One Week in Peru | Northern Peru

Overview

Peru is much more than Machu Picchu, and in a country with over 5,000 years of history, the Inca Empire is just the tip of the Iceberg. This one week in Peru itinerary will take you through many pre-Inca sites such as the mud-brick City of Chan Chan and the tombs of the Lord of Sipan. Travel to the highlands in a scenic drive from Chiclayo to Cocachimba, passing by deserts, coastal valleys, high mountains, and cloud forest. Once in the Amazonas region, get ready to hike to one of the tallest waterfalls in the World: Gocta; and get amazed by the impressive Kuelap fortress. Prepare to enter a land of hidden gems in Northern Peru!

Why we love this trip!

Explore the ancient pyramid of Huaca de La Luna.
Hike to the Gocta Waterfall, one of the highest in the World.
Take a cableway to the impressive Kuelap fortress.

Itinerary day-by-day

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Day 1: Welcome to Trujillo & Huaca de La Luna

We’ll head to Lima Airport to board your flight to Trujillo in Northern Peru. Upon arrival, we welcome you and transfer you to our hotel in the countryside just out of the city. Depending on your arrival time, we can visit the famous Huaca de la Luna temple, which is an adobe mud pyramid made by the Moche Civilization and decorated with mural paintings representing their chief deities.

Day 2: Huaca Arco Iris, Chan Chan Mud-Brick Citadel & Huanchaco

Visit the Huaca Arco Iris, an adobe pyramid decorated with colorful high-relief on its walls. Next, head towards the world’s largest mud-brick citadel in America, Chan Chan. This place was once home to 100,000 inhabitants of the Chimu civilization, who stubbornly resisted the expansion of the Inca Empire. Afterward, we will drive to Huanchaco, a traditional fisherman’s beach town famous for its totora reed boats called Caballitos de Totora. We’ll have lunch in Huanchaco, and then we’ll head back to our hotel where we can enjoy the rest of the afternoon in its facilities.

Day 3: El Brujo Archaeological site, Pacasmayo & Journey to Chiclayo

Set off towards the city of Chiclayo. Our first stop will be at Huaca el Brujo, a Sacred pyramid that rises about 98 feet above the surrounding desert. A few years ago, a well-preserved tattooed mummy of a young woman, who belongs to the Moche Royalty, was discovered deep inside El Brujo pyramid. After visiting Señora de Cao museum, continue to Pacasmayo, a small and beautiful beachside town, to enjoy lunch overlooking the ocean. Finally, continue your journey towards Chiclayo and your hotel.

Day 4: Scenic Journey from Chiclayo to Cocachimba

Today, we are heading to the region of Amazonas. Prepare for a journey through the Andes, over the Porcuya mountain pass, crossing the rice fields of Bagua, and driving along the gorgeous Utcubamba Canyon to Chachapoyas, the gateway to the territory of the ancient Sachapuyu (Inhabitants of the cloud forest). Upon entering the area, we’ll make our way to the small village of Cocachimba to spend the night at your charming hotel with beautiful views of the Gocta waterfall.

Day 5: Hike to Gocta Waterfall

Wake up with a breathtaking morning view from the Gocta waterfall. After having a delicious and organic breakfast, we’ll start a 3-hour hike to the famous Gocta Waterfall, one of the tallest falls in the world (771m /2520 ft). This hike is around 6km long and will take us through cultivated fields and into the cloud forest, home of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, mountain sloth, and the magnificent cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird. In the afternoon, you can enjoy the facilities of the lodge, refresh and relax in the pond overlooking Gocta.

Day 6: Cableway to Kuelap Fortress & Drive to Lamud

Head to the town of Tingo on an hour-long ride to board our cable car to the spectacular historical site of Kuelap, an ancient fortress of the Chachapoyas people. Kuelap, sitting majestically above a mountain ridge at 9500 ft, will amaze you with its towering walls and round stone houses surrounded by the cloud forest. The site also offers stunning views of the valley and the possibility of remarkable birdwatching. After spending 2 hours on the site, we’ll have a 2:30-hour drive to Lamud and your charming hotel.

Day 7: Farewell Peru

Very early this morning, after seeing the best of Peru’s Northern treasures, we’ll head to Jaen Airport, about 4 hours away, to board your return flight to Lima and connecting flight back home.