Departure from Huaraz
The journey starts from Huaraz, north of Lima, a small town at 3,000m altitude located at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca, the starting point to discover some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. Situated in the central part of the Callejon de Huaylas valley and the capital of the Ancash region, it was founded in pre-Inca times and completely destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1970. Its beauty lies in the incredible natural panoramas that surround it: snowy peaks, valleys immersed in greenery, forests and pristine lakes, imposing glaciers.
A short distance away, the Huascaran National Park guards the mountain of the same name, which at 6,768 meters is by far the highest in all of Peru. From the city, trips also depart to visit the Chavin de Huantar site; the namesake civilization which is also one of the oldest on the continent (it developed around 1000 BCE and influenced all subsequent cultures and civilizations, extending southward with the Nazca and Paracas civilizations).
Trujillo
Trujillo, even further north, is a charming colonial town, from which you can easily reach the Chan Chan site, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America built by the Chimu civilization, which thrived until the arrival and rise of the Incas. It is a magnificent site, located a few kilometers from the coast, entirely built of adobe (dried clay) and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moche Civilization
Going even further back in time, 700 years ago, the secrets of an even more complex and fascinating civilization are discovered, that of the Moche. To know it, you must reach the Huaca de la Luna site, the main ceremonial center of this ancient people. The Moche Route is an itinerary that winds through history, art, culture, and divinities, passing through enchanting palaces, unimaginable treasures, and temples of immense wonder. The Moche civilization, whose name very likely derives from the spoken language, “Muchik,” was the most famous in Peru, living in a period generally called the “First Intermediate Period” between 200 B.C. and 600 A.D., occupying a vast territory, predominantly desert, between the locality of Piura and the Nepena valley.
Still in the north of the country, in the Amazonas Region the forest reigns: privileged microclimates and unique ecosystems in the world, archaeological sites such as the citadel of Kuelap (built between the forest and the Andes), colonial constructions, mysterious tombs, heritage of an era in which the Chachapoyas culture reigned, characterize the region. Here also are the Gocta waterfalls, an impressive waterfall 771 meters high, which is among the highest waterfalls in the world.
Peru’s Coasts
Peru’s coasts, 3,000 km along the Pan-American Highway, are a series of beaches suitable for couples and travelers seeking peace and tranquility, but also rich in opportunities for young surfers who come here, to the Piura region, to find the perfect wave (or in the Trujillo area, the more experienced meet in Chicama, where the longest left wave in the world originates).
Along the coast of Piura and Tumbes, at the far north of Peru, long sandy beaches satisfy both tourists looking for relaxation and young athletes who seek adrenaline and excitement instead.
Between August and September in this area, one can admire, among other things, the spectacle of the mating and migration of humpback whales, and for better whale watching, it is recommended to take the excursion in the morning. Humpback whales are up to 17 meters long and weigh almost 40 tons. The whale watching season starts on July 15 and ends on November 15. It is estimated that more than 2,000 humpback whales reach the Peruvian coasts, following the Humboldt current.
The Cabo Blanco beach, in the northern part of this coast, known for blue marlin fishing, also hosted Ernest Hemingway who drew inspiration here for his novel The Old Man and the Sea.
