Andean Sanctuaries Museum, Arequipa – Peru

The frozen body of Juanita, a girl from Inca times found during an expedition to the Ampato Volcano, is the main attraction of this museum. The Andean Sanctuary Museum of the Catholic University of Santa Maria also has 5 rooms where ceramic, textile, organic and metal objects of the Inca culture are exhibited.

Between 1989 and 1996, thanks to the Southern Andean High Altitude Sanctuaries Project, 17 frozen bodies of children were found in different snow-capped mountains. With these remains, research could be carried out to learn about “La Capac Cocha”, an Inca ceremony that took place every 4 to 7 years.

This event consisted of sending a retinue to different “apus” of the 4 “suyos” so that when they reached the summit they would sacrifice a child as an offering to the gods. During their journey, the travelers were received with honors by the towns through which they passed.

Before climbing to the summit, they would set up camp in a nearby camp previously prepared for that purpose. Then only the offered child and a priest would go upstairs, who would give the child a hallucinogen to make him sleepy and then sacrifice him.

In the MUSA, in addition to seeing the frozen girl, you can see a video explaining the expeditions to the snow-capped mountains, as well as different objects found that were used in these trips.

What to see and do at the Andean Sanctuaries Museum?

Watch the video about the Capac Cocha. As soon as you enter the museum, you can see a 20-minute video documentary in the first room, with images and testimonies of the people who made this project.

Appreciate Inca handicrafts in ceramics and metals. One of the rooms is dedicated to the handcrafted objects that were produced in the Inca civilization, many of which were taken to the snow-capped mountains during the trips of the Capac Cocha and left there as offerings.

Observe the clothes they wore. In another part of the museum you can see capes, cloaks and woven attire that were also used during these ceremonies.

Enjoying works of art. In addition to objects of archaeological and historical value more than 500 years old, the MUSA has a space dedicated to temporary art exhibits.

How to get to the Andean Sanctuaries Museum?

The museum is located at 110 La Merced Street, only 200 meters away from Arequipa’s Main Square, so it is within walking distance from most of the tourist lodgings in downtown Arequipa.

Recommendations

Days and times. The museum can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. On Sundays it is open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is closed on December 25 and January 1.

Admission with ticket. General admission is 20 soles, while children and foreign students pay 10 soles and university students pay 3 soles. Children under 5 years old, senior citizens and the disabled are admitted free of charge. On the third Saturday of each month, admission is free for those born in the Arequipa region.

When to see Juanita? The Juanita mummy is exhibited from May to December. Between January and April Juanita enters a stage of conservation, so the museum exhibits in its space another girl found, named Sarita.

Guide service. It is not obligatory to pay for the museum guide service, but a tip is usually left at the end of the tour. You can also tour the rooms alone or bring your own guide.

It is not possible to take photographs. It is strictly forbidden to bring cameras into the museum. Before entering, cell phones and electronic devices must be placed in a locked box at the reception desk.

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