Zona Arqueologica caral
Zona Arqueologica caral
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
51 reviews
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39
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sam hidrixs
Baja California, Mexico3 contributions
Nov 2019
This site is very special. For the oldest known ruins in the Americas - the buildings and town planning are very sophisticated.
We were stunned and also pleased, by how quiet the site is. there are not big tour groups, we only saw few groups there.
The guides only speak Spanish, hopolly we understand Spanish litle bit, but even though we only speak English - they speak with such passion that we could understand it all rather well.
We were stunned and also pleased, by how quiet the site is. there are not big tour groups, we only saw few groups there.
The guides only speak Spanish, hopolly we understand Spanish litle bit, but even though we only speak English - they speak with such passion that we could understand it all rather well.
Written January 8, 2020
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.
AFV66
United States125 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
I would not have heard about Caral if not for looking for a place to stay on our way to the north of Peru with the Panamerica Norte. The place is an 1/2 hour from the Panamericana, and not very well indicated, but the site is spectacular. When you know that you walk in a site of more than 5000 years old, which is the oldest known site in the Americas, and certainly one of the oldest in the world, you feel little and modest. Some people considered that it is not worth visiting, they are plainly wrong given the age and the preservation of several temples and places on the site. Morever, the valley itself seemed to have a string of other places that are still untouched and gives a touch of magic to that whole place. There are guides and people working on the site, but Caral would benefit from a better signaling from the Panamericana.
Written November 12, 2023
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.
Jake23
New Jersey6,523 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Caral was nice, but it took nearly four hours to get there from Lima. The tour lasted about 1.5 hours. The climate is arid. We were in the desert with large sand dunes everywhere the eye could see. There is a vast series of temples still being excavated here. This is a live archeological site.
Written July 5, 2017
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.
Ticana Z
Cleveland, OH28 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
David with Caral Journeys picked up our group promptly at 6:15am from our airbnb. During the 3.5 hrs drive north through various districts of Lima and countryside, he filled us in on the history of Caral and other interesting facts about Lima. He even brought us brown bagged snacks in case we missed breakfast.
The tour of Caral itself was only about 2 hrs. There is a small museum on site with artifacts and photo boards explaining the history of the region and pre-Colombian civilizations in the area. We picked up a local guide, Roxanna/Rosanna who only spoke in Spanish. David translated for us and we got to learn more about Caral. It was a lovely contrast to see the sand and desert against the lush Supe Valley in the distance.
The only disappointment was how low the miradors (viewing points) were. I wasn't able to see into the amphitheaters or more than just the sides of the pyramids. The aerial views you see online are much more impressive. However it was an amazing experience to walk where some of the first humans on earth walked. There are some small shops for souvenirs and some interactive activities for kids.
On the way back, we stopped at El Rosal for lunch which was covered by the tour agency. The Caral site has only been open for about 15 years and doesn't have too much to offer if you're looking for something for commercial. However our group was full of history and archaeology buffs and we enjoyed it immensely.
The tour of Caral itself was only about 2 hrs. There is a small museum on site with artifacts and photo boards explaining the history of the region and pre-Colombian civilizations in the area. We picked up a local guide, Roxanna/Rosanna who only spoke in Spanish. David translated for us and we got to learn more about Caral. It was a lovely contrast to see the sand and desert against the lush Supe Valley in the distance.
The only disappointment was how low the miradors (viewing points) were. I wasn't able to see into the amphitheaters or more than just the sides of the pyramids. The aerial views you see online are much more impressive. However it was an amazing experience to walk where some of the first humans on earth walked. There are some small shops for souvenirs and some interactive activities for kids.
On the way back, we stopped at El Rosal for lunch which was covered by the tour agency. The Caral site has only been open for about 15 years and doesn't have too much to offer if you're looking for something for commercial. However our group was full of history and archaeology buffs and we enjoyed it immensely.
Written October 5, 2017
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.
Bob H
Haymarket, Virginia179 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
My wife and I, along with two other couples had a free day early in our visit to Peru and decided to take a day-trip to Caral from Lima. It is a long ride (over 2 hours) to this site that provides, in fact, the earliest evidence of human habitation in the New World, dating from a time before the pyramids in Egypt, Mexico, or China. Also, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since it was discovered relatively recently, the site is still an active archaeological "dig". Because it is not as well known as Machu Pichu, which it predates, visitors are apt to have the site pretty much to themselves. It is (I believe) necessary to hire a local guide at the site...we had the services of a worker at the site, act as our guide. He described the area's history and how the area is being uncovered and studied to us in Spanish, whereupon our tour guide, who had accompanied us from Lima, provided a running translation into English....It worked well. I have no idea how those who only speak English would manage should they not be accompanied by a Spanish speaker...this would be my one caution. Caral itself is very arid and desert-like even though it is on the edge of a fertile river valley. Consequently, hats and sunblock are strongly recommended. A visit usually entails a long walk from a parking area to the site itself; however, in our case (three couples of retirement age from the USA), our guide managed to round up a young man with a motorcycle cart that transported us all the way to the visitor's center (a truly great Lima tour guide!) and back. Although Caral is off the usual tourist track, it is well worth the effort to visit and given its importance in the history of man, I would consider it nearly on a par with Machu Picu (Just much, much smaller...so far). I highly recommend making the effort to visit!
