Casma Province: Playa Tortugas and Archaeological Sites

Casma Province offers several points of interest to consider when planning a trip: Playa Tortugas as a geographical reference point, and the archaeological sites of Las Aldas, Cerro Sechín and Chankillo. These places differ in their characteristics: Las Aldas is notable for its sequence of plazas, Cerro Sechín for the imagery on its façade, and Chankillo for its astronomical alignment. If you are looking for a hotel, you can compare these highlights with your own travel interests.

Playa Tortugas and the province’s location

Playa Tortugas is located in the Comandante Noel District of Casma Province, north of the city of Casma and at kilometer 395 of the Panamericana Norte. This places it geographically by its location within the district, its direction relative to the city of Casma, and its distance marker on the highway. If Playa Tortugas is part of your trip, you can use these details alongside your interest in the archaeological sites as a guide when planning.

Las Aldas: spatial sequence and function

Las Aldas was an urban center with an administrative and ceremonial character. The main temple comprises a series of rectangular plazas; one of them contains a large circular plaza. The site can therefore be understood through several distinct spatial forms: the rectangular plazas form a sequence, while the large circular plaza is an element within one of them. Together with its administrative and ceremonial function, this spatial arrangement shapes the character of Las Aldas.

The final leg of the journey is also part of planning a visit: from the parking lot, an 800-meter walking trail leads to the site and takes about 15 minutes. Use this as an approximate estimate; as trail conditions can change, check them before your visit.

Cerro Sechín: façade and cultural heritage

Cerro Sechín draws attention to a different archaeological feature. Its façade consists of engraved stone slabs depicting warriors in a procession. This imagery differs clearly from the spatial layout of Las Aldas. Cerro Sechín also has official cultural heritage status: the Peruvian Ministry of Culture declared the site Cultural Heritage of the Nation through Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 239-2010-VMPCIC-MC, dated December 13, 2010. Its imagery and formal recognition therefore offer two distinct points of reference for understanding the site.

Chankillo within the wider destination of Ancash

In the wider destination of Ancash, the archaeoastronomical complex of Chankillo is located in Casma Province. It is Cultural Heritage of the Nation, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021, and is recognized as the oldest solar observatory in the Americas. The observatory consists of thirteen towers aligned from north to south along a hill. They mark the course of the sun throughout the year, including the solstices and equinoxes.

Chankillo broadens the archaeological comparison to include the alignment of structures and observation of the solar year. Las Aldas is characterized by its sequence of plazas and its administrative and ceremonial function; Cerro Sechín by its engraved depictions on the façade. The sites thus differ in spatial design, imagery and astronomical function—specific interests you can weigh against one another when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Casa Blanca, Huaraz, Bolognesi Province, Carhuaz, Huaraz.

Go to the wider travel overview: Ancash.