Starting in Lima, this tour explores the often forgotten about yet extremely fascinating region of Northern Peru before making our way accross the border into Ecuador. The tour is completely land based ensuring that you will get the most authentic Peruvian and Ecuadorian experience.

Day 1: Lima – Huaraz

Our tour starts in the morning where we will transfer you from the hotel to the Bus Station in Lima for departure to Huaraz. Arrival in Huaraz, the regional capital of the province of Ancash, 400 km north from Lima. Reception and transfer to hotel selected overnight.

Day 2: Huaraz (B,L)

Morning excursion to Callejon de Huaylas, in the Santa River Valley. Located between the “White and Black Mountain” this is regarded as a unique and fascinating spot with its mild climate, ancient culture and amazing natural attractions. We will visit the many typical villages such as Recuay, Carhuaz Huaraz, Yungay and Caraz and stop for lunch. In the afternoon excursion to Llanganuco Lagoon, this touches the great snow line of the Huascaran, a fabulous landscape with blue water, flora and fauna.
Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day 3: Huaraz – Trujillo (B,L)

Full day excursion to the archaeological Complex of Chavin, located near the Village of Chavin de Huantar and regarded as one of the main cultural religious centers in all of South American. One of the most inspiring traces of this stone architecture is the Labyrinthine Castle, with enigmatic forms in carved stone such as “the Cabezas Clavas, sculptured with fierce faces, the “Lanzon de Chavin-exceptional monolithic”, “Las Estelas” with anthropozoomorphe figures, “La Portada de las Falconidas” and the underground galleries.

We will have time for a Lunch and then return to the Hotel at the end of the day for some free time and to relax. Later that night transfer to the bus station to take the Regular night bus to Trujillo.

Day 4: Trujillo

Arrive to Trujillo approx 6am. Reception and transfer to hotel.

After a rest we will embark on a City tour, visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and some of the few remaining colonial houses in the square. Next we will visit Chan Chan which is located 4 Km to the north of Trujillo. This ancient city with its streets, houses, water tanks, pyramids and temples was declared a Cultural Patrimony by UNESCO. Finally you will visit, Huaca Dragon, a temple dedicated to the Rainbow, located 5 km from Trujillo. It is thought to have been a ceremonial centre related to the fertility. Its decorations show dancing warriors and the figure of a dragon.  Return to hotel for Overnight.

Day 5: Trujillo – Chiclayo – Mancora (B,L)

Morning visit to the “Huaca del Sol y la Luna” and its treasure. The Huaca del Sol, a pyramid of 20m high. According to the tradition it was built in only 3 days using 250 000 people and 70 million blocks of adobes.

The Huaca de la Luna, located in front of the Huaca del Sol, is smaller. In some of its adobe walls still exist paintings where appears the Ai-Apaek God. Archaeologists have discovered a tomb with more than 40 dead soldiers.

Next we will Visit the Sicán Museum located in the village of Ferreñafe with its display of Sicán culture along with an interesting display of tombs from the Sicán nobility. Then the Tumbas Reales Museum, which is a modern building with pyramidal infrastructure. It looks like a flattened pyramid formed by five prisms that are held together by leaning planes, with each prism bearing a replica of the banners found in the Tomb of the Lord of Sipán. Their colours, red and yellow, are similar to those used by the Moches throughout their decorations. Transfer to the hotel for some free time to relax before heading to the bus station for the regular night bust  to Mancora, journey time approx 7 hours.  

Day 6: Mancora (B)

Arrival to Mancora approx 6am in the morning and transfer to hotel. You have the day free to enjoy Mancora and its surroundings: for the adrenaline-junkies, there are some of the best surfing waves in South America, as well as kite-surfing instruction, sea kayaking, horse-riding and bikes for hire.

For the less active, there are nearby mud baths that can be reached by mototaxi; and of course, there is plenty of room on the beach for sunbathing!

Day 7: Mancora (B)

Another day to enjoy the above. Incidentally, like many surfer towns, Mancora has a vibrant nightlife.

Day 8: Mancora – Tumbes – Guayaquil (B)

After a final free relaxing day on the beach resort, we will take a transfer to the town of Tumbes for a night bus to Guayaquil in Ecuador.

Day 9: Guayaquil

Arrival in Guayaquil and transfer from the bus station to the hotel. After a rest we will embark on a city tour of Guayaquil. Guayaquil is the main port and the biggest city in Ecuador. It is a bustling metropolis that offers a wide variety of tourist places such as Cerro Santa Ana, Malecón del Salado or Malecón Simón Bolívar.  This beautiful and historical city has many hotels, bars, and restaurants with great infrastructure for travelers to enjoy their visit.

Day 10: Guayaquil-Cuenca (B,L)

In the morning we will depart for Cuenca passing through some stunning scenery in El Cajas National park. On the way we will stop for a Panoramic view of the beautiful town of Cuenca. Arrival and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 11: Cuenca-Riobamba (B,L)

After breakfast we will take a colonial city tour of Cuenca. Cuenca is the third largest city of Ecuador and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a city of great beauty because of its cobblestone streets with a rich colonial downtown full of churches, convents and museums. Its handicrafts stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and antique stores make the city very attractive. Four rivers run through Cuenca: Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Tarqui and Machangara.

We will also check out the Museum of conceptas and the famous Panama hat factory. In the afternoon take the scenic drive to Riobamba where we will overnight in the hotel.

Day 12: Riobamba-Quito (B,L)

Today it’s time to visit the highest active volcano in the world Mt. Cotapaxi. Cotopaxi has a base of about 23 kilometers (14 mi) around and has one of the few equatorial glaciers on earth, which starts at the height of 5,000 meters (16,400 ft). We also visit the Limpiopungo lagoon which has a rich variety of birdlife. Continue on the Quito where we spend the night in a hotel.

Day 13: Quito (B)

In the morning we depart to downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture.  Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

The stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior.  

Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. The tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito.

Day 14: Quito (B)

The Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito, marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. 

Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the great diversity of Ecuador’s native groups. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops that sell postcards and souvenirs.  A certificate for having crossed the Equator is issued to each guest.

Day 15: Quito – out

Transfer to the airport after breakfast for flight out.

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