Français 
Español 
What to Expect
The 21-Day Northern Peru tour is a magnificent journey, still largely undiscovered by the general public, that will take you across the country from west to east. Our adventure begins in the capital, Lima, continues to Huaraz—a city nestled in the spectacular Cordillera Blanca—and concludes in Tarapoto, in the lush Amazon rainforest. This journey will undoubtedly take you off the beaten path to explore a country with an incredibly rich, ancient, pre-Inca culture, all highlighted by the stark natural, climatic, and geographical contrasts unique to each of the three distinct regions visited.
Unfortunately, the prevailing images of Peru today are often based solely on the Inca civilization and its iconic citadel of Machu Picchu, which has rightly become one of the New7Wonders of the World. However, this culture is merely the tip of the iceberg. This country, with over 10,000 years of history, was once home to other civilizations such as the Caral, Huari, Chavin, Moche, Chimu, and Chachapoyas, all of whom contributed through the ages to the development and eventual renown of the Inca people. This journey through time is a wonderful blend of unique experiences and interaction with the warm and generous local population, all enjoyed in a small group and at a measured pace.
Trip Highlights:
Lima, the capital city
Huaraz and the world’s highest tropical mountain range
Chavín de Huantar (1500-300 BC) and its supreme deity
Trujillo and the Chan Chan archaeological site (900-1400 AD)
Leymebamba and its mummies
Kuelap, the pre-Inca fortress
Gocta, the impressive waterfall over 750 meters high
La Tingana, a canoe trip through the tropical nature reserve
Day-by-Day Itinerary
DAY 1: LIMA
Upon arrival in Lima, you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Included: Airport/hotel transfer, hotel.
DAY 2: LIMA
We will spend the morning visiting the historic colonial-style center, including Plaza San Martin, Casa Aliaga, the churches of La Merced, San Pedro, and San Francisco, and the Central Reserve Bank Museum. We will conclude our tour at the Plaza de Armas, viewing the Presidential Palace and City Hall. In the early afternoon, we will take our bus to Miraflores for lunch to savor the renowned local fish specialties. We will end the day with a short one-hour walk along the Pacific coast, followed by free time to explore this beautiful neighborhood at your leisure.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 3: LIMA 🡲 HUARAZ (3000m) 🡲 WILCACOCHA (3700m) (50km, 1h drive)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Carhuaz (Latam 7:15 AM / 8:15 AM) in the Cordillera Blanca. After checking into your hotel, we will begin with a tour of Huaraz to immerse ourselves in the daily life of the Quechua population. We’ll visit the vibrant local market, the Plaza de Armas and its central square, and the museum with its 120 monoliths. In the afternoon, we will take our private vehicle to the starting point of our hike in the Cordillera Negra. (For those who prefer not to hike, the vehicle can drive directly to the lake). After a gentle 2-hour ascent, we will reach Wilcacocha Lake (3700m), where a splendid panoramic view of the Cordillera Blanca unfolds at sunset. We will return to Huaraz by vehicle in the early evening.
(Elevation gain: +510 m; Distance: 5 km; Hiking time: 3 hours)
Included: Transfers and flight, private vehicle, half-board, hotel.
DAY 4: HUARAZ 🡲 CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR (3150m) (280km, 6h drive)
We will depart around 7:00 AM for the Chavín de Huántar archaeological site, passing Querococha Lake and the Cahuish Tunnel at 4516m. Chavín de Huántar was the most important religious and ceremonial pilgrimage center from 1300 to 300 BC. The temple’s impressive entrance features two columns forming a stone portal engraved with a pair of bird-man figures. You will see carved stone fragments and plaques depicting various human and animal figures. At the center of the main gallery lies the sanctuary with its four-meter-high granite deity, the “Lanzón de Chavín.” We will continue with a visit to the new museum, which displays unique artifacts from this ancient pre-Inca civilization. Return to your hotel in Carhuaz around 6:00 PM.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 5: HUARAZ 🡲 LLANGANUCO (3850m) (190km, 6h drive)
Around 8:00 AM, we will set off to once again admire the splendor of the Cordillera Blanca. We will first visit the Yungay cemetery, the town buried by the 1970 earthquake, before continuing to the turquoise Llanganuco Lakes, which lie at the foot of the snow-capped Huascarán and Huandoy mountains. To reach the lakes, we will embark on a beautiful short hike along the Maria Josefa trail through an enchanted forest of quenual trees and wild orchids. (For those who prefer not to hike, the vehicle can drive directly to the lakes).
