Epic Ancient Peru

Duration 20–days
Price guide
From
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Aerial view of the Nazca Lines seen from a helicopter, Peru
The temple of the sun - Huacas del Sol, in Peru
A mural on the wall of the Huaca de la Luna - Temple of the Moon, in Peru
Ruins at Ollantaytambo in Peru
The cathedral in Cusco, Peru viewed through an archway
The UNESCO world heritage caral pyramids in Peru
From seeing the northern desert kingdom of Chan Chan and the Tucume Pyramids, to flying over the Nazca Lines and walking among the Andean citadels of Machu Picchu and Choquequirao, this is an epic and comprehensive tour of Peru's most incredible ancient treasures. You’ll have an expert private guide on hand throughout to explain the fascinating history behind each monument, offering an incredible insight into thousands of years of human civilisation.

Trip Highlights

  • Explore Peru's cosmopolitan capital, Lima
  • Learn about ancient temples and ruins around northern Peru
  • Spot abundant wildlife in the Ballestas Islands
  • Marvel at the beauty of Machu Picchu
  • Explore the cultural heritage of Cusco
  • Conquer the lengthy but rewarding trek to Choquequirao

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–3 Lima
  • Days 3–6 Trujillo and Chiclayo
  • Days 6–8 Chachapoyas
  • Days 8–9 Lima
  • Days 9–12 Paracas and Nazca
  • Days 12–14 The Sacred Valley
  • Days 14–15 Machu Picchu
  • Days 15–17 Cusco
  • Days 17–20 Choquequirao
Ancient Peru
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–3 Lima
  • Days 3–6 Trujillo and Chiclayo
  • Days 6–8 Chachapoyas
  • Days 8–9 Lima
  • Days 9–12 Paracas and Nazca
  • Days 12–14 The Sacred Valley
  • Days 14–15 Machu Picchu
  • Days 15–17 Cusco
  • Days 17–20 Choquequirao

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

Two nights in Lima

Start your journey with an exploration of Peru’s coastal capital. Gazing out onto the Pacific ocean, Lima’s urban metropolis is a fascinating mix of cultures and atmospheres. Dive into Barranco’s vibrant street art or wander the parks and gardens in Miraflores. Living up to its name as the culinary capital of South America, your time in Lima is sure to be punctuated by exceptional dining and gastronomic experiences.

Aerial view of Lima, Peru, against the Pacific Ocean

Caral Pyramids full day tour

Two ancient pyramids in Caral, Peru

Following a four hour journey to Northern Lima, you’ll arrive in Caral, the civilisation responsible for the oldest urban complex (of the same name) in America. The city redefined the history of societies when it was discovered that it is 5,000 years old, as old as China, Egypt, India and Mesopotamia. Discover the huge pyramids, squares, atriums and altars where numerous sacred ceremonies and offerings to deities took place millennia ago.

Days 3–6

Ancient discoveries in Trujillo

This area in the north of Peru is home to some of the country’s most important and interesting pre-Columbian archaeological sites. During your stay here you can explore the ruins around the Moche Valley with an expert private guide, including temples, pyramids and tombs. These cultures and empires, separate from those further south in the Andes, truly show the wealth of Peru’s ancient cultures.

A yellow cathedral in Trujillo, Peru

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Huacas del Sol y de la Luna

Trujillo city

Chan Chan

Ornate carvings in the Huacas del Sol, Peru

Huacas del Sol and de la Luna tour

Gain an insight into the history of the Moche river valley, one of northern Peru’s most fascinating rural areas. Archaeologists believe the capital of the Moche kingdom was built here over 2,000 years ago. One of the most impressive cultures of pre-Incan Peru, the Moches are known for their high level of mastery in pottery and decorative iconography of their monuments. The Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and Moon) are beautifully decorated temples symbolising the spiritual center of the Moche culture.

Plaza de Armas, Trujillo, Peru

Trujillo city and colonial quarter

Known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, your tour of Trujillo begins at the Plaza de Armas, where you will find the monument of La Libertad, a baroque sculpture built of marble. The cathedral, which dates from 1647, has rococo altars painted in white and gold, and baroque paintings by the Cusco and Quito schools. Among other stops, enjoy a visit to the Urquiaga or Calonge neoclassical mansions, in whose interiors you’ll find the desk of Simon Bolivar. 

A wooden statue outside the Chan Chan citadel in Trujillo, Peru

Chan Chan private tour

Enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the pre-Colombian archaeological complex of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in America and also the largest of the Chimu culture, covering an area of around 20 square kilometres. Constructed by the Chimor people around AD 850, this ancient and imperial adobe city, reported to be where 30,000 inhabitants once lived, lasted until the fall of the Incan Empire in AD 1470.

More Inspiration

El Brujo and Cao

Tucume Private Tour

Royal Tombs of Sipan

Colourful patterns on a wall in El Brujo, Trujillo, Peru

El Brujo and Cao Museum

Discover more about the Moche people with a trip to the temples of El Brujo, built between AD 1 and 600. The main temple, Huaca Cao Viejo, houses the famous mummy of the Lady of Cao, the only female Moche governor from this era. This fascinating museum showcases a variety of artefacts from the Moche era, and offers a detailed insight into their lives.

The pre-Hispanic archaeological site of Tucume, Peru

Tucume Private Tour

Your guide will drive you to the famous Túcume archaeological complex, also known as Peru’s ‘Valley of the Pyramids’. With over 200 hectares, this complex is home to twenty-six major pyramids and other monuments, all reflecting ancient Lambayeque’s sophisticated growth system and complex social structure. Your guide will brief you on the history and help bring to life what was once one of Peru’s most impressive cities built over 1000 years ago.

Royal Tombs of Sipan, Trujillo, Peru

Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum

Visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, one of Latin America’s most modern and impressive archaeological museums. Boasting a collection of amazing Moche artwork found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, at the Huaca Rajada site, see silver and gold jewellery, fine weaving, emblems of religious and military power, and great quantities of ceremonial utensils.

Days 6–8

Two nights in Chachapoyas

High up in the Andes, Chachapoyas is a laidback retreat regarded as the best base to explore the surrounding archaeological treasures that date back to the ancient Peruvian civilisation of the Chachapoyas, or the ‘Warriors of the Clouds’ as they were once known. Living in high altitude cloud forests, this Andean society built the extensive and fascinating Kuelap fortress and were known for their unique circular architecture, which you can explore with your private guide.

Kuelap archeological site near Chachapoyas, Peru

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Revash museum

Leymebamba museum

Kuelap Fortress

Revash mausoleum in Peru

Revash museum private tour and hike

Your guide will collect you on a private transfer to the town of Leymebamba. During the drive you will stop off at the Revash mausoleum and take a four hour hike (round trip) to the archaeological site, a wonderfully colourful structure found on a platform high up on a cliff. The cliff walls in the shelf area are adorned with geometric designs representing animal figures.

The main square in the Peruvian village of Leymebamba near Chachpoyas

Leymebamba museum private tour

Enjoy a visit to the Leymebamba Museum, one of Peru’s most fascinating museums. Take a look at the collection of over 200 Inca-Chachapoyas mummies which are in an excellent state of preservation and the country’s largest collection of Kipus. You will then be privately driven back to your hotel.

The ruins of round houses at Kuelap fortress near Chachapoyas

Kuelap Fortress private tour

A two-hour drive will bring you to Kuelap Fortress, a striking building which sits on a cliff edge. Surrounded by an impressive wall almost 2,000 feet long, this archaeological research point may have been a significant religious centre dedicated to the Chachapoyas gods. Kuelap’s gates or main entrances are built as narrow walled passageways that continue to narrow as they reach upwards into the fortress, so the complex would remain restricted. Enjoy lunch in the small town of María before returning to your hotel.

Days 8–9

A stopover in Lima

Enjoy a stopover in Lima on your way to your next destination, using this time to relax along the seafront, or visit anything you may have missed during your initial stay.

The Government Palace of Peru at Plaza Mayor in Lima
Days 9–12

Nature and history in Paracas and Nazca

Enjoy exploring this fascinating stretch of coastline to the south of Lima. The Nazca lines are one of the most beguiling mysteries left by the ancient civilisations of Peru, while the Ballestas islands are Peru’s answer to the Galápagos, a protected area rich with bird and marine life.

Humboldt Penguin in Ballestas islands, Peru

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Ballestas Islands

Nazca Lines

Seals on a rock in the Ballestas Islands, Peru

Private tour of the Ballestas Islands

Start your tour toward the Paracas pier and sail to the Ballestas Islands. Peru’s answer to the Galápagos, these rocky islands are an important sanctuary for a variety of marine wildlife, including seals and sea lions, blue footed boobies, and Humboldt penguins.

A monkey geoglyph, part of the Nazca Lines in Peru

Light aircraft flight over the Nazca Lines

The famous Nazca Lines are confounding geoglyphs left by the Nazca culture between 300BC-700AD. More than seventy giant animal and plant figures are etched into the sand of the pampas, some reaching 1,000 feet in dimension, however not a lot is known about their origin. The best way to see the Nazca Lines is from light aircraft – try to decipher the mystery yourself as you soar above these giant carvings.

Days 12–14

The secrets of the Sacred Valley

Northwest of Cusco, the Sacred Valley is one of the most historically important parts of Peru. It was one of the bases of Inca civilisation, as the river that winds its way through was believed to be aligned with the cosmos. Several of the Inca’s finest works were built in this region, and you’ll spend the next few days unlocking their secrets on private guided tours and visits.

