Northern Peru: Ancient Kingdoms & Lost Cities 13 days
13 days
The Forgotten Kingdoms of Peru - Temples, Tombs & Mountains
Travel north through Peru to uncover a side of the country far removed from the usual routes, where ancient civilisations and dramatic mountain scenery shape this 13 day experience. Around Trujillo and Chiclayo, explore the remains of Caral, Moche and Chimú sites, from terraced pyramids and temples to the tombs of Moche royalty. Further inland, the landscape becomes more remote, leading through mountain roads to Leymebamba, Revash, Kuelap and the cliffside sarcophagi of Karajía. There’s also time to discover the region’s museums and colonial towns, before hiking through forest and farmland to Gocta Waterfall, with the chance to swim beneath the falls in the dry season.
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Journey Route
DAYS 1-4
Lima
Begin in Lima before heading north to Caral, one of the oldest known cities in the Americas, with its terraced pyramids and ancient remains. Continue to Trujillo to explore the Moche Temple of the Moon, then visit Chan Chan, the former Chimú capital, and nearby Huanchaco Beach.
DAYS 5-8
Drive to Chiclayo, stopping at El Brujo to see the remarkably preserved tattooed mummy of Moche royalty. Visit the burial chambers of the Lord of Sipán, the pyramids of Túcume and the Royal Tombs Museum, before flying to Cajamarca to explore its ancient Inca baths, Cumbemayo and colonial streets.
DAYS 9-11
Drive along a dramatic mountain route to Leymebamba, visiting a museum housing artefacts recovered from remote cliff tombs. Continue to the Revash Mausoleums, then take a panoramic visit to Kuelap, believed to have been a religious and ceremonial centre, before seeing the life-sized Karajía sarcophagi built into a cliff face.
DAYS 12-13
Gocta Falls
Hike through forest and farmland to the base of Gocta Waterfall, spotting hummingbirds, toucanets and Peru's national bird along the way, with the option to swim beneath the falls in the dry season. Transfer to the airport the following day, closing out a journey through Peru's lesser-known north.
