Routes of the ancient North
Overview
Explore the fascinating north of Peru in eight days full of history and breathtaking scenery. Start in Trujillo with its colonial charm and visits to the Huacas del Sol y la Luna, Chan Chan and Huanchaco. In Chiclayo, discover the El Brujo Complex and the Moche treasures at the Royal Tombs Museum. Finally, in Chachapoyas, marvel at the Kuelap Fortress and the majestic Gocta Waterfall.Private Touring
- Flexible Dates
- 24-Hour Local Assistance
- Flexible Itinerary
- Upgrade Accommodation
- Local Guide Service
- Modern Airconditioned Vehicle
Itinerary
Domestic flight from Lima to Trujillo.
Upon your arrival at Trujillo Airport, our transportation service and a representative take you to the selected hotel.
Transportation will pick you up to take a tour of the main tourist points in the city. As an important place during the colony, Trujillo treasures an enviable architectural heritage, with beautiful buildings and mansions of the time. First, you will make a panoramic visit to the churches of Santa Clara and El Carmen, both with their respective closing convents that have remained despite the passing of the years. Then you will walk through the Main Square, previously passing through the church of San Francisco. From the square, you can see the Cathedral, built between 1647 and 1666, one of the principal churches in the city and which holds works of art from the Cusqueña and Quiteña School. Follow your route through the House of Emancipation, where the first independence of Peru was declared on December 29, 1820, now a museum. Next, you will know the Casa Calonge or Casona Urqueaga, a residence that served as lodging for Simon Bolivar during his stay in Peru and that today keeps a collection of archaeological and colonial pieces, including the desk used by Bolivar. Finally, you will go to the Museum of Archeology and History of the National University of Trujillo. The museum has more than 10,000 pieces, organized in six permanent rooms to show the development of the pre-Hispanic cultures of the north coast of Peru and other archaeological events that are continually changing in its four temporary rooms. After this approach to the past, return to your hotel.
Meal Plan: No Meal
Today you will visit the most important tourist attractions of Trujillo. A shuttle will pick you up to take you to the outskirts of the city where you will find the huacas of the Sun and the Moon, two magnificent buildings of the Moche culture. Before immersing yourself in ancient Peru, you will meet a Moche artisan family, whose work maintains the traditions inherited from their ancestors. According to research, the Huaca del Sol was political, while the Huaca de la Luna was religious; between them, a series of streets, passages and houses show that the area was inhabited by middle and upper-class people. After a panoramic visit to the Huaca del Sol, you will explore the Huaca de la Luna, the most impressive for its level of conservation and study. Its incredible murals that remain to this day show the different Moche deities and other scenes of religious connotation. Continue your visit to Huanchaco, one of the most traditional seaside resorts in Trujillo and popular for the caballitos de totora: boats made of vegetable fibers used by artisanal fishermen to navigate the waves of the Pacific. There you will enjoy a delicious lunch with local flavor. Finally, you will arrive at Chan Chan, the impressive mud city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Considered the capital of the Chimu culture, it is composed of nine citadels covering an area of more than 20 square kilometers, making it the largest in the Americas. The details in its walls reflect the great work done in its construction and that has remained for more than a thousand years until today.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Depart Trujillo and head to the El Brujo Archaeological Complex, which is crucial for understanding Moche culture. Located in the Chicama River valley, 60 kilometers from Trujillo, it houses one of the most impressive discoveries in recent years: the mummy of the Lady of Cao, a Moche ruler who changed the perception of women in ancient Peru.
The complex includes three pyramids: Huaca Prieta, Huaca Cao Viejo, and Huaca Cortada. Huaca Cao Viejo is the main site, featuring decorative friezes, a central courtyard, and a ceremonial plaza. Here, the burial bundle of the Lady of Cao was found, in a tomb that reflected the significance of her figure. Her body is nearly intact thanks to the techniques used for her mummification and adorned with tattoos and jewelry, such as necklaces, ear ornaments, and filigree nose rings made from gold, silver, copper, semi-precious stones, and shells.
After your visit, you continue your journey by road to your hotel in the city of Chiclayo.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Begin the day with a transfer to Huaca Rajada – Sipán, where the archaeological site of the legendary Lord of Sipán is located one of the most important tombs in the Americas. Continue to Túcume to explore its vast complex of pre-Inca pyramids that showcase the grandeur of the Lambayeque culture. The tour includes lunch at a local restaurant in the city of Lambayeque. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Tombs Museum, home to the treasures and artifacts uncovered from the Lord of Sipán’s burial site. End the day with a transfer back to the hotel in the city of Chiclayo.
You will be transferred from your hotel in Chiclayo to the bus station with a representative.
Take the bus from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas, a journey of approximately 10 hours. Chachapoyas is a city in northern Peru, situated at an altitude of 2,335 meters. Known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, highlights include the Plaza de Armas and the Church of San Juan Bautista. It was a starting point for exploring nearby wonders such as the fortress of Kuélap and the Gocta waterfalls. The local culture is rich with vibrant traditions and festivals, and a cuisine that includes typical dishes like "juane."