An aerial view of moray in the Sacred Valley, Peru

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Ollantaytambo

Maras and Moray

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo

Visit the Inca fortress town of Ollantaytambo.  The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived and is one of the most important vestiges of how the Incas inhabited and functioned in their cities, making it a fascinating place to explore. The fortress at the top of the hill is particularly interesting to investigate for the techniques the Incas used in its construction.

Salt terraces in Maras, the Sacred Valley, Peru

Maras and Moray

Your guide will bring you to the fascinating (and beautiful) sites of Maras and Moray. Maras is an open system of terraces that has been used for centuries to harvest salt from a stream of mineral rich water that comes from within the mountain. Moray is an ancient system of Inca terraces which were used to acclimatise new plants to the high altitude environment.

Days 14–15

Machu Picchu

One of the most famous historical cities, not just in Peru but perhaps in the whole world, no trip to Peru would be complete without a visit to this lost civilisation. Built atop a mountain ridge, 2,400 metres above sea level, you’ll have the chance to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site at your leisure.

 

The ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru

Train to Machu Picchu

The Vistadome train travelling from Cusco, Peru

Take in the spellbinding scenery on one of the world’s most iconic train journeys. While the Inca Trail is one way to reach Machu Picchu, this is how to do it in style. Board the Hiram Bingham train or the Vistadome and settle into your luxurious carriage, gazing out at the increasingly beautiful views that lead to your once-in-a-lifetime destination.

Private tour of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu at sunrise

Your private guide will take you on a comprehensive tour of the Machu Picchu citadel, bringing it to life by detailing the history, significance and myths surrounding it as well as taking you to the hidden corners and the best viewpoints. After your tour, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch at the rustically elegant Inkaterra hotel, before an afternoon at leisure. You can explore the areas around Machu Picchu or carry on exploring the ruins. 

Days 15–17

Three days in Cusco

Enjoy this beautiful city and UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll have our list of recommendations as well as private guides on hand to enjoy the best of the former Incan capital. Explore its colourful alleyways and decorative squares, discovering the indigenous Andean culture that characterises the city.

Morning sun rising over the mountains at Plaza de Armas, Cusco, City

Tour of Cusco and nearby ruins

Coricancha, the Temple of the Sun, in Cusco, Peru

Your local expert guide will collect you from your hotel for a tour of the city, starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former colonial monastery was previously the Coricancha Temple. One of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. After touring the most interesting city sites, drive to the countryside to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.

Days 17–20

Four days of Choquequirao trekking

Meaning ‘Cradle of Gold’ in Quechuan, Choquequirao is considered to be Machu Picchu’s lesser known sister, hidden in the spurs of the Salkantay Mountain Ridge. Reached only by a 20-mile hike, the site sits at 3,050 metres above sea level and was discovered in the early 18th century but excavation did not begin until the 1970s, meaning there is still much more to discover. Its remoteness means you have a good chance of sharing the site with just the resident Andean Condors and the expert guides and chef who’ll accompany your journey. 

Aerial view of Choquequirao Incan ruins

Your Choquequirao trek

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

View through an archway of the streets in Cusco, Peru

Day One

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco in the early morning and taken to the Cachora town, the starting point of the trek to Choquequirao. After enjoying lunch at a local house, start hiking amidst the wild flora until you reach Chiquisca, the location of your camp. Enjoy a refreshing cup of tea followed by dinner.

A man hiking the Choquequirao trek in Peru

Day Two

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at daybreak before starting the hike to Marampata. After lunch you will start the last section of the route to Choquequirao through a subtropical jungle road, where wildlife includes condors, taruca deer, vizcacha rodents, foxes, skunks, pumas, hummingbirds, bears and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird. You will arrive late afternoon and watch the sunset at the citadel. 

The Choquequirao Inca ruins in Peru

Day Three

After breakfast you will explore the citadel on a guided tour. It is believed that Choquequirao was the last refuge of the Incas after the Spaniards conquered Cusco and the neighboring towns between 1532 and 1533. Located on the foothill of the snow-capped Salkantay mountain, in the La Convención province, the Choquequirao urban complex was built among huge mountains and it is considered Machu Picchu’s ‘sacred sister’, due to their structural similarities. 

The complex houses numerous administrative and religious buildings, a ceremonial platform, warehouses, agricultural terraces, squares and houses, and some scholars believe it is a huge unfinished project.

Stone detailing at the Inca ruins of Choquequirao

Day Four

Wake up early and start the trek to Cachora town, where you will enjoy lunch before transferring to Cusco to begin your journey back home via Lima.

“Jacada- Our Peru Trip‌”

The moment we contacted Jacada and talked with the representative I knew this company was differential. We took time to work through the agenda, accommodations and expectations. Before the trip we were contacted about making dinner reservations as well as going over the itinerary to make sure we were all set. We were also given ideas on books to read…

Published 05th November 2024 on Trustpilot
Craig Dotson

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