Encounter the world's oldest artificially mummified human remains — 7,000 years old, predating Egypt's mummies by 2,000 years — at the UNESCO-listed San Miguel de Azapa Museum in a lush desert valley just outside Arica. An unmissable window into one of humanity's most extraordinary funerary traditions.
What to expect
Your expert private guide meets you at the port and whisks you into the sun-soaked Azapa Valley, stopping first at roadside geoglyphs etched into hillsides thousands of years ago. The San Miguel de Azapa Museum holds the world's premier Chinchorro mummy collection, displayed with scholarly rigour and extraordinary preservation. Stroll through the museum's gardens and the valley's ancient agricultural terraces before returning through Arica's vibrant market streets for a taste of local life.
Good to know
Museum entry is included in most private tour rates; confirm when booking. The valley is a 20-minute drive from port — easily manageable before all-aboard. Pre-book a private guide well in advance for peak cruise season (November–March) as expert English-speaking archaeologist-guides are limited.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Arica — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Arica
- Lauca National Park & Chungará Lake Full-Day Private Tour
- Morro de Arica Summit, Cathedral & Panoramic City Private Tour
- Altiplano Immersion: Putre Village, Salar de Surire & Lake Chungará
- Cuevas de Anzota Sea Caves & Coastal Kayak Experience
- Arica Archaeological & Geoglyph Sightseeing Expert-Led Tour