San Jerónimo District: Landscape and Chachapoya Culture

The landscape and rock art around Paclas are in the spotlight; San Jerónimo District is also home to an archaeological site connected to Chachapoya culture. Mirador Calvario Punta and Pollurua offer different points of interest, while the Zona Arqueológica Monumental San Jerónimo – Sarcófagos El Tigre adds a historical focus. When planning, you can distinguish between landscape views, rock paintings, and Chachapoya history.

Mirador Calvario Punta and the view across the valley

Mirador Calvario Punta is located near Paclas and is classified as a natural viewpoint. It stands at an elevation of 2,543 meters. From here, the view extends over the upper Utcubamba Valley, the northeastern ranges, and landscapes characterized by lush vegetation. The valley, mountain ranges, and vegetated landscape form the specific scenic focus of this viewpoint.

Two routes to the viewpoint

Two routes to the viewpoint are relevant, each with a different starting point. From Paclas’s main square, a 2.1 km road leads to the viewpoint; the drive takes about eight minutes by private car. A 1.5 km hiking trail, on the other hand, leads from the Paclas cemetery to the viewpoint; it takes approximately 20 minutes on foot. The figures therefore do not compare the same route using two different modes of transport: the starting point and mode of travel differ. For your day’s planning, consider both together rather than comparing only eight and twenty minutes. The driving time is an estimate, and road conditions can change; check them before making a specific trip.

Archaeology and Chachapoya culture

San Jerónimo District is home to the Zona Arqueológica Monumental San Jerónimo – Sarcófagos El Tigre, an archaeological site of Chachapoya culture. It was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation under Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 087-2017-VMPCIC-MC. Chachapoya culture flourished during the Late Intermediate Period, from 1100 to 1470 AD. These are two distinct points of reference: the period when the culture flourished and its 2017 declaration as Cultural Heritage.

Rock art in Pollurua

Pollurua is a rock shelter in the community of Paclas featuring geometric and anthropomorphic rock paintings. The site is considered a cultural expression of the community: earlier inhabitants used a rock face there to create several multicolored depictions. Anthropomorphic motifs are human-like; together with the geometric forms, they show different aspects of the artwork. Pollurua thus offers a different thematic focus from the archaeological site: here, the focus is on the rock face and its paintings, while there it is on the named connection to Chachapoya culture.

A calendar date to keep in mind

The patron saint festivities in the capital, Paclas, are celebrated on August 5. As a point of reference for your trip, this date differs from the archaeological themes: here, the calendar can set the focus, while those sites are about cultural history and rock art. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check in advance whether its exact date falls within your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Florida District, Lamud District, Longuita District, Bagua Grande, Nuevo Tingo.

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