Concepción: Monastery history and traces of the Huanca

Trip to the monastery and viewpoint

From Concepción, the route to the Santa Rosa de Ocopa Monastery passes through Santa Rosa de Ocopa. It is 5.5 kilometres long, follows a paved road and takes about 12 minutes by private car. If you’re planning a holiday rental in Concepción, this gives you a specific reference point if the monastery is among your travel interests: the stated journey time applies to this particular drive. Check local road conditions before setting off, as they can change.

The Mirador Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción de Piedra Parada is 29.90 metres tall in total, including the statue, pedestal and crown. Inside, a spiral staircase leads up to the statue’s crown. If you plan to climb it, check current visitor access beforehand. The height and staircase are two distinct features of the structure: one gives you a sense of its scale, while the other describes its interior layout.

Monastery, church and different eras

The Santa Rosa de Ocopa Monastery was built in 1725 as a missionary monastery for the evangelization and civilizing of communities in the Peruvian rainforest. Its history therefore goes beyond the construction of a building: its historical role included religious and social aims. For travellers interested in the history of the place, the year it was built provides a clear point of reference.

The Santa Rosa de Ocopa Church was built in 1730 from Piedra espuma. Its features include a gilded coffered ceiling made of cedar and magnificent Baroque-style altars. A coffered ceiling is divided into individual panels; the gilding, wood and altars make its design tangible for architecture enthusiasts, too. There are five years between the monastery’s and the church’s construction dates. This offers a brief chronological comparison without equating the different functions of the buildings.

Coto Coto and cultural heritage

The archaeological site of Coto Coto dates from approximately 1200 to 1534 AD. It was a small settlement and a food-storage centre built by the Huanca, which was later also used by the Inca. The site comprises 22 structures; about ten are circular and in moderate condition. Here, the period, former function and building form can be considered together: the approximate dating places the site in its historical context, while the numbers and shapes describe its structural features. For families, the combination of settlement and storage centre can prompt a conversation: What role did the centre serve for the Huanca?

Another cultural facet is the Huaconada de Mito, which has been declared part of the Nation’s Cultural Heritage. Together with the archaeological and architectural themes, it broadens the view of the different historical and cultural highlights you can take into account when planning.

If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Concepción, start by choosing a location based on your personal travel interests. The car journey described above gives you a specific planning reference for a visit to the monastery. For the other themes, you can choose activities based on whether you’re particularly interested in archaeological history, architecture or cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Concepción, La Merced, Satipo, Tarma, Provincia de Tarma, Chanchamayo, Huancayo.

Go to the main travel overview: Junín.