Peru: Highlights of the North

Explore the highlights of Lima on this privately guided city tour as you gain insights into Peru and her capital. Stroll through the beautiful city center visiting the main square of Plaza Mayor, the Lima Cathedral, and the Government Palace and other historical attractions. (Duration: 3 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Fitness level: Easy.)

Begin the morning with a visit to the Huaca Rajada where the Lord of Sipan was discovered. Next visit Tucume, the center of the Moche culture. Considered to be the most important finds, this site is laid out in the form of a pyramid, reflecting the culture’s sun-worship practices. After lunch enhance your understanding of the Moche people by exploring the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum. The highlight of the museum is the mummy of the Lord of Sipan and his mummified entourage as well as other artifacts of the Moche. (Duration: 0900 - 1700 hrs; Private Activity; Lunch Included.)

Day 1: With your private guide and Chauffeur, head out on this full day drive admiring the changing scenery. From the sandy desert dunes of the coast, you will find yourself climbing up through the Andes before descending back down through lush mountain greenery into the Amazonas region. Day 2: Starting out early in the morning, drive to the village of Cocachimba where the hike begins. The 5km trail takes you through dense, colorful rainforest until you reach the spectacular sight of the awesome Gocta waterfalls. Standing 771 meters high, these are the third highest falls in the world. Take in the views and enjoy lunch in this natural paradise before hiking the 2.5 hour walk back. Day 3: Drive to the town of Cruzpata to begin a short 30 minute walk to see the sarcophaguses of Karajia. Standing high on a cliff, inaccessible to all but birds, these haunting hollow figures stand 2 meters tall and were built in the shape of a pear to house the deer-skin wrapped mummies hidden inside. Constructed by mixing clay, straw and pebble, and laying this over a structure made of wood, these sarcophagi remain in remarkable condition considering they have been perched here on the mountainside for over 600 years.

Day 4: Begin this magical day by taking a spectacular drive through mountain scenery passing several villages and hidden ruins until you reach the magnum opus of the Chachapoya culture – Kuelap. Feel the wonder the archaeologists must have felt upon discovering this magnificent lost city built upon a mountain top as you wander through the site virtually alone. Dating back to the 6th century, and taking between 500 and 600 years to build, the citadel of Kuelap has now been overtaken by jungle but still remains remarkably intact and gives a very clear picture of the way in which the Chachapoya people once lived. Day 5 Inaugurated in June 2000 this fascinating museum displays more than 200 mummies and their burial offerings recovered from the Laguna de los Condores. Once at risk from looters and vandals, today this valuable collection is housed in a museum that was funded by Austrian citizens and private donors but built by the proud locals of Leymebamba. Discover the different ways in which the Chacahapoya and Incans used to honor and preserve their relatives and marvel at just how intact these thousands of years old skeletons still are. Afterwards, continue your journey towards Cajamarca, enjoying lunch en-route. (Duration: 5D/4N; Private activity; Fitness level: Moderate; Entrance fees to Gocta Waterfall, Karajia, Kuelap and Leymebamba Museum,cable car to Kuelap and lunch or lunch box from Day 1 to 5 are included).