Huaca La Merced, Pre-Columbian archaeological site in Surquillo, Lima, Peru.
Huaca La Merced is a pyramidal structure in Lima built from stacked earth blocks and stone walls, with interconnected passages running through its interior. The complex rises in ascending terraces and includes multiple rooms and open spaces arranged for residential and administrative use.
The Ychsma civilization built this site during the Late Intermediate Period as an administrative center to oversee irrigation management. Its location along a major water source made it a key point for controlling agriculture and regional trade networks.
The burial grounds here reveal how pre-Hispanic people honored their dead through carefully placed ceramic vessels and plant offerings. These practices show what mattered most to the ancient communities who lived in this area.
The site is managed by local authorities and the Ministry of Culture, making it accessible to visitors with basic services. Wear comfortable footwear as you navigate the different levels and terraces of the structure.
The walls feature a trapezoidal shape built from mixed mud blocks connected by ramps, showing how the Ychsma people solved construction challenges. These ramp systems allowed workers to move heavy materials and goods through the multiple levels efficiently.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
