Maca and Pinchollo

printer iconPrintemail iconEmailfavorites iconSave to Favorites

Maca, 23 kilometers west of Chivay, was nearly destroyed by repeated eruptions of nearby Sabancaya Volcano in the late 1980s. Because it sits on a geological fault line, it is continually disturbed by earthquakes.

The village’s charming church, Santa Ana, is damaged but still standing. The facade is decorated with miniature false pillars, carved flowers, and a curious balcony that was used by missionaries to preach and present images to the natives.

On the way outside of town, the Choquetico Stone is a carved Collagua model of nearly 10,000 hectares of terracing in the Colca Canyon. This rock was perhaps used for prophetic or rainmaking rituals, perhaps in conjunction with chicha or llama blood. On the surrounding hills are ancient colcas, adobe-and-stone granaries for which the canyon is named.

The 17th-century San Sebastián church in Pinchollo, 27 kilometers west of Chivay, is another church worth visiting, with a baroque altar and a baptistry with elaborately painted entrance.

Buy Moon Travel Guides

Loading books
loading
For more Moon travel information, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for updates on new travel guide releases, travel tips and trip ideas for those seeking adventure or relaxation, and expert advice from our on-the-go Moon travel authors.

Find Activities>>

Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.