San Andres offers two distinct points of interest for planning your trip: the Huancas archaeological site in the district of the same name and Catarata “El Pilco” in the surrounding area. Huancas, with its pottery finds and varied architectural forms, offers a cultural point of interest; at the waterfall, three consecutive sections of the route shape the time needed. When looking for a hotel in San Andres, it helps to weigh these interests separately: one is the archaeological site, the other the route from Sócota. This lets you treat cultural interest and the longer route to the waterfall as separate priorities for your stay.
Huancas: Finds and architectural forms
The Huancas archaeological site, sectors A and B, is located in the district of Querocotillo, in the province of Cutervo, in the department of Cajamarca. Pottery fragments of domestic manufacture were found at the archaeological monument; use by the Cajamarca culture is considered likely. The cultural connection is therefore expressed cautiously: it indicates a probable attribution, not a certainty. The architecture includes simple structures made of unworked stones joined with mortar, as well as rectangular and square structures of various sizes. Their walls are low and vary in width. Three features can be considered separately: the unworked stones set in mortar, the two floor-plan shapes, and the differences in size and wall width. This is not a single, uniform architectural form, but a site with several structural variations. The pottery finds and architecture provide two different kinds of evidence about the archaeological site.
A road near Huancas
A 2022 cultural heritage inspection described an existing road that crosses the central area of the archaeological site and connects Techin with El Molino. If you are considering traveling along this road, check its current condition beforehand.
Access to Catarata “El Pilco”
The route to Catarata “El Pilco” first follows a paved road from SĂłcota toward MochadĂn for about 45 minutes. This is followed by about 45 minutes on an unpaved road to its end, then an approximately 45-minute walk to the waterfall. Together, the three stages take about two hours and 15 minutes, although this total covers only the sections described. About 90 minutes are spent on the two road sections and about 45 minutes walking. Walking is therefore only part of the overall route; the road sections also need to be factored into your plans. Current route conditions may differ, so check the condition of the route before setting out.
Fitting the excursions into your stay
The two interests shape different aspects of your day’s plans: at Huancas, finds and architectural forms define the cultural focus; at El Pilco, the focus is on the sequence of a paved road, an unpaved section, and a footpath. If you would like to include both in one stay, plan the time needed for each separately and check transport connections for your specific dates separately.
Discover more destinations: Namora, Santo Tomas, San Agustin, Baños del Inca, Huarango, San Juan, Chontabamba, Magdalena.
For the main travel overview: Cajamarca.
