Ancient Peru: Huacas de Moche, El Brujo, Túcume, Kuélap & The Sacred Valley - 15 days

Day 1: Arrive in Trujillo

Welcome to Trujillo! Thanks to its sunny, calm weather, the coastal city is known as "La ciudad de la primavera eterna" (The City of Everlasting Spring). Once the heart of the Moche and Chimú cultures, the city is now known for its archaeological finds and beautiful colonial-era buildings and role in gaining independence from Spain. You'll fly in today and have time to explore.

While you're in town, check out the Historic Centre of Trujillo, watch a demonstration of the "Marinera," a traditional Peruvian dance, or settle in with a plate of ceviche, since it's said that the famous dish was created by the Moche people in this area around 2,000 years ago.

Day 2: Huacas de Moche, Chan Chan & Huanchaco Tour

Head out in the morning for a full day of sightseeing near Trujillo. First, visit two monuments of the Moche culture, the Huaca de la Luna, or "Moon Temple," still decorated with well-conserved paintings on the walls, and the Huaca Arco Iris, or "Rainbow Temple," named for the colorful high reliefs found on its walls. From here, continue to what was once the largest city in pre-Columbian Peru: Chan Chan. The Chimú complex features clusters of buildings, royal palace rooms, and sprawling workshops to house the city's artisans. 

Continue to Huanchaco, a traditional fishing beach town famous for its totora reed boats, known locally as the "Caballitos de totora" (Little Totora Horses). These boats, made out of the thick and buoyant totora reed, have been used for fishing and surfing for centuries. Enjoy lunch in the seaside town, then return to Trujillo in the afternoon. If there's time, take a detour to explore the small historical city center of Trujillo before returning to the hotel for the evening.

Day 3: Visit El Brujo & Transfer to Chiclayo

In the morning, set off to Chiclayo in the nearby region of Lambayeque. Along the way, stop at the archaeological site of El Brujo. This 98-foot-tall (29.8 m) adobe pyramid is famous for the tomb of the Lady of Cao, a female Peruvian mummy discovered dressed as a warrior and buried in a manner similar to the male aristocratic warriors, suggesting that she, and potentially other women of the time, was a high-ranking member of society.

Day 4: Túcume Pyramids & Tumbas Reales Museum Tour

Start your day with a visit to the 26 pyramids at the Túcume Archaeological Complex, an area successively controlled by the Lambayeque, Chimú, Inca, and Spanish peoples. Spanning 547 acres (221.5 ha), this sprawling complex contains fascinating architectural features such as pat, canals, and enormous palaces decorated with exemplary murals. 

After lunch, head to the Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán (Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum) in Lambayeque, just outside of Chiclayo. This museum contains a wealth of archaeological treasures buried with the Lord of Sipán, a Moche mummy discovered in nearby Sipán in 1987. At the time, the Lord of Sipán's tomb was one of the best-preserved in the country, earning comparisons with the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. 

Day 5: Transfer to Chachapoyas

Today is a travel day. Head inland to Chachapoyas, a city surrounded by cloud forests in the Amazonas region. During the roughly seven-hour drive, you'll watch the arid deserts of the coast give way to the humid cloud forests of Andean peaks. Along the way, you'll have plenty of chances to get out, stretch your legs, and capture photos of the landscape.

Arrive at your hotel in Chachapoyas in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the charming town. Visit the Santa Isabela Nursery's orchids, admire the colonial-era casonas (mansions), or see the legendary Pozo de Yanayacu. This well would cause any single man that drank from it to be utterly charmed by the local women.

Day 6: Hike to Gocta Waterfall

After a hearty breakfast, hit the trail for a two-three hour hike to the famous Gocta Waterfall. The 3.7-mile (6-km) hike is well worth it, not only because it crosses through vast sugar cane fields and thick cloud forest but because the falls drop a jaw-dropping 2,531 feet (771 m) in two steps. While the falls have only been known to the general public since the early 2000s, you might pass some well-known wildlife during your hike, like the bright orange tunki (Andean cock-of-the-rock), Peru's national bird.

