they were used in magical-religious rituals. Two hanging rope bridges allow access to different parts of the archaeological site. The site museum exhibits pottery and other artifacts.

Location:

22 kilometers/ 13.5 miles northeast of Tacna

Ruin Types:
Rock paintings

Getting There

Catch a minibus from Tacna Centro on 2 de Mayo ($0.70, 30 minutes). It will let you off at the roadside, from where it is still about a 20-30 minute hike to the site. Or, go by taxi ($5-7 one way, 30 minutes) and take a combi back into town.

Travel Tips:

It’s a good idea to bring snacks, as there is no place to buy food or water. It takes about a few hours to truly see the site, as the petroglyphs are quite dispersed.

Price Description:

Entry to the site is free; to the museum, $0.40.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Dawn

Open Hours to:Dusk

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring:

Take along water and snacks, as well as protection from the sun (hat, sun screen). If continuing to Calientes, also bring swim gear and a towel. Leave valuables in your hotel room.

Miculla can be combined with a trip to Calientes hot springs (about 30 minutes away walking).

Currencies accepted
Peruvian nuevo sol

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Updated: 18 Apr 2012