Peru Holidays from RealPeru - visit our guide to Peru.



THE PRE-INCA TRAIL: CHACHAPOYAS TO KUELAP

Kuelap - fortress in the cloud forest  
Duration:11 days / 10 nights
Key Sites:Chachapoyas, Kuelap, Sipan, Lima
Cost:from £1350  detailed pricing...
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11 days visiting the lost world of the Chachapoyas

With the growing popularity of the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu we thought we'd better have a look and see what else we could find to grab the imagination. We were already offering all the alternative treks in the south such as Salkantay so we decided to have a look at the north of Peru and the site long touted as the "Machu Picchu of the North": Kuelap - the fortress in the cloud-forest of Chachapoyas.

We'd organised trips to Chachapoyas and Kuelap for some time but what we were missing was a trek to rival the Inca Trail, a kind of "pre-Inca Trail"! We're now delighted to say that we have found a superb 5-day route which we think is even better than the famous trek to Machu Picchu. You're unlikely to see any other tourists on this route as you trek through the stunning cloud-forest, visiting several key pre-Inca sites and the awesome Lake of the Condors before you arrive at Kuelap itself...


Day One - Arrive Lima

Most flights arrive in the evening so we will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel in the cosmopolitan Miraflores area of Lima. You should be in time to have a walk around the elegant Parque Central and perhaps take in an evening meal overlooking the Pacific?

Day Two - Tour of Lima and on to Chiclayo

We will take you around the highlights of colonial Lima this morning as you start getting into the Peruvian swing of things! Then, in the afternoon, we'll take you to the airport for a flight up to Chiclayo on the north coast.

Day Three - The Lord of Sipan

You will leave the hotel in the morning for a guided tour of the site where the remains of the 'Lord of Sipan' were found. This is probably one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century and there's heaps to see and absorb so in the afternoon we'll take you to visit the Sipan museum in Lambayeque, which has hundreds of items found at Sipan and has some great exhibitions explaining it all!

Day Four - Chachapoyas

Today you will be picked up by private car for the journey to Chachapoyas. There are no flights to this section of the Andes but the road is good, and it's a great chance to see the variety of environments and ecosystems as you climb up from sea-level into the cloud forest. You will arrive in the late afternoon in Chachapoyas, where you will be staying in the beautiful El Chillo lodge.

Day Five - The Pre-Inca Trail to Revash

This morning you will set out on horseback for the clifftop funeral buildings of Revash. Perched high in the mountains, these fascinating pre-Inca tombs are covered in geometric designs and pictures of llamas. After a packed lunch, you will continue on the village of Leymebamba, where you can see a strange collection of pre-Inca mummies discovered at the Laguna de los Condores. In the evening you will return to the lodge.

Day Six - Kuelap

Today, you will set out early by private car as you head away from Chachapoyas and towards the pre-Inca citadel of Kuelap. We will stop at the village of Maria for lunch and from here there will be a short trek further up the mountain to Kuelap itself. It really is every bit as impressive as Machu Picchu, and is even more amazing because you will have it completely to yourselves! In the evening, we will again return to El Chillo.

Day Seven - Back to Chiclayo

After an early breakfast, we will take you back down from the Andes to Chiclayo, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.

Day Eight - Flight to Trujillo

This morning, we'll take you to the airport to catch a flight further down the coast to Trujillo, where your hotel will be perfectly located just near the main square, with its charming colonial architecture. You will arrive in the evening, so you'll have plenty of time for a wander around.

Day Nine - Chan Chan

Today, we will take you to visit the city of Chan-Chan. Originally the centre of the Chimu culture, before they were conquered by the Incas, it originally covered over 20 square kilometres and had an estimated population of over 100,000. You will be able to see the houses, temples and intricate mazes as well as visit the onsite museum.

Day Ten - Flight back to Lima

After some time free in Trujillo to visit the nearby beaches to see the locals fishing in their reed canoes, we will pick you up and take you to the airport to catch an evening flight back to Lima for a last night in the capital.

Day Eleven - Last Day in Peru!

Sadly, today will be the last day of your Peru holiday! Most flights for the UK leave in the afternoon or evening so you will have most of the day to explore the capital and get all those last-minute souvenirs before we take you to the airport for your international flight back to the UK.



Extensions to our Peru Holidays

Of course, the Peru holiday we've shown here could just be the beginning. There are some great ways to customise this tour so why not have a think about building in some of these destinations to your visit:

Machu Picchu, Cajamarca, The Nazca Lines


Pricing

Our normal price for this Peru holiday is £1,350pp. We include just about everything in this price - so there aren't lots of hidden extras. Have a look at our detailed prices for more information.


Our Services on holiday in Peru

When you book Peru holidays with Real Peru, you're not just guaranteeing yourself fantastic excursions with the best guides, or great hotels in perfect locations. You're also going to benefit from our specialist experience and expert advice. Because we know Peru so well, we can help all our customers before they even get to Peru with advice on food, drink, money, where to eat, where NOT to eat - all the other hints and tips that can help you have the perfect holiday in Peru.

Remember, we want you to see The Real Peru and we go that extra mile to make sure you get the very best out of our favourite country!

If you want to see some of our other Peru holidays, click here for our full list of: holidays in Peru


CHACHAPOYAS AND KUELAP PHOTO GALLERY
Peru holidays from RealPeru: chachapoyas and kuelap photo gallery
Click here for the full gallery


Peru AND BOLIVIA!
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Why not add a quick trip across Lake Titicaca to Bolivia onto your Peru holiday...

 

SOUTHERN CROSS
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Visit the Ballestas Islands and Lake Titicaca on this great Peru holiday...

 





If you want to know more about this Peru holiday, or if you'd like to book holidays in Peru from us then don't forget that you can email us or call us on 0113 216 1440. We're always happy to help!