Lima to Chincha Alta and Tambo Colorado: Private day trip

After being ruled by the Incan Empire and the Spanish, Chincha Alta became a haven for run-away African slaves, who helped shape the vibrant Afro-Latino culture that defines the town today. This cultural fusion is best seen in the El Carmen district, where you can watch locals dancing to cajon drum music while snacking on traditional Afro-Peruvian food.

Tambo Colorado, named for the red coloration of its adobe walls that blend in to the gorgeous surroundings, was an administrative outpost of the Incan Empire that served as everything from inn to citadel. Within its fortified walls is a massive complex of buildings and plazas, each with a distinct purpose. The northern plaza was a center for trade and commerce, the central for meetings of the nobility, and the western one for sacred ceremonies. This particular tambo is notable for various parts of its construction including its architectural mix of two distinct Incan styles. It is also notable for facing south rather than east - a rare thing in a civilization that worshipped the sun. The complex also houses drainworks that are some of the most advanced of its time, which allowed for some impressive applications, including ancient jacuzzis!