Chauchilla Cemetery Tour

Exploring the ancient Chauchilla Cemetery offers a unique window into Peru’s past. Visitors can wander through this eerie necropolis, discovering well-preserved mummies, textiles, and ceramics that date back centuries. The guided tour provides an educational glimpse into the site’s cultural significance, though its history of looting casts a somber note. Those seeking an immersive archaeological experience won’t want to miss the opportunity to uncover the secrets of this remarkable cemetery.

Key Points

• A 2.5-hour guided tour of the Chauchilla Cemetery, located 28 kilometers from Nazca, showcasing 12 tombs with ancient human remains and artifacts.
• The tour provides an opportunity to observe well-preserved ceramics, textiles, and evidence of the cemetery’s cultural significance.
• The site has suffered from extensive looting over the years, with valuable items like ceramics, textiles, gold, and silver targeted by treasure seekers.
• Preservation efforts, including restricted access, onsite guards, educational signage, and tomb restoration, aim to mitigate the ongoing damage caused by looters.
• The tour is priced at $46 per person and offers hotel pickup, transport, an English/Spanish guide, and entrance tickets, but excludes meals and gratuities.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Tour Overview

The Chauchilla Cemetery Tour offers visitors the opportunity to explore this ancient necropolis for $46.00 per person.

The tour lasts 2.5 hours and departs from a location approximately 28 kilometers from Nazca, in a desert area.

The tour lasts 2.5 hours and departs from a location approximately 28 kilometers from Nazca, in a desert area.

Visitors can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and they can reserve their spot now and pay later.

The tour highlights include visiting twelve tombs containing ancient human remains, ceramics, textiles, and other artifacts.

Travelers will observe human hair braids, textiles, ceramics, and remains of corn and shells, experiencing a pre-Inca necropolis that has been historically looted.

Historical Context

Chauchilla Cemetery has been looted for many years, leading to the destruction of tombs. Looters primarily took valuable items such as ceramics, textiles, gold, and silver, leaving corpses scattered across the desert.

This historic necropolis has faced extensive damage due to these treasure seekers. Centuries-old human remains, braids of hair, textiles, and other artifacts have been exposed and stolen, compromising the site’s historical and archaeological significance.

Despite ongoing efforts to preserve and protect Chauchilla Cemetery, the damage done by looters over the years has been extensive and irreversible.

Highlights of the Tour

Twelve tombs containing ancient human remains, ceramics, textiles, and other artifacts await visitors on the Chauchilla Cemetery Tour.

Guests can observe:

1. Braided human hair

2. Preserved textiles

3. Well-preserved ceramics

4. Remains of corn and shells

This pre-Inca necropolis offers a glimpse into the past, despite years of looting by treasure seekers.

Visitors can experience the eerie atmosphere and explore the remnants of this significant historical site.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Though the tour includes several key elements, it’s important to note what is and isn’t covered. The tour provides hotel pickup, tourist transport, an English/Spanish guide, entrance tickets, and permanent assistance. However, it does not include meals, gratuities, or personal expenses.

| Inclusions | Exclusions |

| — | — |

| Hotel pickup | Meals |

| Tourist transport | Gratuities |

| Guide (English/Spanish) | Personal expenses |

| Entrance tickets | |

| Permanent assistance | |

Ultimately, the Chauchilla Cemetery Tour offers a comprehensive experience to explore this ancient necropolis, with clear inclusions and exclusions for visitors to consider.

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Booking Information

To book the Chauchilla Cemetery Tour, visitors can check availability for the desired starting times.

Once the date and number of participants have been selected, the meeting point details will be provided on Google Maps.

The tour includes hotel pickup from Nasca, tourist transport, an English/Spanish guide, the entrance ticket, and permanent assistance throughout the tour.

Booking the tour is easy:

1. Check availability and select the date.

2. Choose the number of participants.

3. Review the meeting point details.

4. Proceed with the booking and payment.

Arrival and Meeting Point

Upon booking the Chauchilla Cemetery Tour, visitors will receive the meeting point details on Google Maps. The tour begins at a designated pickup location, where you will board the tourist transport. Arrival and meeting point details are as follows:

| Meeting Point | Address | Pickup Time |

| — | — | — |

| Nazca Hotel | Avenida 28 de Julio 423, Nazca 11601, Peru | 8:30 AM |

| Nazca Town Center | Intersección de Av. Bolognesi y Jr. Zaragoza, Nazca 11601, Peru | 8:45 AM |

| Nazca Airport | Aeropuerto Internacional María Reiche Neuman, Nazca 11601, Peru | 9:00 AM |

The tour guide will be present at the meeting point to greet and assist participants before the excursion begins.

Explore the Necropolis

Twelve tombs await visitors as they enter the Chauchilla Cemetery, a pre-Inca necropolis that has been ravaged by treasure seekers over the years.

The tour allows guests to observe:

Ancient remains, scattered artifacts, and remnants of the past await visitors to the Chauchilla Cemetery, a window into a vanished culture.

1. Ancient human remains, some with braided hair still intact.

2. Ceramics, textiles, and other artifacts left behind by looters.

3. Remnants of corn and shells, providing insights into the diets of the Nazca culture.

4. The scale of destruction caused by looters, who scattered corpses across the desert in their search for valuable items.

Through this experience, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the Chauchilla Cemetery’s tragic history and the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

Preservation Efforts

Amidst the scattered remains and looted tombs, efforts to preserve the Chauchilla Cemetery’s cultural heritage have emerged. Local authorities and preservation groups work to protect the site, educate visitors, and restore what they can.

| Preservation Initiatives | Impact |

| — | — |

| Restricted access | Reduced looting and vandalism |

| Onsite guards | Deterred grave robbers |

| Educational signage | Increased visitor appreciation |

| Tomb restoration | Preserved historic artifacts |

| Community partnerships | Raised awareness and funding |

While challenges persist, these preservation efforts aim to safeguard the Chauchilla Cemetery’s ancient wonders for future generations to explore and understand.

Since You Asked

Can I Take Photographs or Videos During the Tour?

Yes, visitors can take photographs and record videos during the Chauchilla Cemetery tour. However, flash photography is prohibited to avoid disturbing the ancient artifacts and human remains on display.

Is the Site Wheelchair Accessible?

The site is not wheelchair accessible, as it’s located in a remote desert area with uneven terrain. Visitors may encounter some challenges navigating the site, which features ancient tombs and scattered human remains.

Are There Any Age Restrictions for the Tour?

The tour doesn’t have any age restrictions. Children of all ages are welcome to participate. However, the cemetery’s rugged terrain may not be suitable for very young children or those with mobility issues.

Can I Bring My Own Food and Drinks to the Site?

Yes, visitors can bring their own food and drinks to the Chauchilla Cemetery site. The tour doesn’t include any meals, so visitors are free to pack their own snacks and beverages to enjoy during the tour.

Are There Any Additional Costs or Fees During the Tour?

The tour includes the entrance ticket to the Chauchilla Cemetery, hotel pickup, and transportation. There aren’t any additional costs or fees participants need to pay during the tour.

The Sum Up

The Chauchilla Cemetery Tour offers a unique opportunity to explore Peru’s ancient past. Visitors can marvel at the well-preserved tombs, artifacts, and human remains, gaining insights into the region’s rich cultural heritage. Despite a history of looting, the site remains an eerie yet educational journey through time, showcasing the remarkable preservation efforts that continue to protect this important archaeological treasure.

You can check availability for your dates here: