CALLAO, PERU

Trujillo is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru, founded in 1534 by Peru’s conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who named it after his birthplace in Spain.

Trujillo is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru, founded in 1534 by Peru’s conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who named it after his birthplace in Spain. This colonial and republican city, 560 kilometres (350 miles) north of Lima, flourished when numerous families of nobles settled here to exploit the gold and silver mines, and the large sugar plantations. Trujillo, with its year round spring like climate, is full of traditional and aristocratic mansions. The Chimú, who ruled the north coast before the Inca conquest, built their capital at nearby Chan Chan, considered the largest mud-brick city in the world. Just south of Trujillo lie the imposing 40 metre (130 feet) high Moche pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the centre of Moche power from 100 to 600 AD and the tallest adobe structures in the Americas. West of Trujillo is Huanchaco, a charming fishing village. As their ancestors did centuries ago, fishermen here still ride the waves in fragile reed boats called ‘caballito de totora’. Chiclayo, capital of the department of Lambayeque, is a bustling, commercial city, 769 kilometres (480 miles) north of Lima – only a short distance through sugar cane fields from the famed Moche mausoleum of Sipan. After its discovery and unearthing in 1987, Sipan’s tombs have yielded a wealth of dazzling gold, silver and copper jewellery dating back to around 300 AD. On going excavations are uncovering even more gold-filled tombs. North of Chiclayo lies Túcume, a complex of 26 large mud-brick pyramids surrounded by smaller structures dating from pre-Inca times – the largest complex of its kind in coastal Peru.

Wednesday 5th March: This tour begins with an early start from Callao when we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Chiclayo. Upon arrival in Chiclayo, we will be met and taken to our hotel for check-in. Shortly afterwards we begin our exploration of the area with a visit to the Tumbas Reales Museum. This museum houses the remains and treasure of the famous Lord of Sipan. We proceed to Túcume, to view the mud-brick pyramids that served as the political and religious centre of the Lambayeque culture. The local fold healers believe Túcume to have a special energy force and still use the area for their ceremonies. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive to Huaca Rajada, where the tomb of the Lord of Sipan was discovered – the most spectacular tomb of the Western Hemisphere; the Lord of Sipan is considered the ‘Tutankhamun of the Americas’. The Huaca is a mausoleum built by the Moche culture that ruled the northern coast of Peru from the time of Christ to 700 AD, centuries prior to the Incas. Sipan’s treasures show us the Moche culture’s ability to create fine quality pieces with gold, silver, copper and precious stones; masks, necklaces, earrings and other elaborate jewellery – a mastery in metallurgy unrivalled in the Americas. We return to the four-star Gran Hotel Chiclayo for dinner and our overnight stay.

Thursday 6th March: Following a buffet breakfast, we are ready for the four hour drive through the arid desert to Trujillo, which is broken periodically by fertile valleys, with views of the Pacific Ocean and its sandy beaches to the west – the foothills of the Andes to the east. We arrive in Huanchaco, where we may watch the fishermen on their reed boats. Here we will enjoy lunch in one of the local restaurants. Our tour continues to the adobe ruins of Chan Chan, the capital of the Chimú civilisation between the 12th and 14th centuries. It spanned 21 square kilometres (eight square miles), suggesting that the population could have numbered around 300,000! There are nine different areas, of which the best restored is the Tschudi Citadel. We can still see the low relief friezes depicting animals and lines representing marine currents. The Chimús were expert metallists in ancient Peru, and as a result of the Inca conquest many of the artisans were taken to Cusco, to teach their techniques. We travel back to the airport to board our return flight to Lima, where we will be met and transferred to the pier in Callao.

This tour is not suitable for those passengers with limited mobility. A lot of walking is involved, most of which will be over uneven ground, as well as many steps to be climbed. It is considered a strenuous tour due to the number of places visited during the limited time available. The flight to and from Chiclayo takes approximately 1 hour. The temperature in Chiclayo is likely to be 22-23ºC (72-90ºF), and in Trujillo 16-29ºC (61-84ºF). Lightweight clothing and sun protection are recommended. Only soft drinks are included with meals.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 WORLD CRUISE