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
You will be transferred from the bus station in Chachapoyas to the hotel in downtown with a representative.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
You are transported from Chachapoyas to Kuelap to visit the impressive fortress, one of Peru's most significant lithic monuments, which stands 3000 meters above sea level on Cerro Barreta. The fortress has 505 enclosures distributed across various levels. Its majestic walls and internal architecture reveal its role as an important settlement. You use the modern cable car installed in the area for the ascent and descent, which allows you to reach the fortress in just 20 minutes.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Start your day with a transfer from your hotel in Chachapoyas to the beginning of the trail leading to Gocta Waterfall. Enjoy a hike of approximately 2 to 3 hours through diverse landscapes, including cloud forests and agricultural areas. Upon arrival, admire the impressive waterfall, which stands about 771 meters tall. Have time to explore and take photos. Finally, return to the starting point and are transferred back to your hotel in Chachapoyas.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Our transportation service and a representative pick you up to take you from your selected hotel to Chachapoyas Airport.
Domestic flight from Chachapoyas to Lima.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Inclusions
- 2 nights in Trujillo
- 1 night in Chiclayo
- 4 nights in Chachapoyas
- Private transfer from Trujillo Airport to the hotel with a representative
- Half day shared tour of the city of Trujillo
- Shared full day tour to Huacas del Sol and Huacas de la Luna, Site Museum, Chan Chan Archaeological Center and Huanchaco.
- Private half-day tour from Trujillo to Chiclayo with a visit to El Brujo Archaeological Complex
- Full-day private tour to Túcume, Royal Tombs Museum, and Huaca Rajada (Lord of Sipan), with lunch.
- Daytime private transfer from your hotel in Chiclayo to the bus station with a representative
- Shared bus from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas
- Private transfer from the bus station in Chachapoyas to the hotel in downtown Chachapoyas with a representative.
- Shared half-day tour to Kuelap Fortress
- Shared full-day tour in Chachapoyas to Gocta Waterfall
- Private transfer from the hotel at the city center to Chachapoyas Airport with a representative
Exclusions
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during meals.
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
- International and domestic air tickets.
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone calls, travel insurance, etc.)
- Early check in, late check out.
- Tips.
- Travel Insurance.
Notes
Hotels Used Or Similar
Trujillo
Standard - Ibis Trujillo
Chiclayo
Standard - Wyndham Costa del Sol Chiclayo
Chachapoyas
Standard - La Xalca Hotel
HIGHLIGHTS
Chan Chan. Impressive mud city declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Considered the capital of the Chimu culture, it is composed of nine citadels that cover an area of more than 20 square kilometres and make it the largest in America.
Huaca de la Luna. This impressive ceremonial temple of the Moche civilization, located near Trujillo, is known for its multicolored murals and monumental architecture. Huaca de la Luna reveals fascinating scenes of rituals and sacrifices, offering a unique glimpse into the beliefs and customs of an ancient culture.
Gocta Waterfall. One of the tallest in the world, with a drop of over 700 meters. Its majestic waters and the surrounding biodiversity make it an unforgettable experience for nature and adventure enthusiasts.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENTRANCE IN PERU
Confirm with your embassy if you need a VISA to enter Peru (or any other country included in your itinerary). We are not responsible if a guest does not have all the necessary documentation to enter the country. The foreigner who travels to Peru must ensure that the validity of his passport is not less than six months to enter the national territory.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend comfortable and light clothing for visiting the coastal areas of Peru and warm clothes for the high Andean area. Visitors are not advised to wear sleeves shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothing when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
DISCLAIMER
We are not responsible in case of unexpected events such as strikes, climate change or natural disasters. We act as an intermediary for the reservation of services, so that it can’t be held responsible for the quality or suitability of services, death, injury, illness, damage, accident, loss, theft, or loss of good, delay or any other irregularity arising directly or indirectly from the provision of services by suppliers.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MACHU PICCHU
ENTRANCE & GUIDE:
- The first entrance to the citadel requires the mandatory accompaniment of a guide. Please note that the guided tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- The route to visit the Machu Picchu citadel and schedules are subject to availability.
- For the purchase of tickets to Machu Picchu it is necessary to send full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number of passengers, which must match the current passport that will be used for the trip. It is important to take into account that the entrance tickets to the citadel are non-refundable from the time of purchase.
LUGGAGES:
- In the case of an overnight stay in the Sacred Valley during shared services, we will be responsible for transferring only one piece of hand luggage per passenger to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. If the passenger wishes to have the rest of their luggage transferred, an additional fee will apply. In the case of an overnight stay in Cusco, the hand luggage will be stored in the hotel’s luggage room.
- Carry the same document that you presented to the agency, given that train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with this information.
- In all train services to Machu Picchu, the passenger may carry only hand luggage (backpack, bag or briefcase) of no more than 8 kg/ 17.6 lb lb on the train to/from Machu Picchu. You will find your luggage at the chosen hotel.
- Allowed size: 62 linear inches 157cm (height + length + width)
Recommendations for travelling while caring for the environment and culture.
- Do not feed or buy wild animals, always try to keep your distance.
- Avoid buying endemic plants and products derived from endangered species.
- Minimize water use; don't leave the tap or shower running.
- Reduce energy usage: Turn off lights, air conditioning, and unplug your charger when not in use.
- Reduce plastic use: choose to refill your water bottle and recycle single-use ones.
- Avoid using sprays, including repellents, sunscreens, sunblocks, etc.
- Ask permission before taking someone's photo.
- Do not include minors in photographs.
- Be respectful of local beliefs and traditions.
- Please respect the instructions for preserving material heritage.
*Rates not applicable on the following Festivals in 2026: Inti Raymi Festival, National Holidays, Christmas, New Year’s, conferences or special events. Please confirm with your Destination Expert.