(Elevation gain: +200 m; Distance: 7 km; Hiking time: 2 hours)
Included: Private vehicle, entrance fees, half-board, hotel.
DAY 6: HUARAZ 🡲 CHACAS (3360m) (160km, 4h drive)
We depart around 8:00 AM for the town of Chacas, crossing the Cordillera Blanca via the Punta Olimpica tunnel at 4750m. Throughout the journey, we will be surrounded by magnificent lakes and mountains that form the world’s highest tropical mountain range. We will visit the Plaza de Armas, lined with beautiful houses featuring carved wooden balconies—a well-preserved example of original Andalusian-style architecture. In the afternoon, we will visit the Don Bosco art school, founded by the Italian priest Ugo de Censi (Operation Mato Grosso). We return to Huaraz around 5:00 PM.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 7: CARHUAZ 🡲 CAÑON DEL PATO 🡲 TRUJILLO (350km, 8h drive)
Around 8:00 AM, we head towards the Cañon del Pato (Duck Canyon), where the Cordillera Negra and Cordillera Blanca ranges meet. It was here that construction began in 1944 on a hydroelectric plant harnessing the power of the Santa River to supply electricity to the city of Chimbote and the entire Huaylas Valley. Over two decades, 2,500 workers excavated more than 40 tunnels through the mountains to transport materials for this massive project. Along the way, we will visit the local market in Caraz (2200m). After lunch in Huallanca, we continue our drive through an arid and colorful mountain landscape dotted with beautiful cacti, eventually joining the Pan-American Highway to arrive in Trujillo in the evening. We will spend the night in the seaside town of Huanchaco.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, hotel.
DAY 8: TRUJILLO
We will begin our day with a unique folkloric dance performance, the Marinera and the Peruvian Paso Horses, while enjoying a buffet breakfast. We will then visit the largest pre-Columbian city in South America, the Chimu kingdom of Chan Chan, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Built from adobe (a mixture of mud and straw), its walls are painted with depictions of birds and fish. In the afternoon, we will visit the Huaca del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and Moon), an associated site of Chan Chan. In the late afternoon, we return to the seaside town of Huanchaco for some free time on the beach.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 9: TRUJILLO
In the morning, we depart for Guanape Island, a nature reserve home to birds, sea lions, and dolphins. In the afternoon, we will explore the historic center of Trujillo, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admiring its brightly colored colonial buildings, luxurious mansions with magnificent Spanish colonial balconies, elegant porticos, interior courtyards, and windows framed by intricate grilles. We return to Huanchaco in the late afternoon for free time on the beach.
Included: Private vehicle, boat tour, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 10: TRUJILLO 🡲 CAJAMARCA (2650m) (310km, 7h drive)
We continue to the “El Brujo” archaeological site, where the preserved body of a female ruler-priestess who lived 1,800 years ago was discovered. Known as the Lady of Cao, she is famous for the intricate tattoos still visible on her body. In the late morning, we will proceed to the seaside town of Malabrigo, a beach known for its impressive waves, where we will stop for lunch. A post-meal stroll is in order before we resume our journey to the city of Cajamarca, arriving around 7:00 PM.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 11: CAJAMARCA
Cajamarca is a city that marked a pivotal moment in Peru’s history, as it was here that the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa, was captured and executed by the Spanish Conquistadors. We will tour the city and visit the sacred “Ransom Room,” where Atahualpa offered Francisco Pizarro two rooms of silver and one of gold in exchange for his freedom. After a pleasant lunch, you will have free time to relax at the Inca thermal baths or explore the city.
