DAY 1 : Trujillo – Chan chan
Upon arrival in Trujillo, the City of Eternal Spring, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Once your belongings are settled we will venture out to enjoy a guided tour of the Temples Of The Sun and the Moon (built between 0-600 AD) and the historically rich Mochica Pyramids, dating from the 1st to 6th century. In its day, “Huaca del Sol” functioned as the peoples administrative center and the “Huaca de la Luna”, as a ceremonial center.
Between them lies the Urban Zone that consists of houses, large avenues, alleys, corridors and squares. These components confirm the high political, religious, economic and social development of the Moche civilization .
The Huaca de la Luna is composed of superimposed temples according to different stages of Moche power. Some walls display beautifully defined polychrome murals whose figures represent the god Ai-apaec. In the Huaca de la Luna (neighbor to the sun pyramid) we will visit corridors, squares, giant murals and pictures in high relief in addition to elegantly decorated ceremonial squares.
For lunch, we will relax and savor the local cuisine of the city. In the afternoon we will visit the famous and biggest mud city in the world, Chanchan, which is just one of the many homes of the Moche lords found in the area – the others are still in excavation.
On the way we will see the rainbow Huaca or dragon Huaca, then we will head to the Museum and Chanchan Tshudi Palace, where many of the objects found in the excavations are kept.
Finally, we will end the day with a beautiful view of the sea in the resort of Huanchaco, where we will find the famous “little horse” reed canoes, handmade rafts of Junco. Overnight in Trujillo.
DAY 2: Trujillo – El Brujo.
After breakfast we will have a guided tour of the historic center, which includes visits to the Plaza de Armas, House Calonge, Orbegozo House, Emancipation House, Iturregui Palace and the Toy Museum.
Following our morning tour we will savor a delicious local lunch and take a trip to “El Brujo” Archaeological Complex. Here we will meet the SEÑORA DE CAO one of the first women of influence in ancient Peru. The complex where she was discovered is in the Chicama Valley and is comprised of the Huaca Cao – an archaeological excavation of large polychrome murals of the Moche Culture (1st to 6th century A.D). We will then we head to the museum to visit the tattooed mummy as well as other valuable objects. Overnight in Trujillo.
DAY 3. Chiclayo – Sipan
Today we journey to Huaca Rajada, Sipan, an archaeological site of key cultural research where numerous artifacts of Peru’s pre-Hispanic past have been discovered. This site is considered one of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries of the last 30 years and is where the Lord of Sipan, whose previously-untouched remains date back to 100-AD, was discovered. Here we will explore excavated tombs with some of their original objects (fourteen tombs as of 2007); and later visit some full-scale replicas of these. The nearby Royal Tombs Museum of Sipan, which we will visit after lunch, is currently the host of Sipans new findings, as the residents of the area are opposed to these artifacts leaving their town.
Lunch in Lambayeque.
The stunning Royal Tombs Museum of Sipan, which opened in 2002 is host of most of Sipan’s artifacts and was constructed nearby in Lambayeque (only 33 km north of the city of Chiclayo). The museum’s architecture is inspired by the ancient pyramids of pre-Inca, Moche culture and is listed as one of the best museums in the world and the best in Latin America. Inside you’ll find, many treasures including the remains of the Lord of Sipan and the Old Lord of Sipan. These two leaders from ancient Peru were found in full Sipan regalia, including jewelry in gold, silver and copper. We will conclude our visit with a presentation of what life was like long ago for the Lords of Sipan.
After, we will return to Chiclayo for dinner and rest.
DAY 4 - After enjoying breakfast, we will assist you with meeting your next National travel connection.
INCLUDES: All visits mentioned, entrance tickets, hotel accommodation for three nights, all transfers and half board.
