Peru
Beyond the Tourist Trail

Arrive in Lima, home to 10 million people which is more than one third of the country’s entire population. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the pleasant district of Miraflores. Overnight at Hotel Britania or similar.

Transfer to the airport for a scheduled flight to Chiclayo, gateway to Peru’s beautiful and diverse, yet little visited north. Please note that you will fly unaccompanied and without a guide. Upon arrival in Chiclayo you will be met by your guide who will travel with you throughout the tour. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. You will then have a comprehensive tour briefing. Overnight at Hotel Los Portales or similar. (B)

The area around Chiclayo is packed with pre-Inca archaeological sites. The most important are the Royal Tombs of Sipán, discovered almost intact in 1987, dating from the Moche period between 300 to 1200 AD. We visit the tombs and the excellent nearby museum which displays an incredible collection of gold and silver artefacts, as well as The Lord of Sipán mummy. Overnight at Hotel Los Portales or similar. (BL)

 (Approximate driving time: nine-hours. Maximum altitude 2,335m)

Today sees a long but rewarding day’s drive from the coastal desert, ascending and crossing the 2,145m Andean pass of Abra de Porculla to 2,335m Chachapoyas, capital of Peru’s Amazonas Region. Overnight Hotel Vilaya or similar. (BD)

An exciting day that takes us from Chachapoyas to the archaeological site of Macro, 1850m above sea level on the right bank of the Utcubamba River. The ecosystem of this area is characterized by the presence of a thorny forest and scrub populated by tillandsias and bromeliads, with notorious presence of lichens and moss. The site is surrounded by this vegetation that partly covers the architecture. The pre-Hispanic settlement belonged to the Chachapoya culture that flourished during the Late Intermediate (1100 -1470 AD). There are terraces and platforms of different heights on which vestiges are evident that circular structures were once built. The bases measure approximately 3 meters high, being notorious and preserved, in such a way that they can be seen from the other side of the river as overlapping platforms. After our visit we continue amongst stunning scenery along the Rio Uctubamba to the small tranquil town of Tingo. Overnight at Hotel La Estancia de Chillo Lodge or similar. (BD)

This morning we drive to the hamlet of Leimebamba, visiting the local community and gaining excellent insight on daily life in rural Peru. Afterwards at the local museum there’s an interesting display of Chachapoyas mummies found at Lagunas de los Condores in 1996. Overnight Hostel Casona de Leimebamba or similar. (BD)

(Approximate driving time: eight-hours. Maximum altitude: 2,625m)

Today’s route traverses innumerable mountain passes, cloud forests and deep canyons, and after the 2,625m-high town of Celendin, finally arriving at the historically important city of Cajamarca. Here in 1532 a force of 180 Spanish conquistadores slaughtered thousands of civilian and lightly armed Incas, capturing and executing Inca ruler, Atahualpa, effectively catalysing the collapse of the Inca Empire. Overnight Hotel El Ingenio or similar. (BD)

After breakfast we visit either Ventanillas de Combayo or Ventanillas de Otuzco, well preserved funeral caves carved into the rock during the Inca period. Later there’s free time to explore Cajamarca independently. Overnight Hotel El Ingenio or similar. (BD)

(Approximate driving time: eight-hours)

Today we leave the highlands and travel the famous Pan American Highway towards the Pacific Ocean and Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru. En route we visit the Moche pyramids of El Brujo archaeological site. The museum displays the remains of the Lady of Cao, believed to have been a high-status female, probably a member of Moche nobility. The mummy is very well preserved, to the extent that skin tattoos are still visible. We expect to arrive in Trujillo in the early afternoon, and there should still be time to enjoy the town’s Plaza de Armas and take in exceptional examples of colonial architecture. Overnight Hotel El Brujo or similar. (BD)

Today we drive to the Chimú civilisation archaeological site of Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At its height in the 14^th century Chan Chan was home 60,000 inhabitants, making it the world’s largest adobe city. Known for sophisticated irrigation systems and ornate citadels, rich in extravagant silver and gold decorations, Chan Chan’s site covers almost 10,000 hectares and is still not fully excavated. Later we visit the fishing village of Huanchaco, a popular meeting point for surfers, and one of the last places on Peru’s Pacific Coast where fishermen still use small reed boats. The boats, known as cabalittos (little horses), see fishermen paddle them with one leg on each side, a method unchanged over 2,000 years. In the evening there’s free time to explore Huanchaco independently, looking out for the national dish, ceviche – raw seafood marinated in lemon juice, Peru’s version of sushi. Overnight Hotel El Brujo or similar. (BL)

 (Approximate driving time: eight-hours. Maximum altitude 3,000m)

This morning we again follow the Pan American Highway before ascending into the Andes. In the foothills of the Cordillera Negra we visit the ruins and museum of Cerro Sechin, an archaeological site dating from 1600 BC.  Entering the Rio Santa valley, Huaraz lies at the foot of the world’s highest tropical mountain, 6,768m Huascarán. The associated mountains range is known as the Cordillera Blanca (White Mountains) because of the numerous glaciated peaks, and at altitude of 3,000m Huaraz is often called the Kathmandu of the Andes. Overnight Hotel Andino or similar. (BD)

From Huaraz, we drive north to the devastated town of Yungay. When a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the valley in May 1970 a large part of Huascarán’s northern summit tumbled down towards Yungay, within minutes turning a lively city of 30,000 inhabitants into a graveyard. There were very few survivors, and today only the towers of the cathedral and a few palm trees are visible. The site has been left untouched, declared a national cemetery by the Peruvian government. Leaving Yungay we take a detour to the pristine twin lakes of Llanganuco, fringed by forests of rare arbol del papel (paper trees), and surrounded by glaciated 5,000m peaks. Continuing north, we eventually reach Caraz and join the remarkable route through Cañon del Pato (Canyon of the Ducks). At some points the Rio Santa separates the two mountain ranges of Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra by only ten metres. Construction started in 1952 and the road was blasted from the cliffs on the Cordillera Negra side of the canyon, passing through 35 roughly cut tunnels over a distance of 15km. Arriving in the city of Huallanca, we turn around and head back to Huaraz via the same route. Overnight Hotel Andino or similar. (BL)

 (Approximate driving time: nine-hours)

Today we drive back to Lima, travelling through coastal desert and stopping along the way at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Caral-Supe, dating from the period of the Norte Chico civilisation, around 5000 BC. We arrive in Lima in the afternoon where the rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight at Hotel Britania or similar. (B)

Depending on your flight schedule you may have time to explore Lima by yourself or we can organise an optional guided excursion. Alternatively please contact us if you would like to extend your stay in Lima or take in other areas of the country such as Cusco and Machu Picchu or an extension to the amazing Peruvian jungle. Transfer to the airport for departure. (B)