Discover the northern treasures of Peru

Our comfortable vehicle takes us via the Pan American Highway along the Pacific Ocean coast, across sand deserts and through coastal valleys to Pativilca. Here we take the Pativilca – Huaraz Highway and drive up into the Andes until we reach Conococha Lake (4,100 m.a.s.l).

Scenic mountains capes announce our arrival to the Callejón de Huaylas Valley between the Cordillera Negra (Black Mountain Range) and the Cordillera Blanca. We continue to Huaraz (3,100 m.a.s.l), the “Capital of Mountaineering and International Friendship.

Overnight in Huaraz.

Reception and transfer to the hotel.

We will visit the beautiful Callejon de Huaylas, including towns such as Carhuaz, Caraz, Yungayz, and the beautiful Lake Llanganuco, situated in the Huascaran National Park and that reflects the beauty of Mount Huascaran on its waters.

After having lunch in Caraz we will visit the artisan center of Tarica and then return to Huaraz.

Overnight in Huaraz.

Breakfast.

We will visit the millennium temple of Chavin, explaining much of our civilization, and the recently declared Cultural Patrimony of the World.

Route by the archaeological set, we will appreciate the Lanzón de Chavín, the nailed heads, the stone of Choquechinchay, we will cross an impressive network of internal galleries or labyrinths, also are appraised columns and a great concentric ceremonial piece of graderias. Lunch included.

Return to Huaraz.

In the evening, you will travel by bus to Trujillo at night bus. (Duration: 08 hours)

Overnight in bus.

You will be arriving in Trujillo at 05:00 am. Upon your arrival, we will take the transfer to the hotel for breakfast.

Afternoon city tour including a panoramic visit of the downtown, surrounded by colonial mansions now recovered to their full magnificence by local institutions: La Casa Urquiaga (now housing the Banco de la Reserva) and la Casa Risco (now houses the Museum of Archaeology ) are very good samples of XVII century mansions with iron balconies.

Visit the Cathedral with its collection of paintings from the Quito School and the Monastery of El Carmen and Art Museum. Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Trujillo.

After breakfast you will visit Chan Chan, the ancient Capital of the Chimu Kingdom is a “must” for all visitors. It is considered to be the largest mud-brick city in the pre-Hispanic Latin America, its higher development was reached between the XII and XIV centuries, then it was conquered by the Incas and finally abandoned before the arrival of the Spaniards. From the remains of this immense complex, we can deduce that the Chimu people were excellent engineers and architects.

A stop is made at the Temple of the Dragon consecrated to the rainbow with beautiful bas-reliefs. Then, transfer to Huanchaco, which is a fisher’s village near Chan-Chan ideal for lunch at one of its typical restaurants, also an opportunity to watch “Caballitos de Totora” or reed boats returning from morning fishing duty. Transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Trujillo.

After breakfast, departure in private transportation to Chiclayo located 209 kilometers from Trujillo, visiting along the route, the archaeological site “El Brujo complex” which belongs to the Mochica civilization. This important Mochica Complex has an area of 2 square kilometers.

The discoverie include reliefs that represent scenes of the magical and religious world of the Mochicas. It is a damaged, stepped pyramid with a central court that was probably used primarily for religious ceremonies. This pyramid is undoubtedly the most impressive Moche site in the Chicama Valley and is nowadays more often referred to “EL BRUJO” (“The Sorcerer”). This current name is due to the common practice of shamans of the North coast, to hold some of their healing ceremonies at prominent hills or prehispanic ruins, which they consider to be places of power.

This huaca or “ancient place” lies very near the sea, close to the small fishing village Santiago de Cao, on the right hand margin of the Chicama River. Arrival in Chiclayo and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Chiclayo.

After breakfast 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. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Chiclayo.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free morning to visit Chiclayo.

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to Lima. Arrival at the “Jorge Chavez International Lima Airport” where you will wait for your international flight.