Peru Tour: Culture & Kuélap 15 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 flavours from various Peruvian regions and cultures.

Lima offers something for everyone. There are many exciting museums with brilliant modern and ancient art, colonial mansions, archaeological sites such as Pachacamac, lovely beaches, shopping opportunities, world-class trendy restaurants, and more!

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 most significant colonial art complex in America. The residential neighbourhoods are also attractive, e.g. Barranco and Miraflores, where you can visit the modern commercial centre Larcomar near the coastline and the beautiful green spaces along the boulevards.

During the boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, approx. 300 kilometres south of Lima, you can see the Candelabro, the famous geoglyph of the beach. Upon arrival near the islands, watch the collection of rocky islands, home to seals, Humboldt penguins and many different birds.

A visit to the mysterious and enigmatic Nazca Lines is something extraordinary. The Nazca lines, some over 2,000 years old, have blown away historians for hundreds of years. A flight over the Nazca lines is an excellent experience for travellers who want to admire the remarkable lines from the air.

In the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa, visit the beautiful central square, the Plaza de Armas, with its impressive church, the dome of La Compañía de Jesús, elegant colonial houses. At a short walking distance from the Plaza, you can visit the unforgettable Santa Catalina Convent, characterized by peaceful, narrow streets and different famous styles in the 16th century.

In Cusco, the capital of the old Inca Empire, you do not want to miss the impressive Colonial Cathedral of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas and Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, 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. First, there is the fortress of Sacsayhuamán - famous for its enormous carved stones -. And a bit further down the road, the ruins of 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 the colourful village of Pisac, Urubamba, and further down, Ollantaytambo. In Pisac, you can visit the famous traditional market or the Inca ruins and Inca terraces. 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 our breathtaking excursion to Machu Picchu, one of the most fabulous places in the world.

Enjoy your first views of the fantastic scenery and start exploring every corner of the lost Inca citadel. The majestic ruins were built by the Incas and are located in the scenic Andes mountain range, surrounded by beautiful cloud forests and mountain scenery.

Note: Remember, you cannot buy Machu Picchu entrance tickets at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. You must book a Machu Picchu tickets with a time slot in advance. You also need a guide to enter the ruins.

Your Peru itinerary “Peru Culture incl. Kuélap in 15 days” continues in Northern Peru. You will lad in Trujillo, considered to be the cultural capital of Peru. Important Peruvian traditions were born in Trujillo, such as the Marinera dance and the Peruvian Paso horses.

Trujillo is 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 the colourful, painted walls; it allows visitors to admire the Moche culture's beautiful murals.

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 centre of Chiclayo. The tomb of the "Lord of Sipan" consists of many different rooms; it is one of the most beautiful tombs on the continent with impressive golden walls and numerous decorations.

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

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

Chachapoyas is a small town in the Amazon region of Northern Peru, founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1538. 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, you can travel to Chachapoyas any time of the year.

One of the highlights of your trip in Peru is to Fort Kuélap (by cable car!). Kuélap was once the political centre 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 the nearby airport Jaen will take approximately two hours. This is where your Peru itinerary “Peru Culture & Kuélap in 15 days” ends.