Hidden Pearls of Northern Peru

During this 18-day tour of Peru, you will get to know the highlights of the country. You start in the vibrant capital of Lima, where you will discover Peru’s gastronomy, culture and history. Then you travel to the mystical archaeological sites of Caral and Sechin, and explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes around Huaraz and the Llanganuco Lagoon. Your adventure will take you further to Trujillo and Chiclayo, where you will discover fascinating pre-Inca cultures such as the Moche and Chimu, visiting impressive temples and pyramids. In northern Peru, you’ll hike to the spectacular Gocta waterfall and visit the ancient Chachapoya town of Kuelap. You’ll end your trip in Cajamarca, where history meets beautiful nature, and you can immerse yourself in the rich history of the Incas and the Spanish conquests. This trip offers a perfect blend of adventure, culture and relaxation.

Duration:

18 days

Price:

€ 4166 p.p.

Starting point:

Lima, Peru

End point:

Lima, Peru

Day by day

After a full breakfast at our hotel, we will drive towards the romantic “Parque Del Amor” where we will enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and beaches. Then we will go to a very traditional local market in Surquillo where we will learn about Peruvian gastronomy and the many products we grow and harvest in our country. Here we will have a fruit tasting to enjoy the native and exotic products from different regions of Peru (Coastal, Andean and Amazonian). The next place to visit is the Bohemian and artistic district of Barranco, the smallest district of Lima. We will visit the “plaza,” the romantic and mystical “Puente de los suspiros.” We will also take a look at the beautiful art paintings on the very small and narrow street walls of this traditional neighborhood and then have lunch in a very local restaurant preparing typical dishes. After lunch we will go to the historic center of Lima, where we will visit the Plaza San Martin and the mysterious underground catacombs of the San Francisco Monastery to learn more about the history of Peru.
Today we will pick you up from the hotel at 7:00 a.m. and then it is about a 3-hour drive to the Supe Valley where we will visit Caral, the oldest known civilization in the Americas. It developed about 5000 years ago at the same time as the ancient culture of Mesopotamia. The archaeological site of Caral is among the most impressive ruins in Peru. The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers about 60 hectares in the arid Supe Valley and was first inhabited between 2,600 B.C. and 2,000 B.C. Although Caral was first discovered in 1948, recent excavations uncovered an extensive complex of temples, sunken plazas and some of the largest terraced pyramids in the world, prompting archaeologists to consider the possibility that Caral could be the legendary Mother City of ancient civilizations. Now open to the public, the site is praised for its beautifully preserved ruins and intriguing collection of artifacts, including a quipu (a unique knot system) and a number of musical instruments made from animal bones, but no traces of weapons or warfare.
We follow the route along the lagoons of Llanganuco and begin the climb to “Portachuelo,” where we enjoy breathtaking 360º views of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, including Huascaran (6,768 meters), Huandoy (6,395 meters), Chacraraju (6,112 meters), Chopicalqui (6,354 meters) and Pisco (5,752 meters). After a two-hour bus ride, we arrive in Cebollapampa, located at an altitude of 3,900 meters. From here the hike of about 8 km begins. After three hours of climbing, we arrive at the spectacular Lake 69 at 4,620 meters, surrounded by the impressive snow-capped peaks of Chacraraju, Pisco, Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Huandoy and Yanapaccha. After spending about 40 minutes at the lake, we return to Huaraz.
On the way to Trujillo, we stop at the archaeological site of Sechin, where the monoliths on the facades display intriguing figures. These statues depict warrior priests, armed with scepters, and their dismembered victims, a scene that seems to tell a bloody story. Some theories suggest that Sechin was a center for anatomical studies, given the detailed depictions of human viscera and skeletal structures. Other theories claim that the site was the scene of human sacrifices, performed to please the gods and protect crops from drought and other natural disasters.
After breakfast, we drive to the Huacas Sol y Luna, the most important temples of the Moche culture in northern Peru, who ruled this area of Trujillo and its valleys for about 800 years. We enter the Huaca de la Luna to enjoy the best reliefs and original friezes made of clay that still have their colors intact. Here we are introduced to the Huaca del Sol, which stands out for its size and construction based on millions of mud bricks. All the treasures of the excavations in the Huacas Sol y Luna Archaeological Complex are displayed in the Site Museum. Next, we head north from Trujillo. Now it is time to learn more about the evolution of the Moche culture from which the Chimu culture emerged, with its large city of Chan Chan and the surrounding Huacas. We enjoy 1 more hour of hiking and taking photos along the way.
