Atacama Giant

The Atacama Giant is a geoglyph in Huara showing a figure over 80 meters tall wearing a head covering and holding a staff on the slope of Cerro Unita. The design is made from piled stones and scraped ground surfaces that form clear outlines on the dry desert hillside.

Andean communities built this figure between 1000 and 1400 AD by piling stones and scraping the ground surface. The construction demonstrates the ability of these cultures to plan and execute large projects working together.

The figure represents an Andean traveler who moved through the region sharing knowledge about seeds, water management, and harvests with different communities. This representation was part of a system that connected highland settlements with smaller coastal groups.

The site sits on open desert ground and can be observed from a nearby road and raised vantage points. The figure appears clearer from a distance because you can take in the entire composition at once.

The figure remained unseen from ground level for centuries because piled stones gradually blended with the rocky surroundings. Only from the air did the full form and pattern become visible to modern observers.