Lima Tours
Caral Offroad and experience.
5

Caral Offroad and experience.

By Los Cazadunas
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Ages 6-100
Duration: 8–9 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
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Audio guide: English, Spanish
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Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: English, Spanish
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  • we offer some light snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Private transportation
  • Entry/Admission - Zona Arqueológica Caral
What's not included
  • Alcoholic Beverages


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • We pick p our clients from their location
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      Airport pickup offered
      During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.
      • J Chavez Intl Airport, Lima Peru
      Port pickup offered
      During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
      • Callao
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Service animals allowed
        • Infant seats available
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 85155P11

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travelers can participate
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 85155P11

        From
        $160.00
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travelers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Los Cazadunas
          108
          Lima, Peru
          Joined in November 2011
        • yukoh512
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          One of a kind, nature lover’s best trip!
          If you are a nature lover and want to get away from the crowd, you’ll love this. Carlos, a wonderful tour guide, will take you to a different world from Lima. I got to see how people live outside of Lima.
          Written January 22, 2025
        • cmilla2018
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Day trip out of Lima
          Great experience, off the beaten path but an amazing hike. Our guide Marco was the best, careful with our pace given the high altitude.
          Written November 25, 2024
        • Pathfinder_0490
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Awesome trip about 3.5 hrs from Lima
          Early start for an awesome day. Our guide Marco was awesome. Picked us up right on time for the 3-3.5 hr drive to San Pedro de Casta, the town near Marcahuasi. We had a light breakfast and went up the mountain, the road is not paved and is super curvy so be ready for a bumpy ride! Once we got there the hike up the mountain seems daunting but if you go slow it should be fine. Remember this place is 4000 meters/13,000 ft above sea level so b prepared. It is all worth it tho for the amazing views! Do take sunblock tho cuz the sun is killer and a light windbreaker cuz it can be super windy up there. In all, it's a great trip 😊
          Written October 31, 2024
        • brittanyhM5615DM
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing, highly recommend!
          I would HIGHLY recommend they were so fantastic! They were patient with my 6 and 3 year old. They treated us so well and we had so much fun. I appreciated how mellow they were and understanding of our low skill level 😂 this was such a highlight! Thank you so much! You guys were amazing!
          Written October 17, 2024
        • gregolocky
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An Experience
          Wow where to begin, a great day out in the Andes with Carlos and Cusi. A spectacular drive up through many switchbacks to reach San Pedro De Casta and then the breathtaking Marcahuasi stone forest is something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. So peaceful it truly is a wonder. So sit back and enjoy the ride. And a tip of my hat to Carlos who is not only great company but an expert driver also. Thank you Carlos and Cusi.
          Written October 7, 2024
        • harrytH1344GX
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great adventure to a hidden treasure near Lima
          First, let me start by saying that if you want an off-the-beaten-track experience near Lima, this is it. While many tourists to Peru will clamor to be one of 100's going up the Inca Trail, to Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain, on the day I went (a weekday) I was the only tourist at the site (as evidenced by our being the only vehicle parked in front). Marcahuasi is a mountain park owned by the community living in San Pedro de Casta. The site has a ~3 km round-trip trail at ~4000 m. It is home to rock formations that have eroded into stone forests (pillars) that you can see from far away. Up close the rock formations have the shapes of faces or animals....if you have some imagination. The hike is not difficult but has to be done slowly because of the altitude. The trail highlights are amazing rock formations, a lagoon, a viewpoint overlooking the valley, and a plateau with pre-Inca ruins, all essentially untouched by commercialism. The trail is well-maintained, and there are native plants. On weekends about 50 people, mostly Peruvians may visit and even camp there. This excursion is much more than just getting a ride to take a hike at high altitude in the Andes. The guide, Carlos, makes the trip into an adventure to learn more about Peru and its people, and to meet the villagers of San Pedro de Casta (who own and manage the mountain and work the land (cattle and agriculture) around it communally(!). The whole day is memorable including where we stopped for breakfast (mom and pop eatery) and lunch, what we saw in the high traffic zones of Lima, the smaller towns along the route, and the people and animals on the dirt road leading through the Rimac Valley on the way up to San Pedro de Casta and Marcahuasi. We spent about 2.5 hours on the hike around Marcahuasi with plenty of time to walk slowly to acclimate to the altitude and time to just ponder the majesty of the rock formations. Whether you believe in some great mystery of the forms or the power of erosion, the rock formations are massive and make you feel privileged to be in their presence. The viewpoint which Carlos called the "Lion King Rock" is a memorable place to sit and ponder how you are so lucky to be alive and present in that space in that moment. Most impressive was the personal relationships Carlos has built over the years with the local residents, shop-keepers, and eateries along the way. Carlos will pick you up in a 4X4 truck which is needed for the dirt roads. On the day I went, 9, yes 9 local people hitched a ride in the back seat and enclosed back of the truck from the town in San Pedro de Casta up the steep incline to Marcahuasi to plant pine trees and water the plants. Their smiles and thank you's show that he is part of their community as well as unexpected gifts from the villagers. Carlos clearly loves his job and wants to make everyone's time with him special. I mentioned that I wanted to try a Chirimoya and Carlos bought one for us to share at the top of the mountain. I mentioned I was interested in birds and Carlos was careful to point out a peregrine falcon, birds around the lagoon, and vultures and a condor sailing in the distance above the park. I highly recommend this private trip for anyone looking for a day-long adventure to see real (non-touristy) rural Peru and have a mountain hike at high altitude at your own pace.
          Written September 12, 2024
        • RUSS411
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Breathe- taking adventure!
          Get ready for an incredibly beautiful and beathe-taking adventure. First stop: a simple and delicious breakfast in a small village, and then a drive up to Maucachina. Next: a quickstop at San Pedro de Casta. And then: hiking to the top of the mountain, with incredible views at every turn. The big pay-off: an awe-inspiring view across the mountains from a precarious boulder. Then: hike down to pre-Inca ruins. And finally: drive back down to Lima. It was a spectacular day, but it was an extremely arduous and tiring day. The ride up and down the mountain is on a bumpy one lane grovel road, three hours each way. The elevation tops at 13000'. Breathing can be difficult. If you are fit, the journey is absolutely worth it. Our guide, Abrahim, and driver, Eddie, were fabulous and very professional. Hats off to both. An incredible adventure.