Day 7: Take the Cablecar to Kuélap Fortress

Get an early start today for the hourlong ride to Nuevo Tingo, a small village nestled in the high Andes. From here, board the cable car up to the spectacular ruins of Kuélap, a pre-Inca settlement surrounded by 65-foot (19.8-m) walls. The site, located 9,500 feet (2,895 m) up a mountain ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley, earned the nickname "Machu Picchu of the North." Take a guided tour through the settlement's rounded buildings before heading back down the mountain.

Day 8: Fly to Lima

Today, catch a ride to the Jaen Airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Peru's capital, you'll be transferred to your accommodations and have the rest of the day to explore. Sitting on high cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, there's plenty to do and see in this city of almost 10 million people. Check out the chic shopping centers in Miraflores, visit Museo Larco's huge collection of pre-Columbian art, or take a walk past the lemon-yellow buildings surrounding the Plaza Mayor de Lima.

Day 9: Visit the Ica Desert & Huacachina Oasis

Take a four-hour ride down Peru's coastline toward Ica, a city in the southern Ica Desert. From here, head to Huacachina, an oasis among the sand dunes. After a quick tour, it's off to the dunes for adrenaline-pumping dune buggy rides or sandboarding across the sands. If you're not feeling too adventurous, hang out with a Pisco sour—after all, the famous Peruvian brandy comes from this region. Stop for lunch on the shores of the oasis lagoon before heading back to Lima.

Day 10: Fly to Cusco, Explore

It's time to trade in Peru's current capital city for the formal capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco. With an elevation of 11,000 feet (3,000 m), the city's altitude takes some getting used to—remember to rest often and drink plenty of water for the first couple of days here after your flight over. Consider walking through the narrow streets to check out local markets or have a cup of coca tea to help adjust to the elevation. Or, head to the slopes above the city to check out Inca sacred sites like Sacsayhuaman and Q'enqo. 

Day 11: Moray Terraces & Salineras de Maras Tour

Visit two of the more well-known archaeological sites in the area today, starting with Moray. This historically ambiguous site hosts three muyus (circular terraces) with depths of up to 98 feet (30 m). The dramatic change in temperature from the top to the bottom of each muyu creates microclimates like those in a greenhouse, leading many to believe the Incas used the site as an agricultural laboratory. There's no way to know for sure, and that enduring mystery is part of Moray's charm.

Then, head to Salineras de Maras, a patchwork of thousands of salt wells created by the Incas and still used today. This geometric landscape high in the mountains is a favorite for photographers, but even if you don't use a camera, you can bring a piece of the Salineras home. You can still buy salt from the wells in nearby Maras, just as the Incas once did hundreds of years ago. 

Day 12: Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Chinchero Tour

The scenic floodplain between Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the valley of the Urubamba River is known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Tour three of the Sacred Valley's gems today on a tour of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. Start at Pisac Archaeological Park and check out the Inca-era complex before heading down the hill to the modern town's handicraft market, the largest in the region.

From here, head to Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in the Sacred Valley that have retained its original Inca urban planning. Walk through the streets with Inca-era canals and view the ancient houses still in use today. Climb the agricultural terraces for a bird's-eye-view of the valley. From the top, you’ll be able to see some of the quarries from where the stone for Ollantaytambo was sourced and marvel at the feat of engineering that brought them up to the sight.

Then, head back toward Cusco and stop at Chinchero, a small Andean village sitting at a higher elevation than the other villages at 12,342 feet (3,762 m) above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views of snowy mountains like Salcantay, the highest peak in the Vilcabamba mountain range, as you explore the Inca-era terraces, a colonial-era stucco church, and another artisanal market. 

Day 14: Hike to Vinicunca

Head south on a three-hour ride from Cusco to Quesiuno to meet the trailhead to Vinicunca. The mountain goes by many names, like Montaña de Siete Colores and Rainbow Mountain, thanks to the colorful stripes that cover the peak. Hike for about two hours, passing mountain streams, potato fields, and herds of alpacas or llamas before you reach the Red Valley and the Rainbow Mountain itself. You'll have plenty of time to explore the gorgeous area and take pictures before heading back down the trail.

Day 15: Fly to Lima & Depart

Today is your last day in Peru! You'll be met at your hotel for a transfer to the Cusco Airport, where you'll catch your flight back to Lima and then connect to your international departure. ¡Buen Viaje!