Chauchilla Cemetery Tour

The Chauchilla Cemetery is a pre-Inca burial ground south of Nazca where bodies were placed in mud-brick tombs, seated, wrapped in cloth and surrounded by offerings. The dry desert has preserved skin, hair and fabrics for roughly a millennium, and the tombs are open to visitors on a short walking circuit. A guide explains the burial customs, the story of grave robbers who looted the site and how archaeologists restored the remains to their positions.

The scene is striking and a little eerie. Mummies sit with their knees drawn up, some with long hair, others with fragments of cloth, and pottery and tools lie around them. The tombs are shallow pits lined with adobe, topped with simple roofs, and the entire area is covered in bleached bone fragments and sherds. It is unlike any museum, because the dead are shown in situ in the landscape where they were buried.

A visit takes about an hour or two. The site is about a half hour from Nazca on a rough road, so most travellers go with a guided tour. There is no shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water. Respect the site by staying on paths and not touching anything. Combine it with a Nazca flight or the aqueducts for a full day. Younger children may find the sight disturbing, so use discretion.

The setting is stark. Rows of shallow tombs lie scattered across a barren plain, each roofed with simple logs or adobe and open to the sky. Inside, mummified bodies sit upright, wrapped in cloth, with long hair and skin preserved by the dry climate. Grave goods, such as pottery, shells and textiles, rest beside them. Archaeologists restored the remains after looters scattered them, which explains the neat arrangements and the careful protection of the area. Guides emphasise respect for the dead, and visitors are asked not to touch or remove anything.

A visit raises thoughtful questions about how ancient people understood death. The Nazca culture treated the dead with care, placing them in positions that may have symbolised rebirth, and surrounded them with items for the afterlife. Seen in the open air, the scene is moving rather than macabre for most visitors.

Allow time for a short talk and a walk around the circuit, then continue to other sights nearby, such as the aqueducts or the lines. The road is rough, so a guided tour is the practical choice. Bring a hat, water and sturdy shoes, and avoid visiting in the hottest part of the day if you can.

Treat the visit as a quiet, reflective experience. Keep voices low, stay on the paths and follow the guide's instructions about where to stand. Do not use drones or flash. Bring a scarf or hat for the sun, and cover your shoulders if the wind is strong. Respect local customs by dressing modestly and photographing with care. The visit often combines well with a pottery workshop or a visit to a local weaver, which some tours add, and which helps to link the ancient culture with living traditions in the region today.

Many guides finish with a short explanation of the work of conservators and local authorities to protect the site from looting and weather, which is an important part of the story.