Day 1: Lima
Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Trujillo
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the morning flight
to Trujillo. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Free day
to explore Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru, at your
own leisure.
Day 3: Chan Chan
After breakfast, a guided visit to the metropolis
of Chan-Chan, the ancient capital city of the Chimu Empire.
It is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America, built
entirely of mud and adobe brick. A stop is made at Huaca Dragon
to visit this restored, pyramidal shaped adobe temple consecrated
to the rainbow, and with beautiful bas-reliefs. A visit to
the small nearby archaeological museum concludes the tour.
Return to your hotel.
Day 4: Chiclayo museums
Short journey by bus to Chiclayo. Reception and transfer
to your hotel. Trip to the wonderful Brunning museum, housing
artefacts from several cultures. Lunch followed by a visit
to both the Sipan and Sican museums. The day concludes with
a visit to the Tucume complex, where over 26 pyramids are
located. Return to your hotel.
Day 5: Cajamarca
Long journey by bus to Cajamarca. Reception and transfer to
your hotel. Free evening.
Day 6: Cumbemayo
Full day excursion to Cumbemayo, some 20 km outside
of the town and the site of ancient, pre-inca channels engraved
into the mountainside. The ducts were built by the old Cajamarca
culture. Return to Cajamarca.
Day 7: Otuzco
Day of leisure to enjoy the town, famous for in 1532,
Pizarro imprisoned and subsequently executed Inca Atahualpa,
bringing to an end the Inca Nation. A chance to visit the
thermal baths at Banos del Inca. Optional visit to the pre-inca
graveyards of Otuzco, carved into the hillside and dating
back to over 1000BC.
Day 8: Chachapoyas
After breakfast, bus journey to Chachapoyas, the
capital of the Amazonas department. Arrival and transfer to
your hotel.
Day 9: Lamud
A full day's tour starting in the valley of Utcubamba
heading towards the village of Lamud. From here, at a distance,
you can see the standing mud coffins of Lamud decorated with
anthropomorphic reliefs and with feline paws and human heads.
The Sachapuyans, after placing the coffins in these strategic
locations on the cliffs, destroyed the paths which led to
them thus avoiding any disturbance of their dead. After lunch,
return to Chachapoyas.
Day 10: Kuelap
Early departure from Chachapoyas to Tingo. Ascent to the ruins
of Kuelap, the huge fortress dominating the skyline above
the Amazonas landscape and hailed as the Machu Picchu of Northern
Peru. To get a good view of the whole complex, a climb to
the Kuelap watch-tower, where the gigantic outer walls and
the whole extension of this former fortress can be fully appreciated.
In the afternoon, return to Tingo and then to Chachapoyas.
Accommodation.
Day 11: Chiclayo
After breakfast, return to Chiclayo by bus. Reception
and transfer to the hotel.
Day 12: Piura
Trip to Piura, the most northerly city in Peru. Reception
and transfer to your hotel. City tour of Piura, the first
Peruvian city established by the colonising Spanish.
Day 13: Catacaos
Day trip to Catacaos, the artisan capital of Northern
Peru. Splendid opportunity to observe gold and silver jewels
being crafted by the local artisans.
Day 14: Sechua
A visit to Sechua, just south of Piura and home to
one of the driest deserts in the world. Visit to nearby Lake
Napique, home to many flamingos and other bird species. Transfer
to the airport for the return flight back to Lima.
Day 15: Lima
Leisurely day with plenty of opportunity for shopping before
your transfer to the airport and your return flight home.