Peru

Welcome, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel. Enjoy the capital of Peru, its 2000 years of history and colonial wealth. Experience the artistic and contemporary traditions of its residents. See the Historic Centre of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire its imposing cathedral. Visit the Aliaga Mansion, the best preserved colonial town house in America, inhabited continuously by the same family since 1535. Next: the Monastery of San Francisco, a superb example of colonial-era architecture, which has an important collection of colonial-era paintings. This tour also includes the visit of the residential suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores. Stop on the Costa Verde for a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and beaches. Transport to your hotel.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Transport from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Trujillo. Assistance at the airport on arrival at Trujillo and transport to your hotel. This day, you will do the City Tour + Archaeological Museum. Tour of the city of Trujillo and its colonial legacy. See the Main Square and cathedral. Admire some of the well-preserved colonial town houses then visit the Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History, which shows the development of the north coast and particularly the coastal valleys in the Department of La Libertad. Stay at your chosen hotel in Trujillo.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Excursion to the south of Trujillo to visit a religious center from the Mochica culture built in the 5th Century. Admire the temples of the Sun and Moon and then enjoy local handicrafts made by the descendants of the Mochica people. Relax on the beach at Huanchaco, with its reed boats, the famous "caballitos de totora", whilst sampling a tasty lunch in a restaurant facing the sea. Continue to Huaca Dragón and then a visit to Chan Chan (UNESCO World Heritage Site), ancient capital of the Chimú Empire (13th Century) and the largest mud-brick city in the world. Stay at your chosen hotel in Trujillo.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Leave for the Chicama Valley, some 20 miles north of Trujillo, to see the El Brujo archaeological complex, built by the Mochica culture. Huaca Cao Viejo, a pyramid 150 feet high was discovered in 1990; it has decorated walls with friezes and colored relief decoration showing complex scenes and geometric patterns. This burial mound is close to the sea shore and it is known that ancient maritime rituals were conducted on this site. However the excavations show that this mound was used for other purposes. Discover the mystery of the 1,600 year old mummy unearthed in this archaeological complex. The mummy has been preserved practically intact through the ancient practice of applying a red mineral that inhibits decomposition of the skin and tissues. After the visit you will continue to the city of Chiclayo. Stay in Chiclayo.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Excursion to the impressive necropolis of Huaca Rajada, where a number of tombs have recently been discovered. The best known, "Lord of Sipán" (5th Century) and "Old Lord of Sipán" (3rd Century), were unearthed in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Visit to Tucume, important ruins covering around 220 hectares and consisting of at least 26 pyramids (possibly temples). It is said that Tucume was an administrative and religious center with evidence of the Moche, Chimu and Inca cultures. Visit the magnificent and modern Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum. It contains a recreation of the life of the Lord of Sipán and his court. Pyramid shaped, inspired by Mochica sanctuaries in order to synthesize the past, present and future of the Lambayeque identity. Lunch at "Cantaro”, a local restaurant. All the items on display are original and each one has been subject to a careful process of cleaning and restoration. This architectural jewel contains the most senior representative of the Mochica culture; the Lord of Sipán, considered the most powerful ruler in Peru approximately 1,700 years ago. Stay at your chosen hotel in Chiclayo.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Transport from hotel to airport for your flight to Lima. End of our services.