On the way to the Chicama Valley, the sugar valley with the highest sugar production in northern Peru, this valley is home to the most important find of the lady of Cao, a female ruler in Moche times who today is a female symbol of leadership and power in ancient Peru. His body was found with gold and silver jewelry showing his rank and social status in the Mochica culture; but most striking and dazzling is his fully preserved body and that his tattoos of snakes and spiders still bear. Places to visit: Cao museum Mausoleum of the lady of cao Huaca cao viejo
We go to the Sican Museum, a modern museum where all the jewelry and bodies of characters of great importance in Sican society are displayed. Its jewels shine through their weight, design and work, each jewel was elaborated with the smallest detail and that served as emblems of rank in times of Sican culture. Then we go to the Valley of the Pyramids of Tucume, which is formed by 26 pyramids of clay. These pyramids are considered the largest in South America and there we have the opportunity to walk around and go to the viewpoint Cerro El Purgatorio for a view of the entire valley. We have lunch and then we go to the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipan, one of the 10 best museums in the world. This room houses all the jewelry (nose rings, ear muffs, breast straps, necklaces and bracelets) as well as ceramics and the body of the El Señor de Sipan and their ancestors.
After breakfast, we will leave Chiclayo and cross four different Peruvian departments: Lambayeque, southern Piura, northern Cajamarca and the end of Amazonas. The journey, which takes about 9 hours, traverses petrified forest, climbs gradually into the mountains over the Porculla Pass and then descends to the Marañon Valley and jungle area known for exotic bird species. Arrival at the Lodge in the late afternoon.
The Gocta waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in the world. Put on your hiking boots, because today the program includes one of the most famous treks in Peru: the hike to the Gocta waterfall. After transferring to the starting point of the trail, you will set off along farms and deep into the cloud forest ecosystem. During this section you will see a number of endemic bird species, including hummingbirds and gallito de las rocas (Andean rooster-of-the-rock), Peru’s national bird. You will also see exotic flora, such as orchids and bromeliads. Finally, you’ll arrive at Mother Nature’s spectacle: the Gocta Falls. At 771 meters deep over a cliff, this is one of the highest waterfalls in the world (and the highest in Peru). The lush greenery and dramatic cliffs surrounding the falls add to its beauty. After enjoying the scenery, we return to the lodge.
Today we visit Kuelap. Built by the pre-Inca Chachapoya civilization, known as the “warriors of the clouds,” Kuelap is one of the largest ancient stone complexes in the Western Hemisphere. Built 3000 meters above sea level, on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, the imposing site is more than 600 meters long. With its surrounding walls reaching up to 20 meters high, Kuelap is often described as a fortress, but the complex does not only include military structures – there are buildings indicating religious, civil and domestic use – and it is estimated that as many as 3,000 people lived here at its peak. After your visit to Kuelap, drive on to Gocta.
Today we visit Karajia. This remarkable cemetery consists of a series of unique sarcophagi. Known as the purunmachus, these anthropomorphic figures stand high on a cliff overlooking the Utcubamba Valley. Upon arrival in a nearby town, you’ll hike on foot in about 30 minutes to the sarcophagi lookout point. There you will have a wonderful vantage point to admire these striking icons, which have overlooked the valley for more than 750 years. After lunch we will drive to Leymebamba where we will spend the night.
Today we leave Cajamarca for a one-hour drive west to the pre-Hispanic site of Cumbe Mayo. Along the way, we will stop at the famous Bellavista viewpoint to enjoy panoramic views of Cajamarca and the surrounding Andes. You will also stop at pre-Inca ruins of temples and sacrificial stones. Finally, we arrive at Cumbe Mayo. This ancient stone aqueduct is estimated to be 3,000 years old and was built by the pre-Inca civilization of Cajamarca. Besides the history, it offers a glimpse into the building skills of these ancient peoples. We return to Cajamarca in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we travel to another important archaeological site in Cajamarca: Ventanillas de Otuzco. This site dates back about 2,000 years and is known for its unique funerary niches carved into a rock face and resembling small windows or ventanillas in Spanish. These niches were used by the Cajamarca culture and later by the Incas for funerary purposes. We then return to the hotel to take a dip in the warm water pools or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Spa.
Today we set out for a tour of the city and nearby historical sites. The first place your guide will take you to is Baños del Inca, a complex of hot springs believed to have been a popular refuge for the Inca rulers. More importantly, this place is home to the Ransom Chamber. In this small chamber, Inca emperor Atahualpa was held prisoner in 1532 by the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro. Atahualpa offered a room full of gold and silver as ransom, and although the Spanish accepted, they executed the Inca ruler anyway. Then we go to Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square. It is full of impressive Baroque colonial churches and monasteries from the 17th-18th centuries. In the late afternoon transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Lima.