Located 3 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, the Pukará de Quitor is a pre Inca stone construction rising all the way up the hill as a fortress, surrounded by a defensive wall and occupying a surface area of 2,5 hectares. It forms part of the Salt Mountain Range ...

 

This impressive construction dates back to the XII century, and is made up blocks built with large rocks alternating with smaller ones, and joined with mud (mortar). Terracing and retaining wall techniques were used in its construction and around 200 structures can be seen, some larger than others.

Its name comes from a pre-Hispanic agricultural group "Ayllu de Quitor", whose farming fields started at the foot of the Pukará and fed by the San Pedro River. Its location and structure was mainly for defensive and strategic purposes, and as an ancient route, that would later be occupied in the Inca period.

The Spaniards who rode horses and carried guns invaded it in 1540. The natives had never seen horses, metal helmets or guns, which made it easy for the Spaniards to conquer them.  All the native chiefs (caciques) were beheaded.

The Pukará de Quitor was restored in 1981 and was declared a National Monument in 1982. The entrance fee is $1,200 Chilean pesos per person.