Peru

Highlights of Northern Peru

An archaeological adventure

Best time to travel
Year-Round
Recommended for
Groups & Friends, Couples & Honeymoon, Solo Travel
Duration
4 Days / 3 Nights
Price from
$4800
per person

This four-day journey reveals the archaeological heart of northern Peru, home to the Moche, Sicán, and Chimú cultures. Travel the famed Moche Route with specialist guides and archaeologists, exploring exquisite adobe temples, vast pyramid complexes, and exceptional museums housing some of the most important pre-Inca discoveries in the Americas.

From the friezes of Huaca de la Luna to the monumental city of Chan Chan and the storied tombs of Sipán, you’ll gain rare insight into civilizations that shaped Peru long before the Incas. Along the way, enjoy coastal life in Huanchaco, meet local communities, and uncover treasures still emerging from the desert sands. With easy flights from Lima or Cusco, northern Peru has never been more accessible.

Highlights

  • Explore Huaca de la Luna and Chan Chan, two of Peru’s most extraordinary pre-Inca archaeological sites.
  • Visit the Royal Tombs Museum, home to the treasures of the Lord of Sipán.
  • Walk among the 26 adobe pyramids of Túcume with a specialist guide.
  • Discover El Brujo and the remarkable Señora de Cao, the only known female Moche ruler.
  • Enjoy coastal culture in Huanchaco, watching fishermen ride traditional reed boats.
  • Gain insider insight into northern Peru’s ancient cultures with expert archaeologists.

Daily Summary

Highlights of Northern Peru
An archaeological adventure
4 Days / 3 Nights
Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo
All elements of these journey will be tailormade to your interests and travel style.
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Day 1
Arrival in Lima
Lima or Cusco
Arrive in Lima or Cusco and connect onward to your hotel. An Aracari representative greets you on arrival, assists with check-in, and ensures you’re settled for the night before beginning your northern Peru adventure.
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Day 2
Huaca de la Luna, Huanchaco & Chan Chan
Lima or Cusco – Trujillo
Fly to Trujillo and explore Huaca de la Luna’s vivid friezes with a specialist. Continue to Huanchaco for a coastal lunch and views of traditional reed boats. End the day at Chan Chan, the vast adobe capital of the Chimú.
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Day 3
El Brujo, Señora de Cao & Túcume Pyramids
Trujillo – Chiclayo
Travel north toward Chiclayo, stopping at El Brujo to see colorful reliefs and the mummy of Señora de Cao. After settling in Chiclayo, visit the immense Túcume pyramids and its site museum before returning to your hotel.
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Day 4
Royal Tombs of Sipán & Departure
Chiclayo
Visit the Witches’ Market before exploring the Royal Tombs Museum, showcasing treasures from Sipán. Continue to Huaca Rajada, the original excavation site of the Lord of Sipán, before transferring to the airport for your onward flight.
Travel designer

Cécile Fabre

cecile
My name is Cécile Fabre, a Franco-Spanish nomad splitting my time between Peru, Spain, France and Sri Lanka, where my kiddos go to school. I'm obsessed with diving, outdoor exploration, archaeology, and history, all what South America can offer. As a travel designer, I turned my passion into my job 20 years ago! I loved diving in the Galapagos. I also enjoy spending time in the Colca Valley, Ollantaytambo town or wandering Arequipa. When it...
cecile

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Tell us what inspires you, and we’ll tailor this itinerary to your passions, pace, and style.

Our trip to Peru was a great success!

Phyllis Lapin
May, 2025
Our trip to Peru was a great success thanks to the creative, caring, and professional team at Aracari. From our first Zoom call, we felt fully supported. Their deep connections—from art collectors to textile weavers—made

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Unforgettable Rainforest Trip to Peru

Audrey Moore
January, 2025
Our itinerary was packed full of fun activities. We spent a lot of time hiking and being in nature. Our guides were always flexible to change any of the activities if we had special requests.

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Aracari Made Us Feel Special on Our trip to Peru

John Reiboldt
December, 2024
Raul, Gus, Jon, Gabby…they were all amazing. So awesome. Great people and great spending time with them. We use guides all over the place and they were probably the best. The fact that you had

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We felt in good hands during our trip to Peru

Siddharth Mehta
December, 2024
It was overall an excellent trip, well suited to our tastes in art, food & culture. We were very well looked after, all the guides were very good and we do want to plan another

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Aracari was first class

Hugh Baker
September, 2024

Aracari was first class and designed an amazing itinerary for us which allowed us to enjoy Peru, which is a beautiful and wonderful country. It was a truly magnificent trip.

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