L  A   D  A  T  C  O     T  O  U  R   S
	HOME	South America	Falkland Islands	Antarctica	Unique Destinations	Unique Experiences	Newsstand	e-mail

Cahuachi Peru

ABOUT Cahuachi - compliments of PromPeru:

Cahuachi, the world’s largest ceremonial site (24 sq. kilometers / 9.3 sq. miles), located just 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the Nasca Lines in Peru has officially begun a comprehensive restoration process to attract tourists to this magical and spiritual city which became a pre- cursor to the world’s most famous geoglyphs and ancient enigmas.

Cahuachi which in Quechua means “from where you look” was an ancient city developed between 400 BC and 450 AD. Cahuachi was a ceremonial center for religious leaders and is believed to be the place where the concept for the Nasca Lines was conceived. Josue Lancho, a Peruvian historian describes the relationship between Cahuachi and Nasca as the following: “The role of the Nasca figures was exclusively for ceremonial purposes. The high priests led the people of Cahuachi to this area to carry out religious ceremonies. In this regard, one can say that the Nasca Lines were temples without walls for mass congregation and the pre- Hispanic Vatican of its time.”

Cahuachi is composed of 36 pyramids ranging between 15 meters (49 feet) and 35 meters (115 feet) in height. The main structure, denominated the Grand Pyramid, measures 28 meters (92 feet) in height, 110 meters (361 feet) in length and 100 meters (328 feet) in width. The unique structure of the Grand Pyramid includes seven levels, adobe walls and geometric access ramps. Tourists can currently visit the Antonini Museum in Nasca to see a collection of Cahuachi treasures which includes ceramic pieces, textiles and religious relics. Tourists can also visit Cahuachi on a guided tour to see the first restored pyramid and talk to specialists who are currently working on-site to finalize the restoration process. Tourists can also look forward to visiting the archeological site of Cahuachi in 2011 on their own to see all of the restored pyramids for themselves and fully appreciate the rich and cultural history of this region.

Cahuachi is six hours away from Lima and forty- five minutes from the Nasca Lines. The best time to visit Cahuachi is very early in the morning because at noon it gets extremely hot and paracas or desert winds become very strong. Tourists will need sturdy shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent.