Cultures of Peru

Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to the 5* Las Americas Hotel.

City tour of Lima for an introduction of the countries rich heritage including a guided visit of two of the three museums mentioned below: the National Museum of Archaeology, the Gold Museum or the Larco Herrera Museum. In the afternoon, enjoy a look at Pachacamac. 30 Km south of Lima lies the pre-Inca complex of Pachacamac. Thought to be an oracle and also royal dwellings, the site is clearly divided into three parts; the first and oldest temple of rustic design, the second, known as the temple of the sun, and the third or temple of the moon, known as Aclla Wasi, which is clearly of Inca design. Return to the Las Americas Hotel.

The Gold Museum was originally from a private collection and includes valuable pieces, particularly gold, silver and copper from several pre-Hispanic cultures. The most precious piece in the collection is the solid gold Tumi (ceremonial knife) belonging to the Lambayeque culture. Specific museums of this culture are available on our Lambayeque museums package, see Lambayeque museums.
The Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum is one of the best private museums in Peru. With a fabulous collection of northern cultures particularly of the Mochica culture. The museum was founded in 1926 in Trujillo but was transferred in the 1950's to Lima. There is a room of mummies, textiles (including a Paracas cloak over 2000 years old), and several gold and silver vaults.
The National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History is located in the Magdalena Palace and houses interesting artefacts from the Kotosh and Chavin cultures including the Tello Obelisk from Chavin. There are displays of the Chimu and Lambayeque cultures in addition to a gallery of the Peruvian Viceroyalty.

Full day's guided visit to Caral, the oldest civilisation in the Americas. Dating back to over 3000BC, this earliest of settlements developed almost simultaneously with the civilisations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. Full day tour before returning to Lima and the Las Americas Hotel.

Caral

Lima

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Trujillo. Reception and transfer to the Gran Marquez Hotel. After settling into the hotel, enjoy 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.

After breakfast, take a visit out to see Brujo Complex which includes the Cao Mummy. Señora de Cao mummy: Thought to be the first female ruler found in the north coast, the Moche mummy is well-preserved (including her skin on which one can still see her tattoos). Señora de Cao was buried with numerous high status objects, including two large scepters, a series of crowns, a large gold necklace, fine ceramic artifacts, and human sacrificial victims.
The site itself, archaeologically speaking, is one of the most important in the north coast of Peru. It features architectural structures that date from the pre-ceramic era until to colonial times and into present day with the quaint fishing village of Santiago de Cao. The village represents an uninterrupted maritime tradition that spans the age of the site. In total the Brujo complex is thought to date from approximately 3000 B.C. In the late afternoon, return to the Gran Marquez Hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

Short journey Gran Hotel by bus to Chiclayo. Reception and transfer to the . 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.

Trujillo

Sipan

After breakfast, head back to Trujillo and onward to Huaraz, the capital of the Peruvian Andes.  Arrival to Huaraz and rest at the Andino Club Hotel.

After breakfast, free day to acclimatize at the Andino Club Hotel. Opportunity to visit the nearby pre-inca Wilcahuain complex. It was built by the pre-Inca Wari culture around 1000 AD. The site consists of stone buildings with small windows and doorways leading to inner chambers. The structures were built without mortar and roofed with inclined slabs.

Trip to Chavin de Huantar, site of the oldest pan-andean civilisation dating back to 2000BC. Located on the outskirts of the village of the same name, a tour of the ruins is followed by lunch. The site has many galleries and subterranean tunnels and houses many carved stone figures of anthropomorphic semblances reminiscent of the Maya culture. It is the oldest known pre-Columbian culture discovered and is known as Chavin-Kotosh. The most remarkable piece of carving is "El Lanzon", a granite carving 4.5 metres in height. Its head is built into the roof of the gallery and its base into the floor, making it immovable. An anthropomorphic figure with feline teeth, it is thought to indicate an important ceremonial, religious artefact. Return to Huaraz where the journey takes you over the continental divide at the high Kawish pass. Accommodation at the Andino Club Hotel.

