DAY 1.
Arrival in Trujillo and transfer
from the airport or bus station to the hotel located in the city center of the
eternal spring. In the afternoon, we will begin the city tour with a visit to the archaeological museum.
We will start with a panoramic
visit to the impressive churches of Santa Clara, El Carmen, and their Convents
of Cloister, as well as the majestic Church of San Francisco. Then, we will
head to the iconic Church of La Merced
and the imposing Superior Court of Justice. We will continue our tour to the
historic Plaza de Armas and the
Cathedral, a jewel built between 1647 and 1666 that houses exquisite rococo
altarpieces and paintings from the renowned Cusco and Quito schools.
As we continue exploring, you will
discover the fascinating Archbishop`s Palace and the charming Casa Calonge, a colonial residence that
was erected after the earthquake of 1619 and even housed the liberator Simon
Bolivar. Our tour will also take us to the House of Emancipation, now the
Continental Bank, and the elegant Itúrregui Palace, built in 1842. Do not miss
the charming Plazuela El Recreo and the ancient City Wall, witnesses to the
rich history of Trujillo.
Afterwards, we will head to the
impressive Museum of Archaeology and
History of the National University of Trujillo, where objects from the
various cultures that flourished in the territory of La Libertad are
highlighted. Here you can immerse yourself in the intriguing past of the region
and marvel at its valuable relics.
At the end of the tour, return to
the hotel and overnight stay.
DAY 2.
Early in the morning, a guide will
pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the Huacas del Sol and de la Luna, which includes two large truncated
pyramids, the Huaca Las Estrellas, Huaca del Cerro Blanco, the geoglyph of the
Spider, and other buildings located in front of Cerro Blanco and near the Moche
River.
The Huaca del Sol was built for administrative purposes, and the Huaca de la Luna was a ceremonial
center, built by the Moche culture from the 1st century B.C. to the 9th century
A.D. Between these two huacas, there was the urban center with houses, squares,
and large avenues. Then, you will make a stop at a traditional Moche family
artisan workshop.
After visiting the pyramids, you
will be taken to Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in America and the
most populous on the north coast between the years 600 and 700 AD. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this
archaeological center has small walled citadels, covering a total of 20 square
kilometers. You will visit the Nik-An Palace, which was built to worship water
and the sea.
You will have lunch at a local
restaurant in the fishing resort of Huanchaco,
known for its Totora reed horses and beautiful views of the sea. Then, you will
be driven back to your hotel for overnight stay.
DAY 3.
After being picked up from your
hotel in the city of Trujillo, you will head to the Chicama Valley, located about 33 kilometers north of Trujillo, to
visit the El Brujo Archaeological
Complex, belonging to the Moche culture.
This place has been an
agricultural valley since pre-Columbian times, where activities such as
livestock and agriculture, including rice and sugarcane cultivation, were
carried out. Rich in fauna, you can find horses, cattle, sheep, alpacas, and
llamas.
Excavations began in 1990 and
discovered the El Brujo Complex in
Trujillo, a pyramid that reaches 46 meters in height, with walls decorated
with friezes and colorful reliefs depicting complex scenes and geometric
figures. This ancient ceremonial center has three main monuments: Huaca Prieta,
Huaca Cao Viejo, and Huaca Cortada.
The Wiese Foundation, together
with National Geographic magazine,
was responsible for informing the world about the incredible discovery of the
tomb of a female ruler from the pre-Columbian era, dating back to the 4th
century.
We will explore the site museum
known as the Cao Museum, in addition
to admiring incredible objects from the era. We invite you to discover the
mystery of the mummy unearthed at this archaeological complex, La Dama de Cao, which is 1,700 years
old and has been preserved practically intact over time, due to an ancestral
ritual in which a mineral was applied to achieve its preservation.
After this incredible experience,
we will make one last stop to visit Magdalena
de Cao, a mystical town of healers located 5 kilometers from the El Brujo archaeological site. Here, you
will taste a fermented drink known as Chicha de Jora. The maceration process
uses ancestral methods and lasts for one year, underground. After the visit, we
will return to the city to drop you off at the Plaza de Armas in Trujillo. The
rest of the afternoon is free, and you will stay overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4.
At the agreed time, we will take
you to the airport or bus station in Trujillo.