Northern Peru Heritage & Nature

Fly to Trujillo this morning. Trujillo was long a center of the pre-Columbian Moche and Chimu cultures, and also a great starting point for exploration in Northern Peru.

Upon arrival, follow your English-speaking guide, stroll through Trujillo's historic center, lined with colorful Spanish colonial architecture. Continue to Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Sun and Moon), along with Museo Huacas de Moche (Huacas de Moche Museum). Gain insight into the Moche civilization through vivid murals and religious rituals. After marveling at Huaca del Dragon, you will finally explore Chan Chan, the former capital of Chimu Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This world's largest adobe city is renowned for its labyrinthine palaces and iconic walls carved with fish motifs, offering a glimpse into the sophistication of the Chimu civilization.

Move on to Chiclayo this morning (about three hours by drive). On the way, you will visit two Moche culture sites. Your first stop is El Brujo, a pre-Columbian archaeological complex, featuring three great adobe pyramids, where you can glimpse into the rituals of the Moche Civilization. Nearby, the Cao Museum houses the mummified body of the Lady of Cao, a female ruler of the Moche Empire, as well as rich collections from her tomb. After the visit, continue your transfer to Chiclayo. Overnight in Chiclayo.

Spend the full day exploring the archaeological sites of Huaca Rajada – Sipán, the Túcume Pyramids, and the Tumbas Reales de Sipán Museum (Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum) in the Lambayeque region.

Among them, you can see the burial structures and the gold, silver, and pottery artifacts excavated within, offering a direct insight into the daily life and religious practices of the Moche elite. Climb up the hill of Cerro Purgatorio and enjoy the panorama of 26 adobe Pyramids (step-like platforms).

In the morning, take a 75-minute car ride to Gocta Waterfall. It's one of the world's tallest waterfalls, plunging 771 meters from the Andes, a natural wonder where the Amazon Rainforest meets the mountains.

Today, you will have a guided tour of Gocta Waterfall. Depending on your interest, have a moderate hike in the rainforest for about 3.5 hours. While breathing fresh air in the forest, you may also spot the Cock of the Rock, the national bird of Peru, along with some other interesting species. After the tour, transfer to Chachapoyas for the night.

Today, you will transfer about 1.5 hours by car to the region of Lamud and discover the funerary practices of the Chachapoyas Civilization. Quiocta Caves are some deep but well-maintained caves in which you will find stalagmites and stalactites as well as human bones and skulls. The ancient Chachapoyas people buried the dead in difficult locations, in deep, pitch-black caves or on cliffs facing the rising sun.

Continue by car for 30-40 minutes, followed by a 20-minute hike along an earth trail to reach the viewpoint. From a distance, you will gaze at the Sarcophagi of Karajía perched on the cliff. These 2.5-meter-tall, human-shaped tombs are made of mud, grass, and wood, containing mummies and offerings. The dramatic placement reflects the Chachapoya people's aspiration to reach the sky and stay safe from disturbance after death.

At about 60 km southwest of Chachapoyas city, the Fortaleza de Kuelap (Kuélap Fortress) overlooks the valley of the Utcubamba River silently from the summit of Barreta Hill. Today, you will visit this remarkable site, often called "Machu Picchu of Northern Peru", and also the largest material legacy of the Chachapoyas civilization. Inside the site, there are over 500 constructions, most circular and a few weirdly shaped. What you see today are the remaining foundations and some broken walls, just as they looked when they were first found, as well as some restored ones to give an idea of how they looked before being eroded by nature and time.

Besides Kuélap, you will also visit Chachapoyas Historic Center and the stunning Huancas canyon viewpoint.

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back to Lima. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a classic Lima city tour with your local guide. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lima Historic Center is not to be missed, where elegant Spanish colonial architecture and churches allow you to experience the city's rich historical atmosphere.

Note: the half-day Lima city tour can be arranged flexibly on Day 9 afternoon or Day 10 morning, according to your flight and preference.