Explore The Highlights Of Northern Peru
Northern Peru is home to some of the country’s most remarkable archaeological and cultural sites, offering a fascinating window into civilisations that long predate the Incas. Among its highlights is Chan Chan, the former capital of the Chimú culture and the largest pre-Columbian city in Latin America, where vast adobe walls and intricate carvings hint at a powerful coastal empire.
Further north lies Túcume, an extraordinary complex of 26 towering pyramids that rise from the desert landscape. Nearby, the excellent Lord of Sipán Museum showcases exquisite artefacts from one of Peru’s most important archaeological discoveries, revealing the craftsmanship, hierarchy and beliefs of the Moche culture.
Venture inland and the scenery transforms as cloud forest surrounds the mountaintop fortress of Kuélap, often compared to Machu Picchu for its scale and atmosphere yet far quieter. Not far away, the Gocta Waterfalls plunge through lush valleys, creating one of the region’s most striking natural sights and completing a journey through Northern Peru’s rich heritage and dramatic landscapes.
Go off the beaten track
Accommodation detailed in itinerary
6 breakfasts & 5 lunches
See details in itinerary below
What you'll experience
- Come face to face with the ancient cultures of Peru: Explore remarkable archaeological sites that reveal the stories, beliefs and artistry of the civilisations that shaped Northern Peru long before the Incas.
- Visit the magical Gocta Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world: Walk through cloud forest trails to see this towering cascade plunge through lush valleys, creating an unforgettable natural spectacle.
- See Kuélap, a pre-Columbian fortress bigger, higher and older than Machu Picchu: Discover its monumental stone walls and circular dwellings set high in the misty Andes, offering a fascinating look at the Chachapoya culture.
- Explore Northern Peru’s archaeological marvels, including the tombs of the Lord of Sipán, the ancient city of Chan Chan and the Dragon Temple: Uncover exquisite artefacts, vast adobe cities and sacred ceremonial sites that bring centuries of history into focus.
- Visit the El Brujo Archaeological Complex: Learn about the Moche culture as you explore its temples, murals and the extraordinary discovery of the Señora de Cao, a female ruler whose story reshaped understanding of the region’s past.
What's included
Domestic flights
6 nights’ accommodation as detailed
11 meals; 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches
Full-day city tour of Trujillo
- Full-day tour to Tucume, Royal Tombs Museum and Huaca Rajada
Half-day tour to Kuelap
Full-day tour to Gocta Falls
Half day visit to El Brujo
- Transfers and domestic flights as per itinerary
Prices from £2,299 pp*
Excludes:
Meals not indicated in your itinerary
Local departure taxes payable locally
Items of a personal nature such as laundry and drinks etc
Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary)
Camera or video fees at any sites
International flights
Quick Itinerary
Northern Peru Highlights Itinerary
Day 1 Lima - Trujillo
Take an early morning flight from Lima to Trujillo.
After checking in to your hotel you will head out on a full day tour starting at the Museum of Archaeology. Here you will learn about Peru's history and pre-Columbian cultures, through to the arrival of the Spanish.
You will then visit the Chan Chan archaeological complex, the largest city of the pre-Columbian Americas and the capital city of the Chimú culture. The city is believed to have been built in 850 AD and was home to around 50,000 people.
Your final stop will be Huanchaco, an ancestral fisherman’s cove, where it is possible to watch a thousand-year-old tradition of fishermen using reed boats known as Caballitos de Totora.
Days 2-3 Chiclayo
On your way to Chiclayo, you will be taken to the Valley of Chicama, to visit the archaeological complex El Brujo, which belonged to the Mochica culture. Here you will see pyramids reaching up to 150 feet in height with walls decorated with friezes and coloured reliefs that depict complex scenes, characters, and geometric designs.
On your second day in Chiclayo, you will have a full-day tour of Tucume, the valley of the pyramids, the Museum of Royal Tombs, which houses the tomb of Lord of Sipán, and the Huaca Rajada Archaeological site.
Days 4-6 Chachapoyas
Today you will make your way to Chachapoyas, this will take approximately 10 hours.
On your second day in Chachapoyas, you will have a half-day tour to Kuelap, an imposing fortress built by the Chachapoyas culture.
The fortress is one of the most significant lithic monuments in Peru, which rises 3000 metres above the Cerro Barreta. The site is higher, larger and older than the more famous Machu Picchu and considerably more remote.
On your last full day in Chachapoyas, you will have a full-day tour of Gocta Falls. Hike to Cocachimba, a paradise in the middle of the jungle that houses different waterfalls, including Gocta, one of the highest waterfalls in the world.
Day 7 Lima
Return to Lima for further exploration of Peru.
Speak to a Peru Holiday Specialist
All our Peru itineraries can be tailored to your unique requirements. Enquire about our Northern Peru add-on itinerary and let us plan your perfect Latin American adventure.What Makes a Latin Routes Holiday Truly Unforgettable?
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