Coastal Peru: Cradle of Civilization in the Americas

B= Breakfast • L= Lunch • D= Dinner

Thursday, October 8, 2026: Depart home | Arrive Lima, Peru
Depart home on independent flights to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), you will be met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day and dinner are at leisure. Three nights at the 5-star Hotel Indigo Lima Miraflores.

Friday, October 9: Lima: Introductory meeting, Huaca Pucllana pyramid, Larco Museum |  Welcome dinner
After breakfast, gather for an introductory meeting and lecture followed by an independent lunch. This afternoon we visit Huaca Pucllana, an imposing adobe pyramid nestled in the heart of the city. This pre-Inca ceremonial center, built more than 1,500 years ago, offers a glimpse into the ancient cultures that once thrived along the Peruvian coast. Next, we tour the Larco Museum, home to Peru’s most important collection of pre-Columbian art. A private talk with the museum’s curator, archaeologist Julio Rucabado (pending schedule confirmation), will add insight to the collection. Our day concludes with a welcome dinner at the Café del Museo, surrounded by enchanting gardens and colonial architecture. (B,D)

Saturday, October 10: Pachacamac | Lima
This morning, we drive 20 miles south of Lima in the Lurin Valley to the archaeological site of Pachacamac, one of ancient Peru’s most famous religious centers. It was here that the oracle to the great god Pachacamac, the most important deity of pre-Hispanic coastal Peru, resided. This sanctuary was built and remodeled by the Lima, Ichma, and Inca civilizations using mud bricks. We visit the local museum to get a better overview of the site, as well as examine various artifacts found in the area. Return to our hotel for an evening and dinner at leisure. (B,L)

Sunday, October 11: Huaura Valley: Bandurria & Vichama | Caral
We check-out of our hotel and drive approximately two hours north to Bandurria, in the Huaura Valley, one of Peru’s oldest known coastal urban centers, dating between 3200 and 4000 B.C. The site features ceremonial architecture such as sunken circular plazas, stepped pyramids, and residential platforms, reflecting an early and sophisticated form of social organization and offering a rare archaeological and ecological window into their remarkable adaptation to arid coastal environments. We continue to Vichama, a major site dating from 1800 to 1500 B.C. Associated with the late stages of the Caral civilization, Vichama is best known for its striking high-relief friezes carved in adobe and plaster. Drive onward to Caral and arrive at our hotel late in the afternoon with time to relax before gathering for dinner. Two nights at the 3‑star Hotel La Empedrada Ranch & Lodge by Casa Andina. (B,L,D)

Monday, October 12: Caral-Supe | PM at leisure or Optional excursion to Peñico | Caral
Today we tour the seldom-visited sacred city of Caral-Supe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest known civilization in the Americas, which thrived between approximately 3000 and 1800 B.C. Located in the Supe Valley, Caral spans over 1,480 acres and contains 32 monumental structures, including platform pyramids, sunken circular plazas, residential quarters, and ceremonial spaces. Scientific research highlights Caral’s complex social organization and early achievements in architecture, governance, and communication. After lunch at our hotel you may choose to relax, explore independently, or join an optional excursion to the recently opened archaeological site of Peñico, a smaller settlement from the later stages of the Caral civilization. This site reveals a more compact architectural layout, with platform mounds, residential compounds, and ceremonial spaces that reflect adaptation to changing environmental and social conditions. Return to our hotel in the late afternoon and then gather for dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, October 13: Chankillo | Sechín | Trujillo 
We set out early this morning, heading north to discover two of the most fascinating archaeological sites on Peru’s desert coast. Our first stop is Chankillo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s earliest solar observatories. Its remarkable Thirteen Towers stretch across a ridgeline, forming an artificial horizon that allowed ancient sky watchers to track the movement of the sun with extraordinary accuracy. After a seaside lunch in La Gramita we continue to Sechín, one of the most enigmatic ceremonial centers of the Peruvian coast. Dating to around 1600 B.C., Sechín is renowned for its megalithic architecture and more than 300 carved bas-reliefs portraying warrior-priests, ritual combat, and sacrifice. Linked to the larger Sechín Alto and Sechín Bajo complexes, it speaks of a long and interconnected tradition. We continue to Trujillo, where we check-in to our hotel and gather for dinner. Two nights at the 4-star Doubletree by Hilton Trujillo. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, October 14: Huacas del Sol y de la Luna | Chan Chan | Trujillo
Today we travel to the Moche Valley to explore the cultural heart of one of Peru’s most influential ancient civilizations, Huacas del Sol y de la Luna archaeological complex, the ceremonial center of the Moche civilization, which flourished between A.D. 100 and 900. We begin with a tour of the site museum, where we gain insight into the Moche’s sophisticated society, symbolic art, and religious traditions. We then explore the Huaca de la Luna, a truncated pyramid built between the 1^st and 7^th centuries A.D. It is particularly renowned for its polychrome friezes, which depict gods, elements of nature, and scenes of human sacrifice. After lunch in Huanchaco, we explore the legacy of the Chimú Kingdom, whose capital city, Chan Chan, reached its height in the 15^th century before being conquered by the Incas. As the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is renowned for its meticulous urban planning, reflecting an advanced political and social structure. Its monumental zone includes nine large palatial compounds, adorned with intricately carved adobe walls. We return to Trujillo and enjoy an independent dinner this evening. (B,L)

