Petorca: Rock Art, Andean Landscapes and Traditions

Petorca along a route through five municipalities

The Ruta Patrimonial Petorca: Paisajes de Leyenda comprises five sections. Each corresponds to one of the five municipalities in Petorca Province: Petorca, Cabildo, La Ligua, Papudo and Zapallar. The route thus provides a guide to different places and their respective highlights.

Whether travelling from the north or south, take Ruta 5 Norte to the turnoff at kilometre 155. Continue along E-35 to La Ligua, Cabildo and Petorca, or along E-39 to Papudo and Zapallar. If you plan to visit several municipalities, it helps to decide which places you want to see in advance and plan your route accordingly.

Rock art and architectural heritage

In Pedernal, a settlement in the municipality of Petorca, the El Arenal archaeological site features 54 petroglyphs. They are thought to date from approximately 2,000 to 500 BC. The motifs include human-like and geometric figures, animals and celestial elements, as well as depictions of hunting, fishing and livestock caravans. The variety of motifs gives the rock art a broad range of themes that can be appreciated even without prior archaeological knowledge.

In Hierro Viejo, Piedra Pintada is a rock outcrop featuring rock art and petroglyphs. Near Petorca’s Plaza de Armas, all that remains of an old colonial house is a lintel made of algarrobo wood, secured with leather straps. The Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes de Papudo was declared a Historic Monument on September 20, 1995. These places represent different forms of cultural heritage: rock art, a single surviving architectural feature and an officially designated monument.

The province’s cultural history also includes its industrial past. The narrow Las Palmas Tunnel was located on the border between the Región de Valparaíso and the Región de Coquimbo. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was a necessary passage for the Ferrocarril Longitudinal Norte railway.

Andean landscapes and birdlife

The Altos de Petorca y Alicahue priority conservation area covers 102,301 hectares in the mountainous zone of the municipalities of Petorca and Cabildo, within Petorca Province. It has a strongly Andean character and is shaped by transverse valleys. Around 80 bird species can be observed in the Pichicuy wetland, including the Snowy Plover (Chorlo Nevado). The number of species may vary by season. This brings together two distinct nature experiences: a mountainous Andean landscape and a wetland where birds can be observed.

Festivals and regional sweets

The sweets of La Ligua are considered part of Chile’s intangible cultural heritage. They are made in the town’s confectionery workshops using a nearly artisanal process. This tradition combines recognized heritage status with a specific way of making the sweets.

In Petorca, the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de La Merced is celebrated on the last Sunday in September and is considered part of Chilean cultural heritage. The celebration includes a flower carpet stretching for more than eight kilometres. If you plan to travel specifically for the festival, check the event date for your intended year. The Museo de La Ligua regularly holds workshops in pottery, arpilleras, painting and drawing. If you are interested in a particular workshop, check the current programme before your trip.

Hiking, cycling and surfing

Hierro Viejo has a circular route suitable for cycling and hiking. Hiking is also possible in the inland areas of Papudo. The waves at Salinas de Pullally are considered suitable for surfing. The activities are associated with specific locations: cycling and hiking on the Hierro Viejo circuit, hiking in Papudo’s inland areas and surfing at Salinas de Pullally. Before setting out on a specific hike or bike ride, it is advisable to check the current conditions.

Discover more destinations: Zapallar, La Ligua, Papudo, Los Andes Province, San Antonio, Quillota Province, San Felipe de Aconcagua, Valparaíso Province.

Return to the main travel overview: Valparaíso.