          Written July 1, 2024
        • N450TYjustins
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Thrilling and Life Changing Experience
          Me and my best friends were looking for something exciting to do in Lima, so we decided to try out sand boarding and could not have been more impressed! We were initially hesitant to book with this company due to the lack of reviews, but definitely made the right decision. Abraham and Carlos were both amazing, and the experience itself was very thrilling! Could not recommend these guys more!
          Written June 30, 2024
        • ValerieH1930
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Special energy at marcahuasi, great tour guide
          I booked this trip as a solo female traveler. Ending up finding and messaging the trip operator Carlos on WhatsApp +51945273204 with questions. Ended up with two other people also on the tour with me. Carlo was super helpful and communicative. You leave around 5am and then take an entirely enjoyable 2.5-3 hour car ride into the mountains to marcahuasi in a very comfortable Land Cruiser. You’ll pass through countryside towns, grab breakfast at a nice little tienda that serves big slices of local avocados (which I can attest are some of the best avocados I’ve ever had) with egg or cheese on a sandwich. Option to get some homemade quinoa drink. Half of the journey is on dirt road, Carlos is an excellent driver and I never felt nervous. He provides fruits as a snack like orange, guanaba and banana for half way through the hike. You’ll be at something like 4,000m (13,000 feet) at the highest point but DO NOT be worried about elevation sickness. I got out of the car and immediately felt out of breath but Carlos assured me that its normal for the first 20 minutes and then the body acclimates, which mine did. He also said that not one person has ever had an elevation sickness problem on one of his tours to Marcahuasi, so travel on with confidence. He provides trekking poles. You go on an absolutely spectacular 3 hour hike. The energy at this location is very special, and if you are looking for what could be a spiritual experience on top of a hike through ancient grounds, this is it! all I can say is this location in Peru is not to be missed, I was so impressed that I wrote this whole long thing hoping you too will go. We returned back around 330-4pm
          Written June 16, 2024
        • 371awildac
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful Views
          The ride was rough but definitely worth it for the views. Our tour guide Carlos was very nice and knowledgeable. Breaks was included and it was so simple but delicious.
          Written June 15, 2024
        • I4374EPbryanm
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Marcahuasi
          Was a spectacular day with Rodrigo! Enjoyed everything from the ride through the cliffs to the hike to Marcahuasi 🙌 The views were absolutely breathtaking, not for the faint hearted 😂 highly recommend, you will have some nerves on the drive over but it’s completely safe
          Written May 28, 2024
        • alexandratravelsnow
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing views and nice locals
          We had a nice avocado sandwich breakfast on our way to the park. Very long, but beautiful drive! The guide is a very good driver. The people who live in the villages that we passed by really like him aswell. He even helped a local by picking her up in the car because else she had to walk all the way up the mountain to pick some flowers. Another local even gave him a bag of potatoes because he also helped her a few times before. Really tells a lot about his character :) You will feel safe with him and the park is also very special. Highly recommend going there to see some beautiful nature outside of Lima!
          Written May 24, 2024
        • PamelaK1964
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          No words can describe the magic of Marcahuasi
          I don't even know how to put into words what an amazing time I had on this excursion. It was a long day with a very early start, but every minute of travel to get to and from Marcahuasi was worth it. My guide Carlos made this entire experience one I will never forget. He is very knowledgeable, a very good driver, and genuinely a wonderful person. He talked me through my fears and allowed me to experience a place so beautiful I can not stop thinking about it. The drive on the way up is scary if you are affected by heights (no guard rails, driving along a straight drop off to the bottom of the valley) and I knew this from reading other reviews, but I wanted to see it so badly I talked myself into it and I am so glad I did. Carlos has a lot of experience driving these roads, and there is absolutely no reason for concern. I was fortunate that I was the only one on his tour that day, and we didn't see any other hikers the entire trek, so it was perfect. Marcahuasi is a magical place, but I really think Carlos is the reason I enjoyed it so much. He recognized my fears and weaknesses and helped me achieve my goal. I can't thank him enough. If you are trying to decide if this tour is for you, I say do it. It's a once in a lifetime experience that will stay with you forever. BTW, Carlos is also an amazing photographer 🤩
          Written May 21, 2024
        • Vagabonf87
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Would do again, highly recommend!
          Start to finish an amazing experience! Marco my tour guide was there for pickup at the agreed upon time, full of knowledge and was very personable and accommodating. Marcahuasi is a must see, hard to describe but there is definitely something special about the place. Bring sun protection and shoes with some good traction, the guide will offer easier paths but the more challenging ones are worth it. The views are amazing, Would do again, highly recommend!
          Written April 26, 2024
        • Mariaclara6
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Definitely Recommend!
          We had such a blast!! The whole experience from being picked up from our Airbnb to getting dropped back off again was great! It was fun (and maybe a little bit thrilling) riding in the car with Carlos, he was engaging and quick to answer questions we had. Then when we got to the sand dunes, Abraham’s experience and skills had time to shine! He was so patient with us as we learned to sand board - which was SO fun! I only wish we could have had a longer time there in the dunes - once we started we really didn’t want to stop!
          Written April 15, 2024
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        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles1 review
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        Harry T
        Riverside, CA3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sep 2024 • Solo
        Caral is a recent (1994) archeological find that rewrote Peruvian history. It is the 2nd oldest city in the world! So while most tourists know about the Incas who were in their heyday at the time of the Spanish conquest (1500's), Caral was occupied in 3000 B.C. (5000 years ago!) If you are interested in archeology, then this is a fantastic site to see. The construction is stone, however no metal was used or found on the site. The pyramids are step-like and each terrace is built on top of a previous terrace, the same pattern that continues throughout Peru and Mexican ancient civilizations. The site (in a valley 20 miles from the ocean), the ruins, and the tour by local guides is very interesting. Once we arrived at Caral, we engaged and paid a local (national archheological service) guide to give us a 1.5 hour tour. The tour is very informative and I believe you are not allowed to go into the site without a guide. Be warned however that the guide may not speak Engish, which was the case for us. Luckily the excursion host, Carlos, speaks excellent English and could translate and also asked my questions to the local guide, etc.

