We wish to thank Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia for some of the information we have written about Cahuachi. Pronounced: ( coo-ay-shi) Cahuachi was a major ceremonial center of the Nazca culture and overlooked some of the Nazca lines from 1 CE to about 500 CE. It is said to be the world�s largest ceremonial site (24 sq. kilometers / 9.3 sq. miles) in size. Cahuachi is located just 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the Nasca Lines in Peru. Cahuachi which in Quechua means �from where you look� was an ancient city, which became fully developed between 400 BC and 450 AD. Cahuachi was a ceremonial center for religious leaders and it is believed to be the place where the concept for the Nasca Lines was conceived. Cahuachi is composed of 36 pyramids ranging between 15 meters (49 feet) and 35 meters (115 feet) in height. Cahuachi's main structure, named, the Grand Pyramid, measures 28 meters (92 feet) in height, 110 meters (361 feet) in length and 100 meters (328 feet) in width. The Grand Pyramid is made into seven levels, with adobe walls and geometric access ramps. Cahuachi was once thought to be the mighty capital of the Nazca state. New research has suggested that 40 of the mounds at Cahuachi were actually natural hills modified to appear as artificial constructions. It is thought that the permanent population of Cahuachi was quite small, but it was apparently a pilgrimage center that grew greatly in population when major ceremonial events were held. These events probably involved the Nazca lines and the giant sand dune of Nazca. Support for the pilgrimage theory comes from archaeological evidence of sparse population at Cahuachi and from the Nazca lines themselves which show creatures such as orca and monkeys which were not present in the Nazca region. Of course, trade or travel may explain the images. Due to the dry climate the finds at the site are quite rich, and include even such ephemeral material as clothing. A dirt road travels 25km west from Nazca to Cahuachi, which is still undergoing excavation. Cahuachi consists of several pyramids, a graveyard and an enigmatic site called Estaquer�a, which may have been used as a place of mummification. Typical tours from Nazca take three hours and may include a side trip to Pueblo Viejo, a nearby pre-Nazca residential settlement. Tourists can currently visit the Antonini Museum in Nasca to see a collection of Cahuachi treasures which includes ceramic pieces, textiles and religious relics. Tourists can also visit Cahuachi on a guided tour to see the first restored pyramid and talk to specialists who are currently working on-site to finalize the restoration process. Tourists can also look forward to visiting the archeological site of Cahuachi in 2011 on their own to see all of the restored pyramids for themselves and fully appreciate the rich and cultural history of this region. Josue Lancho, a Peruvian historian describes the relationship between Cahuachi and Nasca as the following: �The role of the Nasca figures was exclusively for ceremonial purposes. The high priests led the people of Cahuachi to this area to carry out religious ceremonies. In this regard, one can say that the Nasca Lines were temples without walls for mass congregation and the pre- Hispanic Vatican of its time.� Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Orefici has been excavating the site for the past few decades, bringing a team down every year. The site contains over 40 mounds topped with adobe structures. It is a huge architectural complex covering 0.6 sq. miles (1.5 km2). It has also been studied by Helaine Silverman, who has written a book on Cahuachi. Cahuachi is six hours away from Lima and forty- five minutes from the Nasca Lines. The best time to visit Cahuachi is very early in the morning because at noon it gets extremely hot and paracas or desert winds become very strong. Tourists will need sturdy shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent. We visited Cahuachi on March 14, 2011 at about 11:20 AM. This page is for information purposes only and while we have made every effort to be accurate, it is the travelers responsibility to make the appropriate choice as to which hotels to use in Peru. We found that when touring Peru, Magical Cusco Tours gave us the best service of all. They even arranged very personal tours based upon our ages and experience. They were there for us whenever we needed them. Click on any of their links on our pages and they will give you a 4% discount for taking their package tours. Mention delange.org. Merchant Code Inka2010 for your discount! We suggest letting Ana Maria handle your tour. Note: The 4% discount applies to package tours only! Discount does not apply to hotel bookings, domestic or international tickets, meals or any other service booked as a single activity. Magical Cusco Tours also has a culinary tour that you may enjoy.Click Here For: Taste Of Peru.com their culinary tour page. Cahuachi is just one of the interesting archaeological sites to visit in this area. You could actually spend several days in this area and not see them all!