Gods of the Classic North
🏺 Northern Peru

Gods of the Classic North

An eight-day journey through Peru's mysterious north — the Gocta falls, the cloud-forest fortress of Kuélap, the sarcophagi of Karajía, and the golden Lord of Sipán.

🕒 8 days · 7 nights 🥾 Active · cloud forest & coast
The route

Your journey, stop by stop

The programme

A day to remember

Day 1

Fly to Chachapoyas

Fly to Chachapoyas

Morning transfer to the airport and flight to the cloud-forest town of Chachapoyas (2,335 m).

Afternoon at leisure

Arrive, transfer into town and enjoy the rest of the day to relax and acclimatise.

🍽️ No meals included

Day 2

Gocta waterfall

Cocachimba village

Set out from the hamlet of Cocachimba, where the trail to the falls begins.

Trek to the falls

Hike around three hours along narrow forest paths rich in flora and fauna, where geography and history weave a truly magical place.

Gocta falls

Reach the foot of the towering cascade for photos and a refreshing swim, then trek back to Cocachimba and return to Chachapoyas.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 3

Kuélap fortress & cable car

Macro ruins

After about an hour on the road, visit the archaeological site of Macro, built into a steep hillside.

Cable car to Kuélap

Continue to Nuevo Tingo to board the 25-minute cable car up to Malcapampa, then climb 20 minutes to the main gate.

The citadel

Explore the great fortified city of Kuélap over roughly three hours, perched high above the valley, before returning to your hotel.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 4

Karajía sarcophagi & overnight to Chiclayo

Towards Luya–Lamud

Travel through the villages of Cocheran and Cruz Pata, gateways to the Karajía site.

Karajía sarcophagi

A 20-minute walk brings you to the cliff-side tombs of the Chachapoyas, whose towering sarcophagi are considered unique in the world.

Night bus to Chiclayo

Return to town and, in the evening, transfer to the terminal for the overnight bus to Chiclayo on the coast.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 5

Arrival in Chiclayo

Arrival & free morning

Arrive on the coast, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free morning.

Paseo Las Musas & main park

In the afternoon, stroll the leafy Paseo Las Musas and the city's Parque Principal — not called a Plaza de Armas, as Chiclayo grew from a crossroads rather than a Spanish founding.

Witch doctors' market

End at the famous Mercado Modelo, the herbalists' and shamans' market brimming with potions and remedies.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 6

Sipán & the Royal Tombs

Huaca Rajada

Morning visit to the great adobe platform where the world-famous Lord of Sipán was discovered, deep in Moche country.

Royal Tombs Museum

Marvel at fabulous gold, precious stones and the rich history of the Moche civilisation at the gleaming Tumbas Reales museum, then return to Chiclayo.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 7

To Trujillo, Chan Chan & Huanchaco

Bus to Trujillo

Early 3.5-hour bus south to Trujillo, the city of eternal spring.

Chan Chan

Tour the Nik-An palace of Chan Chan — ceremonial plazas, shrines, reservoirs and funerary platforms, all decorated with high-relief friezes.

Huanchaco

End at the fishing cove of Huanchaco, where reed caballitos de totora — ancient Moche craft — still ride the surf.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 8

Moche temples & departure

Huacas of the Sun & Moon

Explore the Moche valley: the Huaca del Sol, raised from over 100 million adobes, and the beautiful Huaca de la Luna with its six superimposed temples, plus the site museum.

Flight to Lima

Late checkout, then afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and onward connections.

🍽️ Breakfast

Prices

Price per person

Prices in EUR
Category Single Double Triple
Comfort 937 782 728
Tourist 982 796 811
Tourist Superior 1134 925 918
Superior

Per person in euros, sharing, minimum 2 travellers. Flights not included. We’ll tailor a final quote to your dates.

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