PAT 1420 - JEWELS OF THE NORTH

Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to the selected hotel. Remainder of the day off to rest or take an excursion (on request) if time allows. Overnight in Lima.

Transfer to the station to board the bus to the city of Huaraz (Departures at 08.00 hrs.). Time for the trip is approximately 8 hours. Upon arrival reception, transfer and accommodation at the hotel.     (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. For this day, we will go to the Archaeological Center of Chavín de Huántar, one of the oldest civilizations in America that still hides the mysteries of its origin. Inside Chavín you will be able to appreciate the impressive Monolithic Lanzón (lithic sculpture), the underground galleries in the form of labyrinths, underground channels, “Cabezas Clavas”, ceremonial squares, “The Falcónidas gateway”, different stairway systems and complex ventilation systems.

On the way we will be able to observe mining towns, we will visit the Querococha Lagoon and we will pass through the Cahuich Tunnel, located at 4,178 m.a.s.l, which crosses the Cordillera Blanca linking the “Callejón de Huaylas” with the “Callejón de Conchucos”. Lunch, visit to the Chavín museum and return to Huaraz.                      (B. L.)

Breakfast at the Hotel.  This day we leave heading north and pass through towns such as Carhuaz, Mancos, Ranrahirca and Yungay. At this point we deviate 27 km ascending the Cordillera Blanca until we reach the beautiful Laguna de Llanganuco, located at 3,850 meters above sea level at the base of the snow-capped Huascaran (the highest peak in Peru: 6768 meters above sea level), made of meltwater from this same snow-capped mountain, as well as from the Huandoy, Pisco, Yanapaccha and Chopicalqui.  In this place we will have direct contact with nature, specifically with the beautiful Quenuales that surround the lagoon and with the purity of its waters. Typical lunch included.

Then we will return to Yungay and visit the cemetery. From there we will go to the city of Caraz, and after a brief visit we will return to Huaraz. In the evening, transfer to the station to board the bus bound for the city of Lima. Departure is at 22:30 hrs., arriving in Lima at approximately 06:00 am.    (B. L.)

Upon arrival our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel. Morning off

In the afternoon, we will visit the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, imposing monuments built by the Moche culture, ancestors of the Chimú, where in their friezes you can appreciate the rich mythology that enveloped this people.  These “pyramids” or “huacas” are enormous adobe buildings built in the fifth century, which have countless superimposed tombs and polychrome murals in which they represent their deity Ai Apaec.  It is believed that both pyramids were complementary, one for administrative purposes and the other more for religious purposes. Overnight in Trujillo.     (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, we will start our visit Chan Chan, the largest mud city on the planet, ancient capital of the Chimú kingdom, a culture that descends from the Mochicas (Mr. De Sipán).

During our tour we will visit the monumental area and the entrance to the Tschudi Palace, which in its 11.5 hectares of extension shows us all the apogee and splendor of one of the most advanced civilizations of its time, through the management of its spaces, the exquisite beauty of its friezes and the solidity of its constructions

Next, we will visit Huanchaco, an ancestral fishermen’s cove where we can appreciate the old boats called caballitos de totora, thanks to which the millenary tradition of artisanal fishing is maintained and to which the beginnings of the practice of surfing are attributed. Free afternoon for personal activities. Overnight in Trujillo.      (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. At the coordinated time we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer along the North Pan-American Highway, crossing extensive sugar cane plantations to reach the Huaca Cao Viejo of the El Brujo archaeological complex, an important ceremonial center where through the iconographic language expressed in its polychrome murals, the past tells us about the rituals practiced by the Moche culture. El Brujo owes its name to the constant influx of the so-called sorcerers or northern healers (shamans) to this place, who performed and still carry out healing ceremonies in mountains or pre-Hispanic ruins such as the Huaca Cao Viejo, considering that in these places there are notable sources of energy.

In this way, being an important ceremonial center, the main constructions of “El Brujo” were made to worship the gods, and the ornamentation of them, show us representations of ritual scenes and dedication to their princes.

Similarly, the high reliefs on the walls of the temple (Huaca Cao Viejo) show a variety of themes, from everyday images to representations of sacred figures such as the inevitable image of the “Decapitator”, a supernatural, anthropomorphic image with feline features found on the main façade, which would be the representation of the main Mochica deity, the god Ai Apaec.

After this tour, it is time to head to the city of Lambayeque to visit the museum: “Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan”, located 11 km from the city of Chiclayo. The exhibition shows us the hierarch along with his valuable jewels, some Moches warrior tombs and important pieces of gold, the result of the hard work done by the Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva.

The architecture of the Museum is inspired by the ancient Mochica Sanctuaries, where platforms and ramps are combined, resulting in being considered one of the best museums in South America. Return to Chiclayo. Overnight.     (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport to continue with your itinerary.    (B.)

Meals included in the program:      B=BREAKFAST        L=LUNCH         D=DINNER