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FLY & DRIVE THE NORTHERN CULTURES
(Lima, Huaraz and the Blanca Range, Trujillo and Chiclayo & Pre-Inca Cultures)
11 DAYS/10 NIGHTS PROGRAM FROM LIMA TO CHICLAYO, FLIGHT TO LIMA Approximate distance to derive: 1970 km.
The Valley of Callejon de Huaylas is one of the best places in South America to enjoy superb mountain scenery and plenty of outdoor activities such as trekking, mountain climbing, mountain biking and rafting. It's also a great place for the less adventurous who enjoy going for day walks and exploring the villages and their lively markets.
The 40 km wide valley runs north-south for nearly 200 km between the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Blanca (White Mountains) to the east and the Cordillera Negra (Black Mountains) to the west. The main destination for visitors to the Callejon de Huaylas is the city of Huaraz, about 8 hours driving from Lima.
Along the way the traveler will have the chance to visit the archaeological remains of several important and very old pre-Inca cultures, like Chavin, Sechin, Paramonga and Caral.
Often ignored by travellers, Peru's north coast is possibly the most important archaeological area in the whole of the Americas. Even though the Incas have taken the lion's share of archaeological attention in Peru, the prior cultures of the north coast were at least as important, and survived for a much longer period of time. A visit to Chiclayo and Trujillo is an unforgettable cultural experience.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY:
Dia 1. Lima: Arrival in Lima airport, reception and transfer to the hotel in Miraflores. Meeting with the car rental representative and reception of chosen vehicle.
Dia 2. Lima Breakfast: Free time in Lima to visit the city and museums, and to enjoy the excellent food of selected Lima restaurants. Lima is an important gourmet milestone of the South American gastronomy (to see our list of suggestions for your Lima visit).
Dia 3. Lima - Huaraz Breakfast: Drive to the north along the Pan-American Highway until Pativilca (km 200), where a paved side road is taken towards the Andes highlands After passing by several towns, you arrive to the Conococha lagoon pass at 4000 m. The Santa river starts In this lagoon, the most important flowing to the Peruvian Pacific coast. From Conococha the road enters the Callejón de Huaylas, flanked by the Cordillera Blanca (White Mountain range) to the east and by the Cordillera Negra (Black Mountain range) to the West. The snowed peaks of the Cordillera Blanca offer impressive views to the traveller all the way down to Huaraz (419 km). Hotel.
More Information about the Cordillera Blanca and the Callejón de Huaylas →
Dia 4. Huaraz - Llanganuco. Breakfast: . These dazzling glacier-fed lakes lie about 50 km north of Huaraz. From the lakes you'll get incredible views of the beautiful peaks of the Cordillera Blanca including Chopicalqui (6,354m), Huandoy (6,395m) and the twin peaks of Huascaran (6,768m and 6,655m). More excursions possible, to Caraz and to the impressive Pato Gorge. Return to hotel.
More Information about the Llanganuco lakes →
Dia 5. Huaraz - Chavin Breakfast: Taking the road, this time towards the south, at the town of Catac a side road is taken towards the east, leading to Chavín de Huantar, distant about 110 km from Huaraz. The landscape to both sides of the route is of great beauty, framed between snow peaks, lakes and deep valleys. The ruins of Chavin, almost 3000 years old, represent an advanced civilization that populated the Central Andes, and whose influence extended probably hundreds of kilometers towards the north and the south.
In the town of Chavín de Huantar it is possible to have lunch. Return to Huaraz. Hotel
More Information about the Chavin ruins →
Dia 6. Huaraz - Trujillo. Breakfast: . Leaving Huaraz, heading west, the road climbs up to the Callan Pass (4330m.) on the Cordillera Negra. From the heights and watching towards the east, the views of the snow-covered peaks of the Cordillera Blanca are simply spectacular. Descending towards the coast one enters the warm valley of Casma, a typical and green fluvial oasis of the Peruvian coast. Five km before arriving to the town of Casma there are the ruins of the Temple of Sechín with impressive walls carved with ritual scenes of victorious soldiers and sacrificed victims.
More Information about Sechin →
After the Sechin visit drive to Casma, where is possible to have lunch. In the afternoon trip continues to the north along the Pan-American highway to Trujillo, which was one of the most important and traditional colonial cities in Peru (336 km). Hotel.
More Information about Trujillo →
Dia 7. Trujillo : A free day to discover this pleasant and charming city. There are beautiful colonial mansions with their well-preserved, imposing portals, balconies and churches. Visit also the royal palace complex of Chan Chan, capital of the Chimu culture. This enormous complex, the largest in pre-Columbian America, is divided into nine separate citadels. Drive to the seaside town of Huanchaco to enjoy the beach atmosphere and watch the local fishermen on their "caballitos de totora" reed boats and to enjoy an excellent sea food lunch. In the afternoon visit the Huacas de la Luna y del Sol, one of the Trujillo highlights. Hotel.
More Information about Chan Chan →
Dia 8. Trujillo – Chiclayo: Before leaving Trujillo, it is worth to spend a visit to the small but interesting private Cassinelli museum. In a 6 hours trip toward North, will be possible to appreciate the different valleys fertile and important sugar country properties. Visit to “Huaca El Brujo” (80 km), a very important Moche ritual center facing the Pacific Ocean. Arrival in Chiclayo, hotel (209 km).
More Information about Huaca El Brujo →
Dia 9. Chiclayo: We suggest a morning excursion to the mud-brick burial platform of Huaca Rajada, where the fabulous tomb of the Lord of Sipan was discovered with gold artefacts and precious stone that have revealed a wealth of information about the little known ancient Moche civilization. From Huaca Rajada better drive straight to Lambayeque, 12 kilometers north of Chiclayo and have lunch there We recommend a typical lunch at El Pacífico restaurant in Lambayeque, as food in this area of Peru is highly appreciated.. Afternoon tour to nearby Tucume, an imposing site consisting of 26 mud-brick pyramids that served as the political and religious center of the Lambayeque culture.
Returning to Lambayeque, visit the spectacular Tumbas Reales Museum The fabulous treasures found in the tombs of Sipán are now on display in the new and very good Tumbas Reales museum and in the Brüning museum in Lambayeque. Sipán is one of the richest tombs discovered since King Tut´s, containing extraordinary gold, silver and gilded copper items.
With Brüning, Sicán and Sipán museums, a cultural circuit has been established which promises to become the focus of future development in the region. Return to hotel in Chiclayo.
More Information about the Sipán Culture and Museum →
Dia 10. Chiclayo: Spend some time to visit the "witches market"; it is a unique experience, where shamans, or folk healers, sell the herbs and paraphernalia used in their healing sessions. Then drive 17 kilometers to Ferreñafe, to visit the museum with the treasures of the Señor de Sicán, an important lord of the Sican culture, which succeeded the Sipan culture, as last went to an end. Return to Chiclayo hotel. Car return in the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. Reception and transfer to the hotel in Miraflores.
More Information about the Sicán Culture and Museum →
Dia 11. Lima: Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to the airport.