Concepción: Monastery, Archaeology and Mirador

If you are planning a trip to Concepción, you can focus on different cultural and historical topics: a missionary monastery and its church, an archaeological site, a distinctive mirador, or the Huaconada de Mito. These topics offer different perspectives on history and cultural heritage. For your planning, it is helpful to distinguish between them and first decide whether architectural history, archaeological context or a single structure is of particular interest to you.

Santa Rosa de Ocopa Monastery: Route and History

The route from Concepción through Santa Rosa de Ocopa to the Santa Rosa de Ocopa Monastery is 5.5 kilometers long. It follows a paved road; the drive takes about twelve minutes by private car. This time is an estimate. As local road conditions may change, check them before setting out. This allows you to factor the specific route into your plans without equating it with the driving time to other destinations.

The monastery was built in 1725 as a missionary monastery for the evangelization and civilization of communities in the Peruvian rainforest. The Santa Rosa de Ocopa Church was built in 1730 from Piedra espuma. Its features include a gilded cedar coffered ceiling and magnificent Baroque-style altars. Those interested in church architecture will find several aspects to consider separately: the building material, the design of the ceiling and the altars. The monastery and the church represent different parts of the history of the place: the monastery’s missionary role and the church’s architectural design.

Coto Coto: Settlement and Storage Center

The archaeological site of Coto Coto covers a much longer period. It dates approximately from 1200 to 1534 AD and was a small settlement as well as a food storage center built by the Huanca. It was later also used by the Inca. The dating indicates an approximate period, not a single year of construction.

Coto Coto comprises 22 structures; about ten are circular and are in fair condition. The total number and the approximate number of circular structures describe two different aspects of the site. Together with its role as a settlement and storage center, this makes it an archaeological focus clearly distinct from the architectural history of the monastery and church.

Mirador and Cultural Heritage

The Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción de Piedra Parada Mirador is 29.90 meters tall overall. This total height includes the statue, pedestal and crown; the measurement therefore refers to the entire structure, not just the statue. Inside, a spiral staircase leads up to the crown. Height and staircase describe two different features: the dimensions of the mirador and its interior architecture.

The Huaconada de Mito was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This adds a distinct cultural point of interest to the archaeological and architectural topics. Its recognition as cultural heritage can be distinguished from information about structures and historical periods: here, the focus is on the declared cultural significance of the Huaconada de Mito.

Which focus suits your travel plans?

The dates help put the historical topics in context: 1725 and 1730 are the construction years for the monastery and church, while the dating of Coto Coto covers an approximate period spanning several centuries. The mirador, meanwhile, is described by its overall height and spiral staircase. If you are looking for a hotel in Concepción, you can first consider which of these focuses will shape your trip most.

Discover more destinations: Concepción, Huancayo, La Merced, Tarma, Provincia de Tarma, Satipo, Chanchamayo.

Go to the main travel overview: Junín.