Northern Peru

The northern Higlands and north coast are a fascinating and less visited region of Peru, containing some of the country's most spectacular pre-columbian ruins. From the lovely colonial city of Cajamarca, where the Spanish captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa, across to the important Chachapoyas region, which is littered with largely unexplored ruins.

The most important pre-inca sites: Chan-Chan, Chavin, Tucume, Sipan, El Brujo and Kuelap are included in the three itineraries below, which cover the Chachapoyas in the northern highlands, the Northern Coast and the Cordillera Blanca.

Highlights are the recent archaeological discovery of the pre-Inca mummies found in the Laguna de Los Condores. Also Kuelap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city hidden away on a mountain top, which although discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu, is not as well known. These treasures are beginning to attract more adventurous travellers to the region.

We can put together any combination of the itineraries below, please let us know what interests you.

Chachapoyas - 7 days / 6 nights

Visit the ruins of Kuelap, built into cloud forest on the slopes of the Andes; here was once the centre of the Chachapoyan culture from 900 to 1400 AD. The fascinating mummies found in the area, which you see in the musuem at Leimebamba, indicate the early inhabitants of this culture were light skinned and haired, leading to their being called the "cloud people". There are some long 4WD transfers on this trip and it is definately for the more adventurous, however the little visited sites it reveals are well worth the effort.

Itinerary
DAY 1:	Fly from Lima to Chiclayo. Transfer from Chiclayo airport to Gran Hotel Chiclayo.
DAY 2:	Drive from Chiclayo to Chillo (10 - 11 hours drive). Overnight at the Estancia Chillo. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
DAY 3:	Visit the burial site at Revash. Then continue on to Leimebamba to visit the museum there, which includes the recently discovered pre-inca mummies from Laguna de los Condores. Return to Chillo to overnight.(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
DAY 4:	Full day visit to the Chachapoyan ruins of Kuelap. Return to Chillo to overnight. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
DAY 5:	Drive from Chillo to Tarapoto, about 10 hours. (paved road from Pedro Ruiz, approx. half the journey). Overnight at the hotel Puerto Palmeras at Tarapoto.
DAY 6:	Day at leisure at the hotel Puerto Palmeras, in Tarapoto.
DAY 7:	Transfer to the airport at Tarapoto. From here you may fly to Lima. This flight is not included in the cost.

Code: PER34

Guideline price: £994

 

The Northern Coast and Spa - 6 days / 5 nights

This tour covers the Northern coastal area of Peru, combining the renowned archaeological sites of Chan Chan, El Brujo, with a relaxing stay at a Spa hotel in Cajamarca, with hot thermal swimming pools and Turkish baths. The price includes both internal flights.

Itinerary
DAY 1:	Flight from Lima to Trujillo. Transfer from airport to hotel Libertador Trujillo.
DAY 2:	Full day visiting Chan Chan, Huacas del Sol y la Luna then continue to the fishing village of Huanchaco for overnight at Huanchaco Internacional Hotel.
DAY 3:	Full day visit to Huanchaco then continue on to Chiclayo to visit the Tumbas Reales museum, via El Brujo. Overnight at Gran Hotel Chiclayo.
DAY 4:	Transfer from Chiclayo to Cajamarca. Overnight at Laguna Seca Hotel and Spa.
DAY 5:	At leisure at the Laguna Seca Hotel and Spa
DAY 6:	Transfer out to Cajamarca airport, for flight back to Lima.

Code: PER35

Guideline price: £675

 

The Cordillera Blanca - 7 days / 6 nights

This itinerary combines renowned archaeological sites with stunning scenery along the "Cordillera Blanca", a region of snow-covered peaks and jewelled lakes. A full day excursion to the Huascaran National Park will offer breathtaking views of Peru's highest peaks and electric blue lakes. Not far is the Chavin de Huantar, a famed fortress temple with beautifully carved interior galleries from the Chavin culture. You also visit the twin-pyramid complex of Sipan and the impressive ruins of Chan Chan, the imperial city of the Chimu kings and the largest adobe city in the world. The price includes the internal flight.

Itinerary
DAY 1:	Transfer from Lima hotel to airport for flight to Chiclayo. Full day to tour to the ruins of Sipan and near-by Tucume, a vast ruined pre-Columbian city. Transfer to Gran Hotel Chiclayo.
DAY 2:	Transfer to Trujillo, overnight at Gran Hotel Trujillo.
DAY 3:	Full day tour to the ruins of Chan Chan. Overnight Trujillo.
DAY 4:	Transfer by bus to Huaraz. Overnight at Hotel Andino.
DAY 5:	Full day tour to the temple of Chavin de Huantar. Overnight at Hotel Andino.
DAY 6:	Full day trip to Huascaran National Park. Overnight at Hotel Andino.
DAY 7:	Transfer to Lima by bus. Transfer to hotel in Lima.

Code: PER36

Guideline price: £989

 

Other sites that are only just being opened up to visitors include Caral and Sechin.
Please contact us for tour details for these less visited sites:

Caral, located 120 miles north of Lima and founded over 5,000 years ago, is considered to be the oldest city in America. Recently, 7 human burial chambers were discovered, one being of an infant of approximately 2 years old. According to the religious beliefs of the time, each body was buried with offers intended to please the gods. A visit to Caral can be made as a full day trip from Lima.

Sechin is another ancient city where recent discoveries are being made. The archaeological site called Sechin Alto is the capital of a pre-Incan culture located on the northwest coast of Peru, occupied between approximately 1800-900 BC. The site is remarkable for its enormous mound, the largest of its time period, measuring some 990 feet long, by 825 feet wide by 145 feet tall.

 

Notes:

The prices shown are guideline prices only, per person based on double occupancy, in the low season unless otherwise stated. Please contact us for an exact quote based on your requirements.

 

 

 

Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008