In spite of its interesting collection of mummies and artefacts from the Inca Empire, most visitors come to the Museo Santuarios Andinos for the Dama de Ampato (the Ice Maiden of Ampato). “Juanita”, as it's more familiarly known, is an Inca mummy of a twelve to fourteen year old girl found atop the dormant Ampato volcano by the climber Miguel Zárate, the archaeologist José Chávez, and the anthropologist Johan Reinhard in 1995.

It is believed that “Juanita” was the victim of a ritualistic sacrifice to the Gods (a violent blow to the temple, according to the studies) and buried in ice at 6,380m. Given that only Inca priests were allowed to ascend to such a high point, where the gods were believed live, it's probable that the sacrifice was committed by the priests themselves, some 500 years ago.

Located in La Merced street, the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries opens from Monday through Saturday (9am to 6pm), and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Important to note that the Ice Maiden of Ampato is not on exhibit from January to April each year, due to restoration.

 With exceprts from Wikipedia and PromPeru.