Written February 21, 2017
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.
amikoonse
Warroad, MN68 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
IMO this place was much more enjoyable to visit than Machu Picchu. No crowds, very reasonably priced, you can drive from Lima, and covers a large area with multiple structures. The tour guide was knowledgeable and everyone was friendly. The market in the site was reasonably priced. A backpack under $20 and T-shirts for under $10. Amazing place!
Written October 19, 2019
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.
Nicole
Portland, OR26 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
Before the Inca, the Greeks, the Romans, the Phoenicians, before the Chinese, there were the people of Caral. Their pyramids were built before the great pyramids of Egypt. It was amazing to walk the archeological site of the oldest civilization in the Americas, and to see a glimpse of life 5,000 years ago.
Not many make it out to Caral, but it’s well worth the visit. These ruins may not be as picturesque as Manchu Picchu, but they are no less worthy!
Not many make it out to Caral, but it’s well worth the visit. These ruins may not be as picturesque as Manchu Picchu, but they are no less worthy!
Written October 6, 2019
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.
Ricardo B
Miami, FL2,968 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
It is amazing that an archeological site of this incredible importance (the oldest in South America) still as quite and unvisited as this one. A great state of conservation for a 5000 years set of construction with amazing historical facts. And you have the site almost for yourself. Recommended
Written March 11, 2019
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.
hbkm
Leverkusen, Germany329 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
The downside of this archeological site first: It is pretty far off the track. It is a good four hour ride from Lima, so if this is the only reason for you to go to Caral, think twice before spending a total of eight hours in the car.
On the other hand, it is a site noticeably better financed and maintained than many others in Peru. There are stands with information in the entrance area and the path through the ruins is well maintained and even wheelchair accessible. Mind, though, there are two roads reaching the site. One lets you drive to a parking lot right in front of the entrance, the other one, however, lets you park on the other side of the river. From there the path is about 20-30 minutes and this path is not wheelchair accessible. If you can, the walk is worth it, though, as they put information about the local flora and fauna.
About the ruins itself; old rocks and sand. Interesting for anybody who is interested in history and who does his reading beforehand. Not so interesting if you come for spectacular views or impressive architecture.
On the other hand, it is a site noticeably better financed and maintained than many others in Peru. There are stands with information in the entrance area and the path through the ruins is well maintained and even wheelchair accessible. Mind, though, there are two roads reaching the site. One lets you drive to a parking lot right in front of the entrance, the other one, however, lets you park on the other side of the river. From there the path is about 20-30 minutes and this path is not wheelchair accessible. If you can, the walk is worth it, though, as they put information about the local flora and fauna.
About the ruins itself; old rocks and sand. Interesting for anybody who is interested in history and who does his reading beforehand. Not so interesting if you come for spectacular views or impressive architecture.
Written February 4, 2019
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.
RichardK938
West Palm Beach, FL731 contributions
Apr 2021
The ruins of the pyramids, residences, temples and courtyards are very impressive. Not many visitor due to COVID but there should. This is a very important historical site with lots to see and learn. It is over 4,000 years old!
Written May 6, 2021
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.
Ivanna E
Lima, Peru1 contribution
Hola! Se puede ir a conocer por cuenta propia? O se necesita contratar a un tour?
Nicole
Portland, OR26 contributions
You must have a tour guide to enter as they help make sure the site is taken care of. But you just come and wait for the next available guide. They are about every 15 minutes.
Debe tener un guÃa turÃstico para ingresar, ya que ayudan a asegurarse de que se cuide el sitio. Pero solo vienes y esperas la próxima guÃa disponible. Son aproximadamente cada 15 minutos.
Quisiera saber si para visitar el sitio de Caral, se podrÃa conseguir una cuadrimoto para el recorrido, tengo alguna dificultad para caminar o alguna alternativa similar ??
Saludos
CELYUX
Lima, Peru1,336 contributions
Hola, no alquilan cuatrimotos, pero hay caminos especiales para silla de ruedas .
saludos
cathyme
Lafayette, LA
en el internet :) muestran personas quien estan en el tope de el edificio mas alto. Esta permitada subir por arriba, o no? Gracias ...
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