Thursday, October 15: Huaca Cao Viejo | Chiclayo
Today we drive north and visit El Brujo Archaeological Complex, one of the most emblematic sites of the Moche civilization, which thrived between the 1^st and 8^th centuries A.D. The centerpiece of the complex is Huaca Cao Viejo where, in 2005, the tomb of the Señora de Cao was uncovered—she was a high-ranking Moche woman whose burial challenged long-held assumptions about gender and power in ancient societies. After exploring the museum, we continue to the pyramid itself, whose walls are decorated with striking murals that depict ceremonial scenes and ritual narratives. From the top of the structure, we can take in panoramic views of other Moche pyramids and the nearby Huaca Prieta, a pre-Ceramic site of great archaeological importance. After lunch at Pacasmayo we continue on to the city of Chiclayo, where we check-in to our hotel and gather for dinner. Three nights at the 4-star Casa Andina Select Chiclayo. (B,L,D)

Friday, October 16: Sicán Museum (Lord of Sicán tomb) | Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary: Batán Grande | Túcume | Chiclayo
Today we start at the Sicán Museum, dedicated to an ancient society predating the Incas by a thousand years. Displaying renowned golden funerary masks and ceremonial knives (tumi), the museum includes replicas of colossal, 39-foot-deep tombs at Batán Grande, among the largest in South America. Enigmatic burials within these tombs feature the Lord of Sicán, buried in a unique, upside-down fetal position, accompanied by two women and two adolescents. We then head north to the Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary, where our AIA lecturer works. The Pomac dry forest is a special ecosystem and the largest dry forest in Peru. It is home to the Batán Grande archaeological complex, the religious, administrative, and economic center of the Lambayeque culture, which served as a hub for controlling metal production and coordinating prestigious object exchange across South America. Our final stop of the day is Túcume, a spectacular archaeological complex with mud-structured pyramids representing the last development of the Lambayeque culture. Known as the Valley of the Pyramids, initially occupied by the Sicán people around A.D. 1000, it later fell under Chimú control in 1375, only to be defeated by the Inca less than 100 years later. Enjoy an independent dinner this evening. (B,L)

