Northern Peru offers some of the greatest archaeological treasures in the Americas. Recently discovered sites are now becoming well-known and beginning to overshadow their more famous cousins in the south of the country. The exciting excavations at Caral have revealed the oldest city in South America and the valleys of the desert coast were home to a variety of ancient cultures. This includes the Moche who built huge mud brick pyramids and whose treasure-filled royal tombs were discovered at Sipán. Inland, amongst the magnificent scenery of the Andes are found the temple of Chavín de Huantar and the enormous fortress of Kuelap, as well as Cajamarca where the conquistadors held Atahualpa hostage.

Extension: Southern Peru extensions available including Cuzco, Nazca, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca