Province of Tarma: Cultural Heritage and Rock Art
Accommodation in Province of Tarma
The Province of Tarma offers different points of interest to consider when planning your trip: religious cultural heritage in Muruhuay, rock art in Huaricolca and Palcamayo, and trails in the Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa. If you are looking for hotels in the Province of Tarma, choosing a theme in advance can help: would you mainly like to explore traditions, caves and rock art, or a marked trail?
Cultural Heritage and Pilgrimage Traditions in Muruhuay
The Festividad del Señor de Muruhuay is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This recognition is based on Resolución Viceministerial N.° 067-2017-VMPCIC-MC, dated April 21, 2017. Its main venue is the Santuario del Señor de Muruhuay in Muruhuay, Acobamba District. Every year, the sanctuary draws thousands of pilgrims. The Festividad combines Catholic rites with Andean cultural expressions, including the traditional Chonguinada dance.
The traditional origin story is also part of what makes the Santuario distinctive: according to the story, an image of a cross miraculously appeared on a natural rock on the slope of Cerro Shalacoto. In Muruhuay, an annual religious tradition and a local story about the sanctuary’s origins thus exist side by side. Each offers a different way to engage with the place: the Festividad through its rites and expressions, and the legend through the image of the cross associated with it.
Rock Art in Huaricolca and Palcamayo
The Santuario Rupestre de Pintish Machay is a rock art site at an altitude of 4,075 m in Huaricolca District. The Mincetur inventory entry dated April 21, 2025, describes two nearly adjacent rock shelters with rock art from the Andean Lithic period. The combination of two closely spaced shelters and depictions from this period makes Pintish Machay a distinct focus among the province’s cultural sites.
The Gruta de Huagapo in Palcamayo offers a different perspective on rock art. Its paintings depict animals and hunting scenes, dated approximately to between 10,000 and 6,000 BC. The Gruta is considered one of the deepest caves in South America. While Pintish Machay is characterized by its rock shelters and rock art from the Andean Lithic period, at Huagapo the focus is on the depicted subjects and their approximate dating.
Trails in the Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa
The more than 600-year-old Cedro El Abuelo is located in the visitor area of the Santuario Nacional Pampa Hermosa. The marked trail leading there is 2 km long and takes about two hours to walk. The distance and approximate duration are two useful details for planning how much time to set aside for the trail.
Reaching the visitor area also involves several stages: from San RamĂłn to Nueva Italia, it is 25 km by off-road vehicle; then there are 500 m on foot to Refugio El Abuelo and a further 2.5 km on foot to Pampa de los Cedros Centenarios. The description of these stages specifies both the vehicle journey and the two walks. This lets you consider access in terms of its stated sections, rather than equating it with the walking time for the marked trail to the tree.
Karst Cave and Local Folklore
Caverna de Mama Huari in Huaricolca District is a karst cave 10 m high and 14 m deep. The Mincetur inventory entry dated April 13, 2025, also links it to a local legend that refers to the history of Huaricolca and the processing of camelid fibers. At Mama Huari, a described rock formation and a local storytelling tradition thus come together. Unlike the rock shelters of Pintish Machay, the focus here is on the cave’s dimensions and the legend associated with it.
Cultural Connections in the Wider Destination of JunĂn
The wider destination of JunĂn also offers a regional cultural connection: HuayligĂa or HuaylegĂa in the provinces of Jauja and Tarma, in the Department of JunĂn, is recognized as Cultural Heritage of the Nation. The official declaration dates from 2024. This tradition broadens the perspective beyond the individual cultural sites of the Province of Tarma, with a connection that explicitly encompasses the two provinces of Jauja and Tarma.
Discover more destinations: Muruhuay, Chanchamayo, Tarma, La Merced, Satipo, ConcepciĂłn, Huancayo
Return to the overview of the wider destination: JunĂn.
