Museo Santuarios Andinos

I really enjoyed the visit- our guide expleined a lot of hypothesis-because it is not possible to find out the only story behind descovery. Nice artefacts say as much as hide. The exhibition is small but worth visiting. Do not have the problem with tip for guide- it is still not very expensive for all the information. And yes there is no real Juanita- just precise copy- frankly speaking what’s the difference? Unless you are a high class specialist

As mentioned, the guide is mandatory. Entrance fee is 25 soles plus tip. Our guide did not rush and left time for questions but we would have preferred to read the signs. The entire tour lasted only 20 minutes. The spiel did seem to gloss over what was effectively quite a brutal (I appreciate by modern standards) child murder and frame it as a privilege. But I guess that’s a matter of personal taste. I am quoting another reviewer below because I agree 100% with them. I found limited value beyond what's readily available online (like the Wikipedia article on Mummy Juanita). I understand why the actual mummy isn't displayed for preservation reasons, but paying 30 soles (25 + 5 tip) for pottery, dolls, and textiles felt excessive. I'm disappointed and feel robbed. In my opinion, not worth the cost for what's offered.

The entrance fee is 25 soles, and it’s mandatory to visit the museum with a guide. However, the guide is not included in the ticket price, you have to pay extra, which makes no sense if it’s a required part of the visit. The tour goes at the guide’s pace and in the order they choose, so you can’t really take your time to read or explore everything. The famous “Juanita” mummy is actually just a copy, and even though it’s not the real one, they still keep it inside a sort of freezer — which also doesn’t make much sense. Overall, it’s not worth it and feels like a robbery.

We were looking to visit tgis museum but they insisted of us having a guide and to py extra as well as the entry ticket. A complete rip-off. Beside the snow .Maiden was not there. A museum is usually a place to see things and with visual explanation all includd in a price.

Infos/Tips: - It is clearly forbidden to take pictures inside the museum - It cost 25 SOL (without guide tip) - When buying a ticket, you will be assigned to a specific hour and a group (Spanish, English or French) - You CANNOT visit the museum without a guide - The visit of the museum take approximately 1 hours (You have the guided tour for 45 to 50 minutes) and then there is another room you can do at your own pace without a guide The Museo Santuarios Andinos is most famous for housing the well-preserved mummy of “Juanita,” also known as the “Ice Maiden,” an Inca girl who was sacrificed around 500 years ago on the summit of Mount Ampato. The museum provides a fascinating insight into Inca rituals, beliefs, and the scientific discoveries related to the mummy, as well as a few others

Don't be put off by the other reviews! We saw interesting artefacts, we weren't rushed, the lady who gave English tour was pleasant and the tip was only mentioned at the end. The fact that the 'mummy' is a real life replica is a good thing imo...I don't enjoy seeing real human dead bodies!

Just completed the guided tour of Museo Santuarios Andinos. As others have noted, the guide is mandatory. Entrance fee is 25 soles plus tip. Photography is not allowed. I had a private French-language tour since I was the only participant. The museum was crowded, so we explored rooms out of order when space became available. The guide rushed through the exhibition without allowing time for independent exploration. The entire tour lasted only 20 minutes. While the exhibition is interesting, I found limited value beyond what's readily available online (like the Wikipedia article on Mummy Juanita). I understand why the actual mummy isn't displayed for preservation reasons, but paying 30 soles (25 + 5 tip) for pottery, dolls, and textiles felt excessive. I'm disappointed and feel robbed. In my opinion, not worth the cost for what's offered.

N.B. We didn’t actually visit - just wanted to say as we found it difficult to see from the website - a tour is mandatory (free; you pay the guide what you think at the end), you cannot visit and walk around alone. The tours are group tours, in different languages several times a day. I couldn’t see a way to book tickets or view the times in advance online. Also, I had read that Juanita is not displayed for a few months of the year as she has to be preserved. I can’t remember the period but I am certain it wasn’t for September. However when we got there we were told she wasn’t on display. For these reasons I believe it is best to go there in the morning and see what times are on offer for you to visit, and whether Juanita is on display, then you can plan your day.