La Centinela, Archaeological site in Chincha Province, Ica Department, Peru.

La Centinela is an archaeological complex in the Chincha Valley, about 8 km from Chincha Baja and 1 km from the Pacific Ocean. It comprises two large pyramid groups, La Centinela and Tambo de Mora, covering more than 75 hectares. The main pyramid, named for its height, was the palace of the Chincha curaca, with smaller pyramids around it and high, thick walls forming walled plazas separated by narrow passages.

The site was originally the capital of the Chincha kingdom before later becoming an important administrative center under Inca rule. This shift shows how the region experienced different centers of power and how control of the area changed hands over time.

The main buildings display geometric patterns painted in black and red on white walls, showing how skilled the ancient craftspeople were at their work. These painted surfaces give visitors a sense of how the spaces originally looked and how important decoration was to the people who lived here.

The site is relatively open and can be explored on foot, with sturdy shoes recommended due to uneven ground. The dry surroundings offer little shade, so sun protection is important when visiting the different structures spread across the area.

A network of straight roads radiates from the site and was discovered in 1958, indicating advanced urban planning by the ancient civilization that built here. These pathways connect different areas and suggest the settlement was part of a larger, carefully thought-out system.