Caral-Supe
The Oldest Archaeological Site in the Americas

🧭 Site Overview

Located 182 km north of Lima in the Supe Valley, Caral is the oldest known pre-Columbian city in the Americas (3000-1800 BC). This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents the cradle of Andean civilization, contemporary with the pyramids of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

📜 History and Significance

• Age: 5,000 years (4,000 years older than the Incas)
• Discovery: Identified as a major site in 1994 by Ruth Shady
• Area: 66 hectares with 32 monumental structures
• Unique Feature: First complex society in the American continent

📸 What to See at Caral?

Iconic structures:

• ⛰️ Main Pyramid

  18 meters high with a 150x160 m base, this terraced structure features a central staircase leading to a circular atrium. Its anti-seismic drainage system is remarkable.

• 🔔 Amphitheater

  This 29-meter diameter ceremonial complex has ritual hearths and concentric benches. Condor and pelican bone flutes were discovered here.

• 🏠 Residential Quarters

  Dwellings reveal social stratification with leaders' houses (cut stone) and artisans' homes (adobe). Some feature typical wall niches.

• ⚖️ Central Plaza

  500 m² public space surrounded by platforms, likely used for trade and community gatherings.

• 🌾 Agricultural Fields

  The irrigation system with canals and reservoirs demonstrates advanced hydraulic knowledge for growing cotton, squash, and beans.

💡 Did you know? Caral had neither fortifications nor signs of war - a peaceful society focused on trade and religion.

🚗 How to Get There

• From Lima:
  • By car: 3h30 via Pan-American Highway North (km 184)
  • By bus: Lines to Barranca + collective taxi (2h dirt road)
  • Organized tours: Full-day with guide

🎟️ Fees & Hours (2024)

• General admission: 11 soles (∼3 USD)
• Students: 4 soles (with ID)
• Opening hours: 9am-5pm (last entry at 4pm)
• Guided tour: Additional 20 soles (recommended)

🧭 Visiting Tips

• ⏱ Duration: Allow 3-4 hours for complete visit
• 👕 Attire:
  • Hiking shoes (rocky terrain)
  • Sun protection (hat, SPF50+ sunscreen)
  • Windbreaker for coastal winds
• 💧 Facilities:
  • Small on-site museum
  • Basic toilets
  • Simple food in nearby village

📍 Interesting Combinations

• Bandurria: Nearly 5000-year-old archaeological site south of Huacho
• Áspero: Fishing site from the same civilization
• Vichama: Archaeological site in Vegueta, Huaura province north of Lima
• Barranca: Fresh ceviche tasting on the coast

Caral offers a unique journey to the origins of Andean civilization in a preserved desert setting. This extraordinary site, remarkable for its antiquity and conservation, helps understand the first expressions of urbanism, monumental architecture, and social organization on the continent. An immersive experience that contrasts with more recent Inca sites.

✨ Don't miss: The animal bone flutes displayed at the museum, the oldest musical instruments in America.