Visit Paracas

Paracas has been inhabited by people for at least 10,000 years. The Paracas History Museum has an excellent collection of artifacts and art works which span this time frame, from the early hunter gatherers, to the Paracas, Nazca, Wari, Chicha and finally Inca cultures.

Most of the pieces in the collection in the Paracas History Museum were found in the immediate vicinity of Parcas. Because so many different cultures are represented, it shows that this area has been a center of human life and creativity for thousands of years.

The first known residents were hunter gatherers who lived here at least 9,000 years ago.

The Paracas, with Elongated Skull royal family and priestly class, were the first sophisticated civilization to live here. They were farmers and fishermen, and lived in underground houses.

The Nazca, famous as the “line makers” came next; they inter-married with the Paracas for 300 years, and through this process the Cranial Elongation died out.

Following the Nazca, came the Wari; a well established culture from the highlands of Peru. The Wari were in fact responsible for constructions such as major parts of the massive road system attributed to the later Inca.

Next, the Chincha, who were sea farers of great renown. They traded at least as far north as Ecuador, bringing back gold, and the highly sought after Spondulous shell.

The last great native culture of the area were the Inca. The Paracas History Museum has one of the finest collections of Inca artifacts held in private hands, and open for you to come see and explore.