6-day monumental Sipan, Kuelap & Cajamarca

Upon your arrival to Chiclayo, our transportation team will be waiting you at the airport to take our private transfer to your selected hotel.

After check-in, we will visit the archaeological site of the Lord of Sipan located in the site called Huaca Rajada. The importance of this archaeological discovery was compared to the discoveries of the tomb of Tutankhamen and Machu Picchu. There are two huge adobe mud pyramids in front of which there is a platform, dating back a thousand years before the Incas.

Recently two of the most famous pre-Columbian tombs were found here undisturbed: the tombs of the Lord of Sipan and his ancestor, the Old Lord. The significance of these tombs is highlighted by the fact that the Lord of Sipan was buried in a wooden coffin with bronze clasps. Skeletons of those sacrificed during the funeral rites were found outside the sarcophagus; two young women at the head and feet of the lord, two men at either side of the body, and the skeleton of a dog.

You will continue your exploration by going to the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum which was inspired by the Mochica pyramids. This new museum was inaugurated in November 2002 and is rated one of the most outstanding archaeological museums in South America. Here you can find a reconstruction of the tomb of Sipan, dubbed the “Tutankhamen of the Americas” because of the golden splendor of his tomb.

At the end of the day, we will take the transfer back to the hotel.

In the morning we will depart from Chiclayo by private car, van or minibus with air conditioning. Starting in the coast and arriving in the late afternoon in the cloud forest of Chachapoyas.

During the road trip we will have a box lunch and dinner will be included once we arrive to the hotel. Overnight at Hostal.

After breakfast we will visit Kuelap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city hidden in the top of a precipitous mountain. Although Kuelap was discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu, it is not as well-known to the outside world.

Nevertheless recent amazing discoveries in nearby areas that are related to Kuelap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologists, international magazines and film companies.

We will have a box Lunch and you will be able to continue exploring by your own. At the end of the day, we will return to the hotel for the night.

Dinner and overnight at hostal.

Early in the morning we will drive to Cajamarca by way of the Maranon Canyon, which is one of Peru’s most spectacular drives.

The Maranon River forms one of the world’s deepest canyons, and we will descend through different ecosystems from over 10,000 feet in altitude to the town of Balsas at 4,000 ft.

We will cross two cordilleras and several different habitats, such as cloud forest, agricultural land, and desert-like areas.  We will have a box lunch on the way.

Finally, overnight at the hotel.

Morning light trek through the Cajamarca countryside to see local people in their daily activities including children going to school.

Then, we will visit the Ventanillas de Otuzco, a pre-Inca cemetery that features a gallery of secondary burial niches (located 5 miles from the city).

After lunch, we will explore the main points of the city: Main Square, the Cathedral and the 17th Century San Francisco church, which houses the Museum of Religious Art.

Then we will continue on to the Ransom; which Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor, filled once with gold and twice with silver so as to obtain his freedom in 1532. After that, we will go to the Belen complex which includes the Belen church constructed entirely of sculptures volcanic rock and finally on to Santa Apolonia Hill, for a scenic view of the valley of Cajamarca and where one may also see the ceremonial Inca seat.

Finally return to hotel and overnight in Cajamarca.

Breakfast at hotel.

At a set time, our transportation team will be waiting at the hotel lobby to transfer you to the airport or bus station.

End of services.