Northern Peru Cajamarca, Chiclayo, and Trujillo

Land of Moche, Sican (Lambayeque), and Chimu civilizations.

Traveled with my son for a week of magnificent sites across the northern triangle between Cajamarca, Chiclayo, and Trujillo. The trip was originally intended to lead us to Chachapoyas by road from Cajamarca, but a torrential set of global-warmed rains wiped out the intended road and a social strike disrupted the alternative route—so we improvised with our wonderful tour operator Time to Travel Cajamarca and designed this lovely route. We had a private driver/car for the week and enjoyed each area and the absolutely magnificent archaeological sites of the Moche, Sican, and Chimu civilizations we visited.

Our overall route:

• From USA we landed in the evening and stayed at the Lima airport adjacent hotel (100 meters from arrival desk) — very convenient and comfortable. Flew in the AM to Cajamarca, 737 scale plane, small airport but several flights per day direct, about 1hr fly time.
• In Cajamarca we enjoyed several days of local tours to the Cumbemayo hiking area, historical city center, and Banos del Inca and las Ventanillas de Otuzco.
• Long day in car via very good road to Chiclayo, with magnificent visit to the Kuntur Wasi archaeological site.
• From Chiclayo a day dedicated to various “Huacas” which are sacred temples and pyramid complexes, at Ventarron, Sican, Tucume, their associated museums (wonderful), and great meals in Lambayeque and beach walk in Pimentel.
• Long day in car to Trujillo with stunning stop-off at Huaca de Ojo de Brujo which might have been the overall highlight — with Senora de Cao museum.
• Base in Trujillo for a few days for visits to Chan Chan and Huaca de la Luna y Sol, with return flight from major aircraft to Lima (Trujillo the 3rd largest city of Peru)

Here are some of the Cajamarca pics:

Here we are at the Kuntur Wasi site:

Tucume and Sican major sites near Chiclayo:

Ojo del Brujo en route from Chiclayo to Trujillo (closer to Trujillo):

And the major sites in Trujillo, Huaca de La Luna and Chan Chan:

And, some of the *many* wonderful meals… Peruvian food, the best: