Archaeological Treasures

This trip is designed for fans of ancient history and ruins who are willing to leaf through history books, sit in lectures, and spend hours wandering around ancient ruins. This trip will allow you to understand the achievements of the Incas by first examining the Moche, Chimu, and Sicán cultures that preceded them.

The only part of this tour that requires private transportation is the visit to San José de Moro. Specialty operators like Far Horizons Archaeological & Cultural Trips offer this basic itinerary spiced up with expert archaeologist tour guides and a series of exclusive lectures.

DAY 1
Arrive in Lima. Begin with a grounding at the Museo Nacional de Arqueología in Lima.

DAY 2
Fly to Trujillo and transfer to Huanchaco Beach for two-night stay.

DAY 3
Tour the Trujillo area. During the day you will see the Moche murals at the Huaca de la Luna, the Chimu citadel of Chan Chan, the ceramics at Museo Cassineli, and the city’s colonial mansions.

DAY 4
Head north to Chiclayo. Stop to see the Moche site of El Brujo along the way. Then check into a country inn near the Sicán pyramids of Túcume, where you will spend two nights.

DAY 5
Tour the Chiclayo area. See the Lords of Sipán exhibit at the Museo Tumbas Reales, the Sicán pyramids of Batán Grande, and the new Museo Sicán.

DAY 6
Fly back to Lima for a day tour of Pachacámac, an adobe temple that once housed the most revered oracle in the Andes.

DAY 7
Catch a morning flight to Cusco and transfer to Ollantaytambo for a two-night stay. In the afternoon, begin your tour of the Sacred Valley with a detailed visit to the sun temple at Ollantaytambo.

DAY 8
Continue your tour of the Sacred Valley with visits to the fortress of Pisac and odd terraced pits of Moray.

DAY 9
Visit the traditional market at Chinchero, with plenty of time to examine the town’s Inca walls and ruins scattered throughout the countryside.

DAY 10
At dawn, board a train for Aguas Calientes, which will serve as your base for exploring Machu Picchu for the next two days.

DAY 11
Second day at Machu Picchu. The adventurous can climb to the summit of Putukusi, a forest rock dome that overlooks the Inca citadel. In the afternoon, take the train to Cusco.

DAYS 12–13
Tour Cusco area: See the Inca walls, Sacsayhuamán and the other ruins outside the city, colonial churches, and the artisan barrio of San Blas.

DAY 14
Take a morning flight to Lima. Visit the Museo Larco and have a farewell oceanside dinner before catching your flight home.