        I heartily recommend Caral as an archeological must see site. There are several companies that can provide transportation to Caral. I recommend going with this company (Los Cazadunas) on a private tour with the company's owner, Carlos. This has several advantages. First, Carlos is the driver and host for the day. He is an amazing host. It's more than transportation out to an important archeological site. It's a very long drive and sharing that time with someone personable who is willing to share their experience about life in Peru and in general makes the time fly by. Carlos uses local eateries on the highways that as a tourist you would never go to. But once inside you realize this is where the Peruvians are going. At the breakfast stop there were 5 our busses stopped at the same place. At the lunch stop, the food was excellent and the parking lot full compared to nearby places that were empty. As a tourist, I have a limited time but want to learn about the people, history, food, and life in Peru in a short time. This is a great way. Because the trip is private the itinerary is very flexible. Earlier I had mentioned that I was interested in birds, so we had planned to go to Caral and then to Lomas de Lachay, which he recommended because it was an unusual inland geographical place that had green vegetation in the middle of the desert due to altitude and fog. Already this was a tailored second destination on a trip to Caral (184 km north of Lima) compared to other companies with set itineraries. But while we were at Caral, I learned about a second site called Vichama that was occupied at 1500 BC but at which remarkable 3D sculptural art had been found. Carlos said, let's go there instead and we did. We also hired a local guide at Vichama (mandatory at all national archeological sites). Finally, I will point out an extremely important advantage of this company. It is not much more expensive than the competition but Los Cazadunas will give you a very reasonable price for a solo traveler and guarantee that the tour will run with just one person. The other companies reserve the right to cancel if the minimum number of passengers does not book or you perhaps can fool the system by ordering two seats. For a solo traveler this is a huge advantage since you don't want to be disappointed at the last minute having your tour cancelled.

        I had a really great time on my day out with Carlos to see Caral and Vichama archeological sites with private transportation and personalized itinerary. We also had two very nice meals (breakfast and lunch).. The breakfast is included. Lunch is not included but very reasonable.

        Due to the pricing, there is NO additional cost to taking a private tour with Los Cazadunas compared to taking a group tour with other companies that might cancel at the last minute. I enjoyed my day out to Caral and recommend it to others.
        Written September 13, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Caral Offroad and experience. provided by Los Cazadunas

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