Included: Half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 12: CAJAMARCA (100km, 2h drive)
This morning will be dedicated to visiting the surrounding areas, starting with Santa Apolonia Hill and the Tombs of Otuzco. We will then spend the rest of the day at Hacienda Porcon to learn about an indigenous community dedicated to agriculture and livestock farming.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 13: CAJAMARCA 🡲 LEYMEBAMBA (2200m) (240km, 6.5h drive)
Today is a travel day through the lush Amazon rainforest to Celendin, a typical village where we will have lunch. From there, we will continue our journey, making several stops to contemplate the magnificent landscapes that continuously unfold before us.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, basic hotel.
DAY 14: LEYMEBAMBA
The day will be devoted to exploring Leymebamba, including its stone church, the Museum of the Mummies from the Lake of the Condors, and the archaeological sites of Molinete and La Congona. The late afternoon will be at your leisure.
Included: Half-board, entrance fees, basic hotel.
DAY 15: LEYMEBAMBA 🡲 CHACHAPOYAS (2300m) (100km, 2h drive)
We will arrive in the town of Tingo in the morning and take the cable car up to the ancient citadel of Kuelap, discovered in 1843. This fortress, built by the Chachapoyas civilization between 900 and 1100 AD, was conquered by the Incas in 1470. This victory provided the Incas with the knowledge and skilled labor needed to construct sites like the famous Machu Picchu in Cusco. Afterwards, we will proceed to our hotel in Chachapoyas. Enjoy a walk through the city in the afternoon.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 16: CHACHAPOYAS 🡲 GOCTA WATERFALL (100km, 2h drive)
Today, we will embark on a 5-hour round-trip hike to Gocta Waterfall, which plunges 771 meters amidst unparalleled flora and fauna. For those who wish, it is possible to rent a horse for part of the trek. Upon returning to Chachapoyas, you will have free time until dinner.
(Elevation change: +375m / -375m; Distance: 15 km; Trekking time: 5 hours)
Included: Private vehicle, picnic lunch, entrance fees, half-board, hotel.
DAY 17: CHACHAPOYAS 🡲 MOYOBAMBA (860m) (225km, 5h drive)
We will dedicate this day to exploring the world of local farms (fincas) and their cultivation of coffee, cacao, pineapples, and various exotic fruits. A wonderful day of ecotourism shared with a local community. We will conclude with a visit to a botanical garden with a thousand orchids before arriving at our hotel.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 18: MOYOBAMBA (50km, 2h drive)
After a 45-minute drive in our private vehicle, we will spend the day on a canoe excursion in the Tingana Nature Reserve. This exceptional ecological paradise is home to numerous animal species, including otters, toucans, parrots, and various types of monkeys. It will be a full day of exploration with the local community, discovering an extraordinary world. We return to the hotel in the evening.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 19: MOYOBAMBA (50km, 2h drive)
This day will be dedicated to visiting the tropical forest and discovering two magnificent waterfalls: Lejiayacu (a 2-hour round-trip hike) and Gera (a 1-hour round-trip hike). There will be an opportunity to swim for those who wish. We will then return to Moyobamba for some free time.
Included: Private vehicle, picnic lunch, entrance fees, hotel.
DAY 20: MOYOBAMBA 🡲 TARAPOTO (350m) 🡲 LIMA (110km, 3h drive + 1h20 flight)
Today, we will visit the Institute of Tropical Crops to learn more about local fruits and their uses. We will end the afternoon with a visit to the town of Chazuta and an excursion to the Blue Lagoon before concluding our journey. Around 6:00 PM, we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima and then transfer to our hotel.
Included: Private vehicle, half-board, entrance fees, domestic flight, transfers, hotel.
DAY 21: LIMA
Today is the day for goodbyes. Depending on your flight schedule, we will transfer you to the Lima airport for your international flight home.
Included: Transfer to the airport.
Price Details
The Tour Package Includes:
- International flight
- Assistance from your arrival at the airport until the end of the tour
- A French-speaking tour leader for the entire duration of your stay
- Local French-speaking guides on certain days
- Entrance fees to all archaeological sites and attractions
- Hotels and lodges, based on double room occupancy
- One flight from Tarapoto to Lima
- One flight from Lima to Huaraz
- Private vehicle transportation
- Half-board meals
The Tour Package Does Not Include:
- Accident, cancellation, and trip interruption insurance
- Single room supplement
- Beverages, tips, and personal expenses
