Located on the main road leading east from the Peruvian capital, Chaclacayo is a town and district in Lima Province. It is nestled in the valley of the Rimac River, which flows from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean, and takes its name from the Aymara word meaning “at the foot of the carrizo”.
Things to do in Chaclacayo
In the heart of Chaclacayo is Parque Central, a beautifully landscaped green space surrounded by restaurants, bars and small stores. It is dotted with topiary animals and old wagons that have been transformed into photographic features, as well as plenty of benches for watching the world go by. From the park, there are magnificent views of the Cerro de Huascata and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Lima and the island of San Lorenzo from the top of the mountain.
Nestled in the foothills is the Sitio Arqueológico Huaycán de Pariachi, which preserves the site of a settlement believed to date back to the Pre-Ceramic Neolithic period. Join a guided tour to explore its recreated houses, processing terraces and funerary structures while learning about the site’s occupation by the Ichma and Incas.
Chaclacayo is surrounded by several golf courses where you can develop your game, including the well-tended greens of Los Andes Golf Club and Club Acenespar GC Ñaña. On the other side of town is Club Terrazas, which not only boasts a golf course but also children’s playgrounds and a large swimming pool.
Getting around Chaclacayo
Chaclacayo is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Lima and 1.5 hours from Jorge Chavez International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the Americas and Europe. Buses travel through Chaclacayo and connect most of its attractions, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area.