The Best 11 Day Northern Peru Itinerary: Archaeology & History

Day 1: Lima – Trujillo

Evening flight from Lima to Trujillo. Transfer from the airport to hotel.

Day 2: Trujillo

Breakfast. Full day tour including: the main square, the Cathedral, El Carmen Church and Monastery, San Francisco Church, the Urquiaga and Emancipacion Colonial mansions, and the Cassinelli Museum.

Continue on to Chan-Chan, the ancient capital of the Chimu Kingdom and the largest adobe citadel of Pre-Hispanic America, Huaca Tshudi, Huaca Dragon, and site museum. On to the fishing village of Huanchaco, well known for the “Caballitos de Totora” boats made of bundles of “totoras” (reed): lunch in Huanchaco.

In the afternoon, visit to the temples of the Sun and the Moon dating from the Moche period. (B/L)

Day 3: Trujillo – Chiclayo

Breakfast. Morning departure overland to Chiclayo. In the afternoon, excursion to explore the beautiful, little-known beaches, where fishermen bring in their daily catch. Visit the artisan village Monsefú, famous for its reed and cotton crafts. Transfer to the hotel. (B)

Day 4: Chiclayo

Breakfast. Explore the archaeological complex of Tucume, where the ruins of 26 structures constructed from huge adobe blocks are known as Peru’s valley of the pyramids. Visit to Tumbas Reales de Sipan Museum, located in Lambayeque, seven miles (12km) from Chiclayo.

This ultra-modern museum offers a great collection of objects in gold, silver, and copper from the Lord of Sipan Tombs. Lunch. Then on to the Sicán archaeological complex and its site museum, located in the middle of a petrified forest. (B/L)

Day 5: Chiclayo – Chachapoyas

Breakfast. In the morning you will depart from Chiclayo by private car, van or minibus with air conditioning. You will cross four different Peruvian departments: Lambayeque, south Piura, the North of Cajamarca, and end in Amazonas.

The journey, which takes approximately 9 hours, takes you through a petrified forest, climbing steadily into the mountains over the Porculla Pass at 6,600 feet above sea level (2,000m.a.s.l.), then descending into the Marañon Valley and jungle terrain renowned for exotic bird species, huge slipper orchids, and cascading waterfalls.

Late afternoon arrival to Chachapoyas. Box lunch and dinner included. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Kuelap

After breakfast, you will visit Kuelap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city hidden atop 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 relate to Kuelap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologists, international magazines, and film companies.

Box Lunch. Following your visit to Kuelap, you will return to the hotel for the night. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Revash

After breakfast, you will enjoy an excursion to Revash. Then you will enjoy an excursion on foot (20-minute walk) to visit the colorful funeral buildings of Revash perched on a ledge up high on a cliff.

They overlook a valley and tributary of the Utcubamba, near the town of Santo Tomas. The cliff walls at Revash are decorated with geometric designs and figures of camelids. Some of the tombs are decorated with T cross-shaped niches. Box lunch provided by the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Chachapoyas – Leymebamba

This morning, you will drive towards Leymebamba. On the way, you will stop at Las Palmas, where a trek will start to La Congona, a spectacular settlement pattern of the Chachapoyas culture. 2-hour steep climbing. In this area, you will be able to discover outstanding friezes and defensive towers still untouched in the jungle.

After a picnic lunch, provided by the hotel, return to Leymebamba, where we will spend a night at a local two-star hostel. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Leymebamba – Cajamarca

Morning visit to the Museum of Leymebamba with its amazing collection of well-preserved pre-Inca mummies discovered in the Laguna de los Condores. Then you will drive to Celendin and then to Cajamarca, crossing two cordilleras and several different habitats, such as cloud forest, agricultural land, desert-like areas, and the Marañon Canyon. Box lunch on way (provided by hotel). (B/L/D)

Day 10: Cajamarca

Morning light trek through the Cajamarca countryside to see local people in their daily activities, including children going to school. Then we visit the Ventanillas de Otuzco, a pre-Inca cemetery that features a gallery of secondary burial niches (located 5 miles, or 8km, from the city).

After lunch in Cajamarca, 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. Continue on to the Ransom Room; which Atahualpa, filled with silver and gold in a futile attempt to secure his freedom from Spanish conquistadors in 1532; to the Belen complex which includes the Belen church constructed from volcanic rock, and finally on to Santa Apolonia Hill, for a scenic view of the valley of Cajamarca and where one can also see the ceremonial Inca seat.

Finally, we will stop for a delicious cup of coffee, tea or refreshments at a local cafeteria.

Return to hotel to take a dip in its swimming pools with thermal waters or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Spa. (This service is not included in the price).

Farewell dinner at Hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Cajamarca – Lima

Breakfast. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima. (B)

(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner