Peru Tour: Classic & Northern Peru 20 days

Welcome to the Peruvian capital Lima.

The former City of Kings maintains its colonial past and beauty. Today, Lima is one of the leading culinary destinations in the entire world. You will delight in unforgettable Peruvian meals that combine the unique flavors from various Peruvian regions and cultures.

Lima offers something for everyone. There are many museums with brilliant modern and ancient art, monasteries, mansions, archaeological sites, beaches, boardwalks, shopping opportunities, world-class restaurants, buzzing nightlife and adventure sports!

In Lima's historical centre, visit the Paseo de la República, the Plaza San Martín, the Plaza Mayor, the Government House, the Basílica, the House of the Archbishop, the Municipality and the oldest streets with colonial mansions and Moorish style balconies.

One of the highlights is the convent and the church of San Francisco, the largest colonial art complex in America. The residential neighbourhoods are also attractive, e.g. Barranco and Miraflores, where you can visit the modern commercial center Larcomar near the coastline and the beautiful green spaces along the boulevards.

In the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa, don't miss out on the Plaza de Armas, the impressive church, the San Francisco square, the dome of La Compañía de Jesús, elegant colonial houses, and the unforgettable Santa Catalina Convent, characterized by its narrow streets and different styles that were famous in the 16th century.

Travelling to the Colca Canyon, see the incredible landscapes, beautiful terraces, and volcanoes covered with snow, including the Misti Volcano of Arequipa at 5,825 meters above sea level. You will pass through the reserves where rare vicunas live (Peru's national animal - similar to the alpaca). The highest point of our trip will be at 4,910 meters in Patapampa. Most people stay overnight in the small village of Chivay.

If you wake up early the next day, you have the best chances of seeing condors at the Choquetico viewpoint. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Colca Canyon and hopefully see the impressive Andean condors rising above the void.

On the way back to Chivay, explore the Pre-Inca tombs hidden in the mountainside and visit the "Litomaquetas," the terraces' clock tower. Along the road, there are three unique traditional villages to take a close look at local handicrafts and customs.

A tour to Lake Titicaca includes a visit to the famous floating Uros Islands and Taquile, one of the most beautiful islands in the region. The inhabitants of the island produce beautiful textiles such as hats, ponchos, and blouses. Spending the night on one of the islands with a local family is an unforgettable experience. Amantani is another beautiful island with lots of amazing views and incredible crafts.

You Peru Tour “Peru Classic & Northern Peru 20 days” continues in Cusco, the capital of the old Inca empire. Don’t miss the impressive Colonial Cathedral of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas or the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun. This was the main religious centre of the Incas dedicated to the cult of the Sun God. According to the chroniclers, the walls of this temple were once completely covered with golden plates.

At only 8 km from Cusco, you will find beautiful Inca Ruins: Sacsayhuamán - famous for its enormous carved stones - Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara.

In Cusco, you will find many excellent museums such as the Inca Museum, Museum of Pre-Colombian art and the Museum of Religious art. Other attractive options are the Center for Textiles and the Chocolate Museum.

A visit to the Sacred Valley includes places of interest such as Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. In Pisac, you can visit the colourful traditional market or the Inca ruins. Ollantaytambo is a small town full of Inca architecture and an impressive fortress; there is a small train station where you can hop on the train to Machu Picchu.

Today's the day for your breathtaking excursion to Machu Picchu, one of the most fabulous places in the world.

The train journey to Aguas Calientes itself is a spectacle. You will appreciate the changing landscape from green fields and eucalyptus forests to lush jungle.

An impressive mountain setting surrounds Machu Picchu. Enjoy your first views of the fantastic scenery and start exploring every corner of the lost Inca citadel.

Trujillo is considered the cultural capital of Peru. Great thinkers and writers such as César Vallejo and Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre are associated with this northern Peruvian city. Important Peruvian traditions are also credited to Trujillo, such as the Marinera dance, the Peruvian Paso horses, the Caballito de Totora competitions but also the famous spring festival.

Trujillo is also a cultural destination with ancient ruins of pre-Colombian cultures. The most important places in Trujillo include the Plaza Mayor, the cathedral, the Casa Urquiaga museum, the beautiful Chan-Chan and the seaside village of Huanchaco.

The archaeological El Brujo complex is known for it’s colourful, painted walls; it allows visitors to admire beautiful murals of the Moche culture. A female mummy, named Lady of Cao, with mysterious tattoos of snakes and spiders on her arms was found in a ceremonial burial site at the complex. She was most likely a high-ranking priestess or even a Moche ruler who died in her 20’s. The complex also consists of several ancient pyramids.

The Northern regions of Peru have been inhabited for thousands of years. During the colonial period in Peru, many interesting buildings in the Spanish style were built in the center of Chiclayo. The tomb of the "Lord of Sipan" consists of a number of rooms and is one of the most beautiful tombs on the continent with its impressive golden walls and numerous decorations.

The most important archaeological sites include a visit to the famous Huaca Rajada of Sipán and the site of archaeological excavations, the Museo de Sitio at Huaca Rejada and the viewpoint of the site. The Pyramids of Túcume and the famous famous museum Royal Tombs of Sipán.

Cajamarca is the city where the Inca era came to an end. The last Inca king Atahualpa was captured here by the Spanish conquerors. Tradition has it that Atahualpa filled his prison room once with gold and twice with silver to be released, but was eventually murdered.

In the region of Cajamarca, admire beautiful colonial architecture, churches, and many colorful mountain villages and you can enjoy delicious gastronomy. The main attractions of Cajamarca include the famous "Cuarto de Rescate" or "ransom room". This is an important historical site as the Inca emperor Atahualpa was held captive here by the Spanish.

The Ventanillas de Otuzco is another important archaeological site. The windows are square or rectangular in shape, carved into a solid block of volcanic rock, with the openings measuring an average of 50 cm (20 inches) in height. These“windows”functioned as a burial site in pre-Inca times and were cleared out by the Incas, because they used these "niches" as a storage place for grain, among other things.

The trip to Chachapoya is long but has a lot to offer. There is breathtaking scenery and the tourist destinations more than make up for it!

Chachapoyas is a small town in the Amazon region of Northern Peru. It was founded by the Spanish conquistadors or conquerors in 1538. Then, Chachapoyas became the base for exploiting the Amazon in Peru. The main tourist attraction of Chachapoyas is the Kuélap Fort. With its subtropical climate and high temperatures during the day, Chachapoyas can be visited all year round.

Visit the impressive Gocta Waterfall, a must-see for travelers in Northern Peru with a passion for nature. Gocta is the fourth highest waterfall in the world with a height of 771 meters. The waterfall is located in the cloud forest; with a little luck you can observe monkeys and birds.

One of the highlights to your trip in Peru is to Fort Kuélap (by cable car!) The ancient culture of the Chachapoyas has left archaeological sites and other tourist attractions in Peru behind; a wonderful lore for culture lovers.

Fort Kuélap was once the political center of the Chachapoya civilization in Northern Peru, from 900-1400. Due to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the Chachapoya civilization and the fortress fell and Kuélap was abandoned.

In 2004 Kuélap was put on the 'watch list' of world monuments to protect the fort against further damage. Various organizations, including the World Monuments Fund, have supported the preservation of Fort Kuélap.

The flight back to Lima from nearby airport Jaen will take approximately two hours and here ends your Peru itinerary Peru Classic & Northern Peru in 20 days,