Excavations in the low-lying hills located just 28 kilometers northwest of Nazca have uncovered a 24 kilometer network of walls, staircases, and plazas that once comprised a city larger than Trujillo's Chan Chan. The site includes nearly 40 pyramids, including the 25-meter high and 100 meter long Great Pyramid. The complex faces the Nazca Lines and occupies a sacred spot where the Río Nazca flows out of the desert floor. In charge of excavations at Cahuichi since 1985, Giuseppe Orefici contends that the pyramids were used almost exclusively for ceremonial rituals in order to thank the gods for water.

Construction of the Cahuichi complex spanned from 400 BC to 400 AD, when the site was abandoned due to flooding. The sheer size of the pyramids parallels the scale of pyramids built by the Moche and Sicán in Northern Peru. Much of the site and its structures have been defaced by looters, but in spite of this, Orefici and his team have uncovered a number of tombs and ancient Nazca artifacts. Although there is no official public transport to the site, a number of agencies are starting to include the site in their tour packages.

Historical Building

4 & 5** Custom & Scheduled Tours by www.SouthAmerica.travel Create your own travel itinerary with our custom Travel Planner, or choose from one of our 100s of carefully designed itineraries. Special escorted departures. SouthAmerica.travel