The Most Famous Hike in Peru & South America
Step into the mysterious Chauchilla Cemetery, the only necropolis in Peru where you can observe ancient mummies preserved in their original open-air tombs. On this fascinating two-hour guided experience, you will travel back more than 1,000 years to discover the secrets of the Nasca civilization, including their burial rituals, ceremonial offerings, and extraordinary preservation techniques favored by the hyper-arid desert climate.
With comfortable private transportation, door-to-door hotel transfers, an expert guide, and a visit to a local ceramic workshop, this tour provides a deep look into the spiritual and artistic world of ancient Peru.
Your journey begins at six in the morning with a convenient pickup directly from your hotel door in Nazca. Our Meta Peru team welcomes you and ensures you are comfortably seated in our private vehicle for a smooth drive south toward one of Peru's most impressive archaeological sites.
We travel approximately 30 kilometers outside Nazca city to reach Chauchilla Cemetery, an extraordinary ancient necropolis. As we walk along designated trails, you will look directly inside open-air mud-brick burial chambers dating back over a thousand years. Here, you will see real mummies preserved in traditional fetal positions, surrounded by original textiles, pottery offerings, and grave goods that illustrate their spiritual connection to the afterlife.
Throughout the walk, your guide explains the science and belief systems behind this ancestral site. You will learn how the extreme dryness of the desert soil and climate naturally preserved the skin, hair, and bone structures of the deceased, making Chauchilla an invaluable window into pre-Inca history.
Following our exploration of the tombs, we visit a local artisan ceramic workshop. Here, master potters demonstrate live how they craft authentic Nasca-style pottery using the exact hand tools, natural mineral pigments, and firing methods passed down through generations.
This tour follows flat and easy walking paths with no physical difficulty, making it ideal for travelers of all ages. After two hours of rich history and cultural discovery, we bring the trip to a close and transfer you safely back to your hotel doorstep.
The price for the Chauchilla cemetery tour varies according to group size, providing a high-value historical experience with personalized attention from your local guide. This 2-hour excursion offers an accessible and comfortable way to explore pre-Inca archaeology in the Nazca desert.
This program covers complete hotel pick-up and drop-off in Nazca city, private vehicle transportation, visits to the cemetery and ceramic studio, and professional bilingual guide service throughout the entire itinerary.
All logistics are carefully coordinated so you can enjoy a seamless visit to the tombs and artisan workshops.
If you require a fully private group departure or a customized schedule, our Meta Peru Travel team will be glad to prepare a custom quote for you.
Your tour price is fully guaranteed upon booking confirmation. No hidden fees and no unexpected rate increases.
Before confirming your booking, please review the following details:
Our team ensures that your Chauchilla cemetery tour is safe, educational, and flawlessly organized from start to finish.
To ensure a comfortable and respectful visit to this sacred archaeological site, we suggest keeping the following recommendations in mind:
Yes. The mummies and human remains seen in the burial tombs are genuine archaeological artifacts preserved naturally by the dry desert climate over a thousand years ago.
Not at all. The tour follows flat, well-marked dirt trails around the tomb pits, making it very easy for children, adults, and seniors.
No. Local regulations require the entrance fee of S/ 8.00 per person to be paid directly in cash (Peruvian Soles) at the site entry control.
The cemetery is located about 30 kilometers south of Nazca city center, which takes approximately 30 minutes by private vehicle each way.
600 M.S.N.M
Up to Small Group or Private Departure People
Private
Cultural
Easy
Meta Peru Travel is a licensed and certified luxury travel agency recognized by Peru’s leading tourism and sustainability organizations, ensuring every journey meets the highest international standards.