Stone Head - Chavin

Huaraz

Early bus trip back to Lima. Arrival at the airport. Flight to Cuzco. After the one hour flight, reception and transfer to the 3* Casa San Blas Hotel. Free day at leisure to rest, relax and enjoy this colonial city. Your hotel is located in the artisan district and within walking distance of the main plaza. Spend this day resting from your long travels and checking out the museums, artisan markets, and local cafes.

Full day guided visit of Cuzco and surrounding sites. We first visit the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cuzco; A brief visit of the Main Square, and the Cathedral before we visit the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. After lunch, we head out to Tipon and Piquillacta, significant archaeological sites on the outskirts of Cuzco.
See this page for more details.
http://www.amazingperu.com/cusco/cusco_tours/cusco-info-archaeological-sites.asp

Full-day excursion to the Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the ruins above Pisaq. Some may be interested in visiting the market but this is now more of a tourist stop than an authentic market. For authenticity, we would recommend the Market of Chinchero. After lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which was not overthrown by the conquistadores, and explore the ruins which tower above it. Overnight in the Sacred Valley itself at the 3* Pakaritampu Hotel. Transfer to the railway station for the early morning departure to Aguas Calientes and then a bus ride up to the spectacular Machu Picchu ruins (25 minutes). Full day’s guided visit of Machu Picchu. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision that harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins of Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. After the tour, free time to enjoy this magical and spiritual wonder. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Inn in Aguas Calientes. Return to Machu Picchu for a more in depth appreciation including the temple of the moon and the Inca’s bridge. We shall also visit some recent excavations which are still continuing into undergrowth. In the late afternoon head to the train station for your return ride to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to the 3* Casa San Blas. Transfer by private bus to Puno. We shall visit several archaeological sites along the way including Andahuaylillas, built in 1631, and according to the Spanish tradition on the foundations of an Inca temple, Raqchi, the highest Inca monument in Peru, Puca Pukara, the oldest civilization of the Altiplano before arriving to your hotel, the 3* Casa Andina Private collection, on the shore of Lake Titicaca. After breakfast, early transfer to the port for the boat journey on Lake Titicaca to the islands of Amantani and Taquile. The island of Taquile supports an Aymara community and the island is renowned for its fine, decorative weavings. A visit also to the island of Amantani. With a population of 3,500 Quechua inhabitants, it is known for its two pre-Inca temples dedicated to the earth's fertility. Built on different hills, these places are sacred and ceremonial rituals are still practiced by "Andean Yatiris" there. Amantani's range of magnetic field is unusual. Lunch before returning to Puno via the island of Uros. Made entirely of reeds and inhabited by the Aymara Uros people, these people live in huts built on platforms of reeds, not more than 30-40 cms/1foot thick. Return to Puno. After breakfast, a free morning to explore the city before your transfer to the airport in Juliaca for the return flight to Lima. Along the way, an excursion will be made to the pre-inca Sillustani funeral towers next to the Umayo lake. The towers form part of one of the largest and most important necropolis in the world. Used by both the Altiplano civilisation and the Incas and their wives "Collas" to honour their dead and in preparation for tdetailhe after-life. It was abandoned when the first Spanish arrived. With over ninety chulpas (tombs), all built from volcanic rock, those for the Incas can be easily recognised by their finer . Arrive Lima and transfer to your connecting flight home.

End of our services.

• 16 night’s accommodation in twin/double rooms at recommended 3* & 4* hotels with private bathroom, including breakfast.
• All transfers, tours and excursions as per itinerary with local English speaking guides.
• Specialty guides (archeology, architecture) where possible.
• All meals as per itinerary as per B, L, D.
• Flight tickets: Lima – Trujillo – Lima – Cusco, Juliaca - Lima.
• Train tickets: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) – Cuzco in Vistadome class.
• All entrance fees.

• International air tickets and associated taxes ($30.25 for international flights).
• Meals not specified on the itinerary.
• All domestic flights require a US$5.00 charge (airport tax), payable at the airport.
• Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, beverages, etc.
• Insurance against theft, loss, illness and/or accident.
• Tips, baggage porterage and other extras not specified.