Museo Litico Pukara
Museo Litico Pukara
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
89 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
27
Average
43
Poor
6
Terrible
0
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ7,159 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Our last stop on the Bus Tour from Cuzco to Puno was at the place. The town’s name Pukara derives from “Puka” which means “Red” since the rocks on the mountain glow red at sunset, and “Kara” which means “Red Fortress” that was built at the base of the mountain in the shape of a Puma.
The Museum is very small and contains only three or four rooms of Pre-Inca artifacts. The unique archaeological pieces carved out of stone were interesting – considering they were crafted from 400 BC to 800 AD, when the tools used were extremely primitive. The shelves were filled pottery, ceramic Pukara Bulls that are supposed to ward off evil, and a large stone carving of Tatun Nak’aq (The Decapitator). There is also a room showing that the Inca mummified their deceased, and placed them in a fetal position so as to help reincarnation. Very interesting…!
This Museum is a nice place for people interested in History and Archaeology. We were done looking at everything in 20 minutes, then walked over to the Coffee Shop and Souvenir Store – where we had a nice cup of coffee and bought a few gifts and souvenirs.
The Bathrooms are relatively clean, and we were just glad to be able to get out and stretch our legs after that long bus ride.
Worth a visit if you have the time.
The Museum is very small and contains only three or four rooms of Pre-Inca artifacts. The unique archaeological pieces carved out of stone were interesting – considering they were crafted from 400 BC to 800 AD, when the tools used were extremely primitive. The shelves were filled pottery, ceramic Pukara Bulls that are supposed to ward off evil, and a large stone carving of Tatun Nak’aq (The Decapitator). There is also a room showing that the Inca mummified their deceased, and placed them in a fetal position so as to help reincarnation. Very interesting…!
This Museum is a nice place for people interested in History and Archaeology. We were done looking at everything in 20 minutes, then walked over to the Coffee Shop and Souvenir Store – where we had a nice cup of coffee and bought a few gifts and souvenirs.
The Bathrooms are relatively clean, and we were just glad to be able to get out and stretch our legs after that long bus ride.
Worth a visit if you have the time.
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skeney57
Sydney, Australia24,416 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
A small but interesting museum that showcases local artifacts found at the site and in the nearby town. Plus, they display stone sculptures, pottery, weavings and displays of local artisans. It was good to see and provided a welcome break from the long haul from Cusco to Puna.
Written June 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,357 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Pukara is a term that can mislead.
In fact it's a word of the Quechua language which means "fortress". As such, this name can be found in all the areas once occupied by the immense Inca empire, from Ecuador up to Northern Argentina and Chile.
But Pukara is also the name of the village where this small but interesting museum is located, and which, being considered the most important center of a pre-Inca culture, has given its name to such culture; which flourished roughly between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AC, affecting the northwestern area of Lake Titicaca.
In the museum there are very important documents of this culture. Among the outstanding ones are the following.
The "Rain stele", monolith with a jaguar head and fish body.
The Hatun Ñakaj ("head cutter") monolith, representing a sitting man holding a human head with his right hand, with a weapon on his left, having also a headdress with three pumas heads on his head.
The so-called monolith "of the Devourer", depicting a naked person who devours a child.
Other stems are on display in the courtyard.
These truculent works are accompanied by more gentle objects of domestic use, such as trays, plates, jars, fabrics and other items.
Overall, this museum (along with many other museums in Peru, and especially in Lima), helps to navigate in the maze of pre-Inca cultures
In fact it's a word of the Quechua language which means "fortress". As such, this name can be found in all the areas once occupied by the immense Inca empire, from Ecuador up to Northern Argentina and Chile.
But Pukara is also the name of the village where this small but interesting museum is located, and which, being considered the most important center of a pre-Inca culture, has given its name to such culture; which flourished roughly between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AC, affecting the northwestern area of Lake Titicaca.
In the museum there are very important documents of this culture. Among the outstanding ones are the following.
The "Rain stele", monolith with a jaguar head and fish body.
The Hatun Ñakaj ("head cutter") monolith, representing a sitting man holding a human head with his right hand, with a weapon on his left, having also a headdress with three pumas heads on his head.
The so-called monolith "of the Devourer", depicting a naked person who devours a child.
Other stems are on display in the courtyard.
These truculent works are accompanied by more gentle objects of domestic use, such as trays, plates, jars, fabrics and other items.
Overall, this museum (along with many other museums in Peru, and especially in Lima), helps to navigate in the maze of pre-Inca cultures
Written October 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kanan A
Australia8,678 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
The amazing thing about this museum is that everything here was found nearby in the village just under the big colored rock (see my photos). We drove past it in the bus... it's a stunning rock formation with strong color and shape. The ancients must have thought so too.
The museum houses some very precious pre inka stone carvings. If this interests you it's definitely worth a visit. If you are travelling from Puno to Cuzco, take the Tourismo bus and it will stop at the museum for about 40 minutes. There are bathroom facilities at the museum, and you can purchase snacks and water in a shop nearby.
The museum houses some very precious pre inka stone carvings. If this interests you it's definitely worth a visit. If you are travelling from Puno to Cuzco, take the Tourismo bus and it will stop at the museum for about 40 minutes. There are bathroom facilities at the museum, and you can purchase snacks and water in a shop nearby.
Written February 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TraceyMH
Toronto, Canada466 contributions
Sept 2019
This museum is located close to the main square. It has some fascinating pieces recovered from the PUKARA site. It is quite modest but well set up. We really liked that the local school children were there learning about their history. It’s quite small but worth spending 20-30 minutes to se the artifacts
Written October 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jackiealfred
Gibsons, Canada130 contributions
May 2019
The Museo Litico Pukara is a very small but interesting museum if you are interested in Archaeology and the ancient cultures that lived there. There are a lot of objects to be seen here but I think to make this trip interesting one must have a good guide. Our guide Max from Cusela bus tours was excellent and knowledgeable. One of the most impressive things for me was the Chakana carved in stone( seven levels Andean Cross) the ornament of sacred places.Outside the museum there is a church and market. (would have liked to share a photograph.)
Written July 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olivier_Le_H
Reims, France733 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
This small museum gives you some information about the nearby pre-Inca site. Inside you'll find some sculpted monoliths, some potteries and some explanation panels.
Entrance is 10 soles, takes about 20 minutes.
Entrance is 10 soles, takes about 20 minutes.
Written March 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jcamilo70
225 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
A fine collection of Stone sculptures and clay pieces you can gaze at while walking around and stretching your legs just before the final push to Puno.
Written February 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RenayTn
Brossard, Canada51 contributions
Jul 2019
Cool little museum with some impressive stories about the power held by certain shaman/ high priest. This is the only museum where I learned about how strong and deadly a certain shaman really was. Is it mythology or truth?
You will have to visit to find out.
You will have to visit to find out.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Violetvz
East London, South Africa712 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
This museum has so many exciting pieces from the history and of course the Toritos - little bulls - can be found in all sizes and colours
Written May 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trail546286
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Hi, I believe there is a painting hanging in the museum of an older woman. Who is the artist?
Written September 4, 2018
Hi, nice pictures. I think if you blow them up enough you will see the NO PHOTOGRAPHY sign.
Written May 1, 2016
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