Ancient Peru - 11 Days
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Day 1 arrival to Lima
Upon arriving in the city of Lima, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives, who will give you a brief introduction to the city and to our services while en route to the hotel. You will have the afternoon free. Day 2: Lima city tour and Pachacamac Only 20 miles (30 km) south of Lima in the Lurin Valley, we will find the Archaeological site of Pachacamac, one of ancient Peru's most famous religious centers. It was here that the oracle to the great god Pachacamac, the most important deity of pre-Hispanic coastal Peru, resided. This sanctuary was built by the Ichma civilization using mud bricks. We will explore the sanctuary as we visit The Themple of Urpi Wachak (wife of Pachacamac), The Temple of the Moon, The Plaza of Pilgrims, The Residence of the local Chief and the Acllahuasi—where the chosen of the "Sun" lived, among others. To cap things off, we will discover the local museum to get a better overview of the site, as well as examine various artifacts found in the area. From atop the pyramids, we will be able to enjoy gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the vast Lurin Valley. **The Archaeological complex is closed on Mondays** Return to the city and before visiting the Larco Museum, enjoy a lunch at the Café of the Museum After lunch we will make a visit of the Larco Museum, an eighteenth-century Viceregal mansion that houses more than 3,000 years of Peru's pre-Columbian history. The museum boasts a supremely fine collection of gold and silver jewelry and worship paraphernalia. The museum also contains a famous collection of erotic ceramic tomb art that gives insights into various aspects of pre-Columbian sexuality. Next we will continue with the visit of the city with an exploration of Colonial Lima. First, we will stop off at the Main Square, to explore it on foot and admire the exteriors of the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the City Hall, all examples of Lima's still-present colonial architectural opulence. We will visit the Cathedral; as walking through its numerous chapels, we'll discover various architectural styles and learn about the religious history of Peru. We will continue with the visit to Santo Domingo Convent a religious and architectural gem that houses holy paintings, images, and relics of Peruvian saints, as well as written accounts of the endeavors of the Dominican Order across the country. Finally, we will begin a journey through the streets of modern Lima as head toward the most traditional of the residential zones of the capital: San Isidro, the heart of the city's financial district; and Miraflores, a perfect spot to enjoy wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. BL Day 3: Flight Lima – Trujillo and city tour At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport to board the flight to Trujillo. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Then we will visit the elegant colonial mansions of Trujillo. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, Trujillo has a rich architectural legacy, dating from the colonial period and particularly noteworthy for its magnificent baroque mansion houses, as well as the republican-era art housed by its neoclassical style houses. We will also take time to appreciate the city’s fine churches, characterized by the clean lines of their exteriors, and their extraordinarily ornate interiors, filled with altarpieces, pulpits and beautiful canvases from the Trujillo School of painting. And, of course, we will also visit the unmissable National University of Trujillo’s Museum of Archaeology, for an overview of the region’s Pre-Columbian cultures. You will have the rest of the afternoon free. B Day 4: Excursion to Huacas del Sol y la Luna, Chan Chan and Huanchaco beach
You will begin your tour of the region by visiting the remaining traces of the ancient Mochica, an important culture that achieved unmatched levels of sophistication in the Americas. You will visit the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Sun and Moon Pyramids), considered the most important Mochica ceremonial center in the region. Explore the interior of the Moon Pyramid and admire its amazing reliefs of the many Mochica anthropomorphic deities, expertly carved into the walls by the pyramid's builders. Upon visiting the site's museum, you will bear witness to the Moche people's great artistic sensibility, reflected in their textile, ceramic, metal, and wooden creations. After visiting the pyramid, you will move on to the workshop of a local artisan. Here, you will have a chance to observe the thousand-year-old techniques once used by the ancient inhabitants of the valley to produce works of ceramics, leather, and wood. You will continue your journey through northern Peru's pre-Columbian history as you visit Chan Chan (meaning 'Sun-Sun'), the social and administrative center of the Chimú civilization. Built on an area of roughly eight square miles (20 sq. km), Chan Chan came to be home to a population of around 100,000 people. After finishing this tour, you will make your way to Trujillo's best-known seaside resort, Huanchaco. Here, since pre-Hispanic times, intrepid fishermen have braved the ocean's waves in crude vessels made from totora reeds (an aquatic reed native to the Americas), which were named "seahorses" by the Spanish upon their arrival. Nowadays, Huanchaco is heavily trafficked by surfing enthusiasts and lovers of good seafood. You will stop to eat at a local restaurant. You will have the rest of the afternoon free. BL Day 5: Road trip from Trujillo to Chiclayo visiting Huaca El Brujo Cao Museum on route In the morning, you will take a private transport to the city of Chiclayo. On the way, you will make a slight detour near the Magdalena de Cao District so that you may visit the Brujo Archeological Complex, considered one of the most important religious and political centers of Moche culture. The complex is formed by two large better known of the two pyramids, due to the discovery of the tomb of the Señora de Cao (Lady of Cao), a young ruler who was around 25 when she died. In the on-site museum, you will be able to see her mummy, with its skin completely covered in snake and spider tattoos. After finishing your tour of the museum, you will resume your trip to Chiclayo, a land of contrasts near the sea, also known as the Capital of Friendship. You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Chiclayo. BL Day 6: Visit Huaca Rajada, Museum of Tumbas Reales and Túcume Pyramids, flight Chiclayo - Lima Early in the morning, we will explore the magnificent mud brick platform of Huaca Rajada, where the world-famous tomb of the Lord of Sipán was discovered. Later, we will visit Túcume, an imposing complex of 26 Lambayeque culture pyramids that once formed part of an extensive urban center, perhaps once the capital of the realm of Sicán From here, we will continue to the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum. This is one of the most spectacular museums in the Americas, and it houses the grave goods of the world-famous Lord of Sipán tomb, discovered within an ancient adobe pyramid. This six-million-dollar museum contains the most magnificent gold artifacts ever discovered in the Americas, and it was designed in the form of the Pre-Columbian pyramid where Peruvian archaeologists discovered the tomb of a Moche lord in 1987. Return to the hotel. At the scheduled departure time, you will be met by the transport service and escorted to the airport to board the flight back to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, our representative will be at the airport and will escort you to the hotel located in the airport. Overnight at Lima airport hotel. BL |
Day 7: Flight Lima – Cusco and Sacred Valley
Assistance at your hotel and walking transfer to the airport. Flight to Cusco (not included). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Sacred Valley. En-route we will visit Awanacancha. Here, we will learn about the various types of camelids (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, and Guanacos) that live in the Andes region. Additionally, the local villagers will teach us about the ancestral methods and techniques used to produce their textile art. Then, we will continue the trip toward the Sacred Valley; a few miles farther along, we will reach Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. We will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where we can find extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork. We will enjoy our lunch at a local restuarant. Finally, we will visit one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once fiercely guarded by a massive fortress. We will discover the large archaeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions. Overnight in the valley. BL Day 8: From the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu We will pick you up from your hotel at the scheduled time and go to the train Station. The comfortable train ride from there to the station at Aguas Calientes is packed full of spectacular vistas. On our arrival, we will take a bus that will drop us at the admission fee to the citadel of Machu Picchu itself. Unearthed for modernity by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machu Picchu is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural setting, and the energy that radiates from its enigmatic buildings will take your breath away. We will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as we take a tour of the magical citadel led by one of our guides. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. BL Day 9: Return from Aguas Calientes to Cusco Your morning will be free. You will have the option of visiting the citadel again on your own, if you like. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb Huayna Picchu*, where you can visit the Templo de la Luna (Temple of the Moon). At the scheduled time, you will board the return train at Aguas Calientes Station. Upon your arrival at the station just outside of Cusco, a private transfer service will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in the city. *Please keep in mind that there is a maximum daily number of visitors allowed to climb Huayna Picchu. It is essential that you buy your entry ticket in advance. Day 10: Half day Cusco city tour: San Pedro Market, Qoricancha Inca Temple and Cusco Cathedral. We will visit the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a colossal structure built with huge carved rocks jointed with absolute accuracy, this astounding sample of the Incan military architecture is, undoubtedly, the greatest architectonic work of the Tahuantinsuyo. We will make a short stop at Cristo Blanco, a large statue where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city.Then, we will explore the San Pedro Market, Cusco’s main street market, inundated with aromas, tastes, sights, and colors of the local products of the Cusco region. Afterward, visit the Qoricancha (which means room of gold in Quechua), a temple dedicated to the Sun god. Legend has it that its inner walls were once completely lined with gold. Finally, will head to Cusco Cathedral. We will take a guided tour to discover the mysteries of it and admire its lovely atria and priceless 17th and 18th century paintings of the Cusco school. B Day 11: Flight Cusco - Lima At the scheduled departure time, you will be met by the transport service and escorted to the airport or station, as needed. Sample 2021 price per person, double occupancy with 2 people: US$2829 (can quote for more people) with these 3* hotels:
Lima - Britania Crystal Collection Room Type: Standard Trujillo - Costa del Sol Wyndham Trujillo Room Type: Standard Chiclayo - Costa del Sol Wyndham Chiclayo Room Type: Standard Lima - Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport Room Type: Standard Valle Sagrado - Hatun Valley Room Type: Standard Machu Picchu - El Mapi Hotel Room Type: Superior Deluxe Cusco - Abittare Room Type: Superior Can quote with 4-5* hotels, add on an Amazon extension or make any other changes Prices include:
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