ANCIENT SITES OF NORTHERN PERU 

Day 1 Lima, Peru

Overview:

Start your journey by arriving in Lima, Peru’s dynamic capital city. From the cities UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre, to the many museums, restaurants and bars Lima is a great place to begin your adventure in Peru. Upon arrival you will be privately transferred to your chosen hotel.

Day 2-3 Lima and Trujillo, Peru

Overview:

After your first night in Peru you will be taken on a city Colonial tour featuring some of Lima’s Republican highlights: Museum of Art, Miguel Grau monument, Palace of Justice, and Plaza San Martin. Then, tour through Lima’s Colonial churches, promenades and palaces which reflect Peru’s Spanish heritage: Plaza Mayor, Government, Archbishop, and Osambela palaces, St. Peter Church, the Monastery of San Francisco and visit The Cathedral and Santo Domingo Church. Continue to Pueblo Libre district for a visit to the privately owned Larco Museum which contains a fascinating collection of beautifully modelled pottery vessels, unique gold and silver work and erotic ceramics from pre-Inca civilizations. An impressive display of thousands of ceramic pieces from the Moche culture brings animals, plants, and anthropomorphic deities to life. In the afternoon be privately transferred to the airport for a flight to Trujillo, North West of Lima. Upon your arrival you will be privately transferred to your hotel for the evening.

In the morning drive to the historic Temples of the Sun and the Moon. See the 1,700-year-old “Huaca del Sol” (Temple of the Sun) which is directly opposite to the “Huaca de la Luna” (Temple of the Moon). The Temple of the Moon is sure to dazzle you with its decorated walls and impressive friezes. The entire archaeological site was once the religious capital of the Moche Culture. Continue your day with a visit to the pre-Inca temple, “Huaca El Dragón”. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in Huanchaco Bay. Here you will be able to see local fishermen continue to go out to sea in fragile straw skiffs, known as “Caballitos de Totora”. In the afternoon visit Chan Chan, the pre-Columbian adobe citadel of the Chimú culture, the largest of its kind, as well as a museum.

Day 4-5 Chiclayo, Peru

Overview:

In the morning finish up your time in Trujillo and journey to Chiclayo via a private transfer. On the way, visit the “El Brujo” archaeological complex, famous for its richly-coloured murals on a Moche pyramid, and the “Señora de Cao” museum, which exhibits the famous tattooed mummy of the first female ruler of the Moche culture, the Lady of Cao. Discovered in 2005, it is considered to be one of the best relics of a civilization that ended over 1,300 years ago. The museum also hosts ceremonial items such as jewellery, weapons, ancient textiles and ceramics, as well as the remains of a sacrificed teenage girl. Afterwards, visit the ruins of San José de Moro. Arrive at your accommodation in the afternoon and enjoy you’re the rest of the day at your own leisure.

The following morning, visit Chiclayo’s main market, the so called “Witch Market”, where various potions, herbs and other implements used by the Shamans can be found. Afterwards visit the important Huaca Rajada archaeological site. Tour the lavish 1,700-year-old Moche tomb of the Lord of Sipán, acknowledged as the “most important discovery of the 20th century” because of the vast quantity and high value of the gold and silver treasures uncovered within. In the afternoon, visit the “Museo Tumbas Reales”, where the gold of the Sipan treasure can be seen, and Tucume, a vast Lambayeque archaeological complex, known as the “Valley of the Pyramids” dating from 1,000-1,532 A.D.

Day 6-7 Gocta Falls, Cocachima, Peru

Overview:

Depart in the morning with a private transfer from Chiclayo to the town of Cocachimba taking approximately 9 hours. The beautiful journey crosses through the western Andean range at the pass “Abra de Porcuya” and then descends through one of the planet’s driest deserts, after crossing the impressive Marañon River, a major Amazon tributary. The road then ventures into the rice and coffee producing valley of Bagua. The trip continues via the Utcubamba canyon and valley to get into the mountain forest characteristic of the Chachapoyas territory. A side valley leads to the village of Cocachimba (1,721m). Settle in for the night at your lodge and enjoy a delicious dinner.

The following morning begin the day with a 2 ½ hour (6 km) trek to the waterfall of Gocta. This waterfall (771m. high) is considered the third highest in the world. The trek goes along the side of a valley through sugar cane fields and into forest that is home to the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, mountain sloth, orchid bromeliads and the magnificent cock-of-the-rock. With glimpses of the waterfall along the way, you will arrive at the base of the highest fall. If you’re brave enough you may want to take a dip at the base.

Day 8-9 Karajia and Kuelap, Peru

Overview:

Say goodbye to the tranquillity of Gocta Falls and drive to Caserío Cruz Pata, a tiny hamlet. Then, walk downhill for 30 minutes to Kuarajia where various stylized human sarcophagi can be seen. Made out of mud and perched on a cliff ledge 40m above the ground, the sarcophagi have been looking out at the privileged view across the valley for 750 years. After lunch, continue to Leymebamba, along the Utcubamba valley, and visit the Leymebamba Museum, which houses more than 219 mummies, found at “Laguna de los Cóndores” (condors lagoon). Archaeological pieces of the Chachapoyas culture: textiles, pottery, quipus and woodcarvings, will also be seen.

The following morning you will depart to Tingo. An approximate 1 hour and 20 minute drive will bring you to a cable car that will take you from 2,000 to 3,000 meters altitude (4 km) as you travel to the base of Kuelap in 20 minutes. The impressive fortress and citadel of Kuelap features prominent towering walls, temples and hundreds of roundhouses capped by the cloud forest (3,030 m) always amaze its visitors.

Day 10-11 Chachapoyas to Lima, Peru

Overview:

Finish your trip with a morning departure to Chachapoyas. At an elevation of 2,335m the town is in a valley surrounded by cloud forest. After settling into your final accommodation for the evening spend the afternoon having a glimpse of the city, the Huancas community- famous for their old fashioned clay pots and a visit to the Sonche Canyon. Enjoy your final night before your private transfer in the morning to the airport for your departing flight to Lima. We can tailor-make your itinerary to extend your holiday anywhere throughout Latin America to suit your needs.