Yungay and Campo Santo:
Memory of a Tragedy in the Heart of the Andes

The Campo Santo of Yungay is a commemorative site located in the province of Yungay, in the Áncash region of Peru. It lies about 1.5 km south of the current town, on the road leading to Huaraz, at an altitude of around 2,458 metres.

The site occupies the location of the old town of Yungay, buried on 31 May 1970 by an earthquake and an avalanche coming from the Huascarán mountain. Today, the Campo Santo is at once a cemetery, a memorial site and a tourist attraction that welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

On the highest part of the site stands the statue of Christ the Redeemer, with arms open towards Huascarán. Around it, gardens, commemorative crosses, family plaques and footpaths allow visitors to walk through the site in respect and quiet reflection.

On 31 May 1970 at 3:23 pm, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck the Áncash region. The epicentre was located off the coast of Chimbote, in the Pacific Ocean. The tremor was felt all along the coast and across the sierra of the department.

Under the effect of the earthquake, a huge block of ice and rock broke off the north face of Huascarán. A torrent of mud, ice and stones then rushed down at an estimated speed of 250 to 300 km/h, sweeping away everything in its path.

A town buried in a matter of minutes

The old town of Yungay, then one of the most prosperous in the Callejón de Huaylas, was completely covered in a matter of moments. It is estimated that between 18,000 and 20,000 people lost their lives there. Across the region, the earthquake and the related mudflows (including the one at Ranrahirca) caused the deaths of 70,000 to 80,000 people.

A turning point in Peru's risk management

The 1970 disaster marked a turning point in Peruvian public policy. In 1972, the State created a body responsible for coordinating emergency responses: the Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil, known today as INDECI.

The Campo Santo is explored like an open-air museum. The preserved remains tell the story of both the life of the old city and the violence of the disaster that buried it. The visit follows marked footpaths, in a peaceful setting facing Huascarán.

Remains of the Old Town

Several elements of the old Yungay have been uncovered or preserved. Visitors can notably observe:

• The four palm trees of the old Plaza de Armas, only one of which is still alive today.
• The ruins of the Santo Domingo de Guzmán church, of which fragments of walls remain.
• The mausoleum erected in tribute to the victims of 31 May 1970, shaped like a truncated column covered with a veil and encircled by a floral crown.
• The remains of the town's fuel tank.
• The remains of the Expreso Áncash transport company, one of whose vehicles was parked near the square on the day of the tragedy.
• The viewpoint, a replica of the façade of the old church, located about a hundred metres away.

The Cemetery and the Cerro Huansakuy

The cemetery of the old town occupied a pre-Inca artificial hill called cerro Huansakuy. Conical in shape, it partially withstood the avalanche and today forms the symbolic heart of the Campo Santo.

A spiral layout

The cemetery is laid out in five superimposed terraces arranged in a spiral, designed by the Swiss architect Arnoldo Ruska, who was living in Yungay at the time. This layout allowed burials to be placed on several levels.

Christ the Redeemer

At the top of the cerro stands the Monumental Christ of Yungay, a large sculpture with arms open towards the Huascarán mountain. It was designed and made by the Yungay craftsman Filomeno Melgarejo Malpica, who began the project as early as 1965.

From this point, the view takes in a large part of the Cordillera Blanca and the countryside around Yungay. It is both a natural viewpoint and a place of reflection.

After the disaster, the town of Yungay was rebuilt a few kilometres from the old site. It is now the capital of the province of the same name and an important stop along the Callejón de Huaylas.

A new town looking to the mountains

The new Yungay has developed as an urban and tourist centre. It serves as a starting point for the Llanganuco lagoons, Laguna 69 and the landscapes of the Huascarán National Park. Its activity relies partly on welcoming visitors who come to discover the region and its history.

A protected memorial site

The Campo Santo was declared a Zona Intangible (Intangible Zone) by Supreme Resolution No. 005-77-ORDEZA of 12 October 1977. This protection aims to prevent any occupation or intervention that would alter the commemorative nature of the site. This status has been reaffirmed several times, notably in a report by the Superintendencia de Bienes Nacionales in 2009.

Every year, on 31 May, ceremonies bring together the families of the disappeared and local authorities to honour the memory of the victims.

