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IN THE SANTA EULALIA RIVER VALLEY, LIMA, PERU
To reach Japani, travel to Lima, Peru, then east to Chosica (42 km), From there continue
north through the Santa Eulalia river valley until you reach Carampoma, at a distance of 95 km from Lima.
The road from Chosica to Carampoma is not for the faint of heart. It is an unpaved, narrow winding road which tests the skills
and desire for adventure of most people. If you want to avoid driving, take the bus from Chosica to Carampoma, a 3-hr ride.
In Carampoma, hire a guide to
take you to Japani, at a distance of about 8 km (to the base of the mountain). The uphill trek to Japani takes about 1.5 to 2 hr
through a narrow, precipice-lined foot path that winds around the mountain.
Once in Japani, the scenery is spectacular. The Japani ruins resemble the better known
Machu Picchu ruins, if not in size, certainly in age. The remnants comprise close to two-hundred rock-wall buildings that belonged to the community of Japani, which flourished in the
16th century A.D. A salient feature are two reservoirs, which were used to store water for irrigation.
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| View from Japani to the adjacent valley of the Rio Shunsha. |
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| Building near entrance to Japani. |
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| Building in Japani. |
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| Table for conducting assemblies in Japani main plaza. |
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| Building in Japani. |
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| Building in Japani. |
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| Building in Japani. |
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| Panoramic view at Japani. |
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| Building in Japani. |
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| Irrigation reservoir in Japani. |
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| Irrigation reservoir in Japani. |