Discover Huanuco: History and Culture

Huanuco invites you to discover history and culture through specific places: independence was proclaimed at Plaza de Armas in 1820, museums showcase archaeological exhibitions, and churches reflect the city’s religious history. The different themes give your trip a clear focus—whether you are particularly interested in historical events, archaeological finds or sacred art.

Plaza de Armas: a place with historical and contemporary significance

Plaza de Armas de Huánuco is a central historic site. It was founded after the arrival of the Spanish and later acquired special significance in the history of independence: on 15 December 1820, independence was officially proclaimed here. Nicolás Herrera led the ceremony as a delegate of the Liberation Army. The date and setting make the Plaza a tangible point of reference for Huánuco’s history.

The square is also an important venue for cultural, religious and social activities. These promote local culture, traditional cuisine and the sale of handicrafts. The Plaza is therefore associated with both a specific historical episode and aspects of cultural and social life. If you are interested in the history of independence, you can include this place in your travel plans and also experience its role as an important city square.

Archaeological finds and exhibitions

The Museo Regional Leoncio Prado Gutierrez is located in the house where the Huanuco-born hero Leoncio Prado Gutierrez was born. One exhibition room is dedicated to Kotosh and Shillacoto. It displays the first replica of the two crossed hands discovered by the excavation team from the University of Tokyo. A visit to the museum thus brings together the story of a figure from Huánuco and an archaeological exhibition.

Another exhibition hall in the vicinity of the destination is part of the Kotosh Monumental Archaeological Zone. It displays replicas of ceramic vessels, a model of Kotosh architecture and a reconstruction of the Temple of the Crossed Hands. The exhibitions have different focuses: the museum features Kotosh and Shillacoto, as well as the replica of the crossed hands in its exhibition room; the archaeological zone’s hall also displays vessels, an architectural model and the temple reconstruction. Those who want to focus on archaeological topics will find several specific exhibition highlights to help plan their trip.

Churches and religious history

The present-day Catedral de Huánuco was built after the previous church was demolished, with construction beginning in 1965 and completed in 1981. It is an important centre for worship and pilgrimage. The cathedral houses the sculpture Señor de Burgos, attributed to the Spanish sculptor Juan Martínez Montañés. It was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation by Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 235-2017-VMPCIC-MC. The cathedral therefore brings together religious significance and a specifically designated cultural heritage site.

The Iglesia San Francisco offers another historical landmark: Franciscan monks founded it in 1560, and it formed part of the San Bernardino monastery complex. Together with the present-day cathedral, built later, it illustrates different stages in Huánuco’s religious architectural history. When making your choice, you can focus on the cathedral and its Señor de Burgos sculpture, or on the founding history of the Iglesia San Francisco.

Planning your stay

For a specific walking route, Plaza de Armas is the reference point for Puente Calicanto: from there, the bridge is accessible via a paved route of 550 metres, or about seven minutes on foot. The approximate walking time and distance help you factor this route into your daily plans. The figures refer to the route between the Plaza and Puente Calicanto.

When looking for a holiday rental in Huanuco, you can first consider which of these cultural aspects you want your trip to focus on: the history of the Plaza, archaeological exhibitions, or religious architecture and art. This way, your choice of destination can reflect the experiences in Huánuco that interest you most.

For the main travel overview: Huánuco.