Saturday, October 17: Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum | Huaca Rajada | Chiclayo
Begin the day with a visit to the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum, which displays artifacts from the significant Sipán excavations (Huaca Rajada), where archaeologist Walter Alva’s 1987 discovery of the Lord of Sipán’s tomb revolutionized archaeology, and today hosts the remains and treasures of the tomb’s esteemed Mochica-era warrior priest in a captivating permanent exhibition. After lunch, we visit Huaca Rajada, the actual tomb of the Lord of Sipán, located just outside Sipán village. This archaeological site comprises three pyramids with 14 separate tombs and chambers, showcasing hierarchy and importance. Dating back to A.D. 100, a millennium before the Inca Empire, the site’s miraculously intact tomb has escaped the clutches of local huaqueros (grave robbers). Return to Chiclayo for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Sunday, October 18: Fly to Lima | Lima: Farewell lunch, Colonial Lima 
This morning we take a group flight to Lima, arriving in time for a farewell lunch. Afterward, we continue to downtown Lima and the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), where we stroll among the splendid colonial architecture of prominent landmarks such as the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, and City Hall. Our last stop is La Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion with the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited private residence in the Southern Hemisphere. Dinner and the evening are at leisure, with time to pack. Overnight at the 5-star Hotel Indigo Lima Miraflores. (B,L)

Monday, October 19: Fly home OR Fly to Cusco for the Optional Extension
Transfer to Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) for flights homeward or join the group flight to Cusco for the post-tour extension. (B)

POST-TOUR EXTENSION
CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU
OCTOBER 19-24, 2026 (6 days)

Monday, October 19, 2026: Fly from Lima to Cusco
This morning we transfer to Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) for our group flight to Cusco. Arrive in Cusco, where we are met by our local guide, and check-in to our hotel with the afternoon free to enjoy its property and amenities. Dinner and the evening are at leisure. Overnight at the 5-star Palacio Del Inka or similar.

Tuesday, October 20: Sacred Valley: Pisac | Archaeological Park of Pisac | Sacred Valley
Today we drive into the Sacred Valley, stopping in the quaint town of Pisac, famous for its artisan markets, where we will have a chance to explore. After lunch we travel into the hills above the town to visit the Archaeological Park of Pisac, which was most likely a royal estate of the Inca ruler Pachacutec. Check-in to our lodge and gather this evening for dinner. Two nights at the 4-star Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado or similar. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, October 21: Ollantaytambo | Maras | Moray | Sacred Valley
Today we head into the hills above the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is in the town of Ollantaytambo to visit its Inca temple/fortress. Many of the town’s houses date to the Inca period and are still occupied by local families. Continue on to the salt mines at Maras, which have been in use since pre-Hispanic times. Our last stop of the day is the archaeological site of Moray, where we find a series of circular terraces whose purpose has been the subject of much debate by archaeologists over the years. Return to our hotel and gather for dinner. (B,L,D)

Thursday, October 22: Train to Machu Picchu Pueblo | Machu Picchu
This morning we drive to Ollantaytambo and take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, where we have lunch just a short walk from the train station. Then we board a shuttle bus for Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon exploring the most important parts of the site, until it closes. (Note that most visitors leave by early afternoon, to catch the train back to Cusco, so in the late afternoon we can enjoy the site with relative peace and quiet.) Check-in to our hotel, located at the foot of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, and gather for dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel or similar. (B,L,D)

Friday, October 23: Machu Picchu | Train to Ollantaytambo | Cusco | Farewell dinner
After breakfast we enjoy a second visit of Machu Picchu, focusing on more of the most important sectors of this beautiful Inca citadel. Return to our hotel for lunch, and then return by shuttle bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo to catch the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo. We drive onward to Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and check-in to our hotel with the balance of the day at leisure before we gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Palacio Del Inka or similar. (B,L,D)

Saturday, October 24: Sacsayhuaman | Cusco: City tour | Fly to Lima | Fly home
This morning we drive to Sacsayhuaman, an Inca fortress in the hills overlooking the city. Its size and scope are amazing, particularly the huge stones (many weighing dozens of tons) that were used to build its walls. Returning to Cusco we will have a city tour beginning at the cathedral on the main plaza. Cusco’s cathedral is considered to be the best repository of colonial art in Peru. Continue on to the Qoricancha (“Temple of the Sun”), which was the most sacred space in Inca Cusco. The Dominicans built their church atop the Qoricancha, and an earthquake in 1950 destroyed portions of that church, uncovering the Inca walls we see today. A boxed lunch will be provided as we transfer to the Cusco airport in time for our group flight to Lima (LIM), connecting to independent flights homeward. (B,L)