Yura District: Terraced Farming and Volcanic Landscapes

Around Yura District, an extensive agricultural cultural landscape, architectural heritage, and distinctive water and volcanic features come together. The locations help with planning: the terraces, viewpoint, and waterfall are near Yura Viejo; the church and lime kilns are in La Calera; and Poza Zamácola is near the restaurants in Los Baños. When looking for a hotel in Yura District, you can consider the activities that interest you most during your stay.

Terraced Landscape and Its History

The agricultural terraces of Yura Viejo date back to pre-Inca times. They were built by the Wari culture and later expanded by the Cabana-Collagua ethnic group. The terraces reached their cultural heyday between 600 and 1200 AD. Residents of Yura Viejo still use them to grow wheat, corn, potatoes, garlic, onions, alverjón, oregano, and squash. Traditional tools such as the yunta (ox-drawn plow) and hoe are used.

The scale of the landscape is also distinctive: the terraces extend for more than twelve kilometers along the Río Yura, from La Calera to Yura Viejo. They are at least 1.50 meters high. The site’s long history and its continued agricultural use are equally part of its character.

La Calera: Church and Lime Kilns

La Calera is home to the Virgen del Rosario Church, built from pink sillar in 1896. Its construction date and building material give the site a different historical character from the much older terraces near Yura Viejo: here, the focus is a single structure, while there it is an extensive cultural landscape.

The lime kilns in La Calera are also notable features of the area. They are no longer in use and are considered remnants of republican-era architecture. Two lime kilns in La Calera are under municipal protection. Together with the church, they form a distinct point of interest for travelers interested in architectural history.

Viewpoints and Rock Landscapes near Yura Viejo

The natural Mirador de Coipata is on Coipata Hill on the left bank of the Río Yura, in Yura Viejo. From there, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the traditional village and its terraced cultural landscape. The viewpoint takes in both the village and its agricultural surroundings.

Catarata de Corontorio, also called Catarata de Capua, is about 40 meters high and enclosed between two rock walls. Both names refer to the same waterfall. The inactive Volcán Nicholson, also known as Cerro Negro, is another part of the area’s geological landscape. It rises to an elevation of 2,533 meters above sea level. The viewpoint, waterfall, and volcano offer different perspectives on the landscape: a view of the village and terraces, a cascade framed by rock walls, and an inactive volcanic cone.

Thermal Waters and Route Planning

The described thermal pools differ in their layout and water characteristics. Pozo Tigre, in the Complejo de Aguas Termales de Yura, comprises five small areas with alkaline sulfurous water. The water in Piscina Tadeo Haenke contains sulfur and is rich in iron, magnesium, and sodium.

Poza Zamácola is a pool near the restaurants in Los Baños. From the Hotel de Turistas, the route goes via Pozo El Tigre; the final walk takes about three minutes. Check current access conditions before your visit.

A trekking route runs from the Hotel de Turistas de Yura to Cañón de Corontorio and takes about two hours. The following section to Catarata de Corontorio is approximately one kilometer long and takes around 30 minutes. The times refer to two separate sections: the trekking route to the canyon and the walk from the canyon to the waterfall. If you plan to take the route, check current trail conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Yanque, Paucarpata, Coporaque, Cabanaconde, Camana, Pinchollo, Cerro Colorado District, Cotahuasi

For the overview of the wider region: Arequipa.