A recent development project

Between 2023 and 2024, the Plan Copesco Nacional led an infrastructure project designed to better welcome visitors. The project includes an interpretation centre, viewpoints, developed footpaths and basic services. The facilities were inaugurated in May 2024, with the aim of strengthening the site's tourist, educational and commemorative dimension.

A legacy for risk management

The 1970 tragedy deeply shaped Peruvian public policy. In 1972, the State created the Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil, now known as INDECI, responsible for coordinating emergency responses at national level.

Opening hours and entrance fees

The site is open every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. On public holidays, opening hours may be extended until 7:00 pm. The fees below are given as a guide: it is advisable to check in advance, as they may change.

Category	Indicative fee
Adults	S/ 10.00
Children and teenagers (5 to 17 years old)	S/ 5.00
Students (technical and university)	S/ 5.00
Children under 5	Free
Adults over 60	Free
People with disabilities	Free
Residents of the district of Yungay	Free

How to get to the Campo Santo

The Campo Santo is located about 1.55 km from the Plaza de Armas of the new Yungay, on the road leading to Huaraz. From the town, visitors have three simple options:

• On foot: about 20 minutes along an asphalted road.
• By mototaxi: about 3 minutes from the Plaza de Armas.
• By private car: about 2 minutes.

How to get to Yungay from Huaraz

Yungay is located about 57 km north of Huaraz, heading up the Callejón de Huaylas along Route 3N. The journey passes through Carhuaz and Mancos, among other places. Several options are available to visitors.

By public transport (combi or colectivo)

• Duration: about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Cost: between 5 and 7 soles per person.
• Departure: the combis serving Yungay are the same as those heading to Caraz. The stop is on bulevar Pastorcita Huaracina, about six blocks north of the Plaza de Armas in Huaraz.

By private car or taxi

• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Estimated cost: between 30 and 100 soles depending on the option chosen (rental car, ride-hailing app or local remise company).
• Route: from Huaraz, take avenida Confraternidad Internacional Oeste heading north. The road gradually descends along the Callejón de Huaylas.

In Yungay, parking is plentiful and traffic remains light. The town also offers several accommodation and dining options.

By colectivo taxi from Yungay

Once there, colectivo taxis can take you to the Laguna 69 trailhead, Caraz or Carhuaz. They wait on jirón Santa Rosa, diagonally opposite the Policía Nacional del Perú station. The fare is negotiated directly with the driver.

On an organised tour from Huaraz

Most agencies in Huaraz offer full-day tours that combine a visit to Yungay and the Campo Santo with other sites in the region, notably the Llanganuco lagoons or Laguna 69. These excursions generally include round-trip transport and a guide.

Prices vary depending on the programme and the services included. It is advisable to compare offers and check exactly what is included before booking.

Tips for your visit

• Set off early: if you are coming from Huaraz for a day trip, an early start allows you to enjoy the site without rushing. At this altitude, movement requires a slower pace.
• Best season: the site can be visited all year round. The dry season, from May to September, generally offers clearer skies and better views of Huascarán.
• Be respectful: the Campo Santo and the cemetery are memorial sites. Appropriate clothing and quiet behaviour are expected. Loud music should be avoided.
• Do not litter: although the site is outdoors, visitors are asked to take their rubbish away with them.
• Have a good breakfast: before setting off for Yungay or Laguna 69, a substantial meal is recommended because of the altitude. Local markets offer traditional dishes such as caldo de cabeza de cordero or caldo de gallina con mote.
• Sun protection and suitable clothing: mountain weather can change quickly. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a light jacket.
• Altitude: the site is at around 2,458 m. Gradual acclimatisation is recommended if you are arriving directly from the coast.
• Local crafts: craft stalls, including sculptures of the white Christ, are located near the Campo Santo ticket office.

The Campo Santo of Yungay is not a tourist site like any other. It bears witness to a tragedy that has left a lasting mark on Peru's history and reminds us of the power of natural forces in the Andes.

A visit fits naturally into an itinerary around Huaraz, alongside the discovery of the Huascarán National Park, the Llanganuco lagoons and the landscapes of the Cordillera Blanca. It is a stop that invites reflection as much as contemplation.