CHAVÍN

Distance	0 km.
Altitude	3100 m
Rating	Easy
Duration	1 day
Start	Huaraz
Finish	Huaraz

You can't leave the region without a visit to this 2,500 year-old fortress temple. It's the most fascinating archeological site in the north of Peru. The site is in good condition despite the effects of nature and time. UNESCO desginated Chavín a World Heritage Trust Site in 1985. It has some fine carvings and stonework.

Between 800 - 200 B.C. this culture developed a powerful religion which influenced large parts of Peru. Chavín culture had a strong impact on many pre-Inca civilization. A theory expounded by Julio C. Tello is that the cult initially came up into the Andes from the Amazon Basin via the Marañon valley. The main divinity of Chavín´s people was the Lanzon, this is characterized by harbor in their interior to a great stone carved in the form of a knife 4.53 metres tall. The Lanzon is located in the central part of a cross formed by passageways, and represents an anthropomorphic man with attributes of feline and serpent.

From Huaraz it is three hours by bus. We organize this daytrip for you.