Lima to Caral & Casma Itinerary

• Explore 2 of Peru’s lesser-visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Caral & Chankillo. 

• Also includes tours of Sechin & Las Aldas.

• Best way to get between Lima & Trujillo, without missing the highlights on the way.

• Possible in two days (if in a rush), but three days recommended.  

• Accommodation in Barranca (& Casma). 

Many visitors make the journey between Lima and Trujillo, but not many take the time to visit the stunning archaeological attractions along the way.

As research into the pre-Columbian civilisations along Peru’s Pacific coast continues, the age and significance of these numerous ancient citadels has been increasing. This has been recognised by UNESCO, who put The Sacred City of Caral-Supe on the World Heritage List in 2009; and then in 2021, added Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex.

Even without these fascinating monuments, this would be a wonderful road trip, in a private vehicle, along the PanAmerican Highway, beside the ocean, between two of Peru’s most important and historic cities.

Casma & Chankillo 2D Itinerary Outline:

Day 1: Transfer from Lima hotel to Caral in a private vehicle; Guided tour of Caral; Transfer to Barranca. Overnight in Barranca.
Day 2: Drive to Casma; Half-day tour of Sechin, Chankillo & Las Aldas; Transfer to Trujillo.

Casma & Chankillo 2D Itinerary (Returning to Lima) Outline:

Day 1: Transfer from Lima hotel to Caral in a private vehicle; Guided tour of Caral; Transfer to Barranca. Overnight in Barranca.
Day 2: Drive to Casma; Half-day tour of Sechin, Chankillo & Las Aldas; Transfer to Chimbote for VIP bus to Lima.

Casma & Chankillo 3D Itinerary Outline:

Day 1: Transfer from Lima hotel to Caral in a private vehicle; Guided tour of Caral; Transfer to Barranca. Overnight in Barranca.
Day 2: Drive to Casma; Half-day tour of Sechin, Chankillo & Las Aldas. Overnight in Casma
Day 3: Transfer to Trujillo.

NB. The above itineraries can be done in reverse ie starting in Trujillo & ending in Lima (or back in Trujillo).

Prices below are per person, based on two people, sharing a room.

Includes all land transport in a private vehicle, private guided excursions, entrances & breakfasts.

lima - Caral - Casma - Trujillo Itinerary: 

Day 1: Lima - Caral - Barranca (-)

We pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Lima, in a private vehicle with English-speaking guide, and set off northwards up the PanAmerican Highway.

The city gradually gives way to coastal desert, with regular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The drive to Caral takes some four hours, but we can make stops along the way to stretch the legs, have a drink etc.

Once at Caral, we have a guided tour of this remarkable site.

We then drive to Barranca for an overnight stay at Hostal Chavin, or similar.

Day 2: Barranca - Casma: Chankillo, Sechin & Las Aldas Tour (Breakfast)

In the morning, we travel with our guide by private vehicle towards Casma.

This area is home to some of Peru’s most exciting archaeology, with recent discoveries changing the age of pre-Inca civilisations.

First stop is at Chankillo, an extensive site with a hilltop fort, storage facilities, ceremonial centres, and most notably, a series of 13 stone towers, which are thought to have been an astronomical observatory.

Next we drive to Sechin, the capital of the Sechin-Casma culture and home to the largest pre-Columbian monument in Peru, Sechin Alto.

The site museum, is named after the German archaeologist, Max Uhle, who made pioneering studies of pre-Columbian societies throughout the Americas.

The museum contains many of the artefacts found during the excavations at Sechin, and is included in our visit.

Finally, we head to the coast, to visit Las Aldas, which has confounded archaeological wisdom by not being near a source of fresh water. It is thought the city subsisted on the fruits of the Pacific Ocean, which it traded with inland peoples for agricultural products.

After these visits, we drive to Casma for an overnight stay at Las Poncianas Hotel, or similar.

NB. For those on a tight schedule, we can transfer you to Trujillo this evening; or to Chimbote in order to catch a deluxe bus back to Lima.

Day 3: Transfer to Trujillo (Breakfast)

In the morning, we travel with our guide by private vehicle to Trujillo.

You can explore the city and its pre-Columbian treasures with our Trujillo 3D/4D or Trujillo - Chiclayo 4D itineraries.