Tico Tico: Culture of the Northern Andes - Trip Dossier
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14 days 16:03 12-10-2021
Transcript of Tico Tico: Culture of the Northern Andes - Trip Dossier
We are the UK’s No.1 specialist in travel to LatinAmerica and have been creating award-winningholidays to every corner of the region for over fourdecades; we pride ourselves on being the mostknowledgeable people there are when it comes totravel to Central and South America andpassionate about it too.
As our name suggests, we are single-mindedabout Latin America. This is what sets us apartfrom other travel companies – and what allows usto offer you not just a holiday but the opportunity toexperience something extraordinary on inspiringjourneys throughout Mexico, Central and SouthAmerica.
A passion for the region runsthrough all we do
All our Consultants have lived ortravelled extensively in Latin
America
Up-to-the-minute knowledgeunderpinned by 40 years'
experience
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On your side when it matters
Book with confidence, knowingevery penny is secure
Our insider knowledge helpsyou go beyond the guidebooks
We hand-pick hotels withcharacter and the mostrewarding excursions
Let us show you the LatinAmerica we know and love
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On this adventurous itinerary you will be rewarded by magical landscapes, archaeological treasures, andencounters with welcoming people who will give you an insight into life in the region. The remote highlights ofthe north of Peru attract fewer visitors than the south, and as such there is a lower level of tourist infrastructureand some long road journeys, but each day offers a fascinating insight into the country’s rich cultural history.
A taste for adventure and discovery is a must; this is a trip through the authentic South America which hasremained unchanged for decades.
Those passengers arriving on an international flight will bemet by the tour leader or a local representative andescorted to the group hotel. The drive to the hotel throughLima encapsulates the invigorating bustle of this city ofextreme contrasts. Lima, the City of Kings, was once thecapital of Spanish America, and the remnants of its gloriouspast can still be seen in the faded grandeur of the colonialchurches and splendid, traditional wooden balconies in thecity centre.
The explosive growth of the last 50 years, so typical ofcapital cities in the developing world, has transformed Limainto a lively and chaotic low-rise city. Away from the busycentre, there are some superb traditional restaurants aswell as archaeological museums filled to the rafters withpre-Columbian treasures. In crowded streets, throngs oftraffic race out towards Miraflores on the coast, a modernmiddle-class suburb where your hotel is located.
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There will be a walking tour of Lima's colonial centre in themorning before taking a flight to the coastal town of Trujillo(70 minutes). The centre has some excellent examples ofcolonial architecture and its environs are speckled withextraordinary pre-Inca archaeological sites which reflect theeventful history of the region before the arrival of theSpanish.
Although the Incas are the best-known of Peru's pre-Columbian civilisations, the earlier cultures which flourishedon the coast have provided the most impressivearchaeological discoveries. The abundant food supplied bythe irrigated valleys and the seas rich in fish created wealthhere and freed up labour for the construction of vast templecomplexes alongside intricate textiles and jewellery. Spendthe afternoon wandering around the colonial centre,including the attractive Plaza Mayor and the cathedral.
A short journey takes you to Chan Chan, extraordinaryruins consisting of nine vast adobe compounds establishedby the Chimú civilisation in the 14th and 15th centuries. It islocated on a sweeping beach and the buildings blendseamlessly into the sand. The motifs on the walls depictfish and sea birds, illustrating their importance in the life ofthe Chimú. Each new ruler built a separate compound hereand the site covers a colossal 20 km².
Nearby is the seaside town of Huanchaco where fishermanskilfully surf the waves on traditional reed boats which havebeen used for centuries. Continue to the captivating Mochesites of the Huacas de la Luna and del Sol. The Moche(AD100-800) people are famed for their realistic portraitpottery and the richness and beauty of their gold and silverjewellery. Huaca del Sol was extensively looted by theconquistadors, but excavations continue to unearthextraordinary artefacts, as well as gory evidence of humansacrifice.
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We drive along the desert coast before heading into theverdant landscapes of the highlands on the winding road toCajamarca (7-8 hours). This peaceful colonial town is yourbase for explorations into the surrounding area. It was herethat Atahualpa, one of the last Inca Emperors, was held atransom; after he had filled one large room with gold andtwo with silver, he lost his life to Pizarro and his band ofSpanish conquerors. It is a delightful place to wander andthere is time to visit said Ransom Room, a number ofinteresting colonial churches and to climb Santa Apolloniahill for a lovely view over the town. The reserved yet friendlyinhabitants are easily distinguished by their dress: Stetson-style hats and ponchos.
A scenic drive takes you into the mountains and toLeymebamba passing glistening lakes, deep river gorgesand thriving valleys (10 hours).
There is a morning museum visit, which details the life anddeath of the Chachapoyan people. Tombs re-discovered in1997 revealed 219 mummies, which are kept and studiedhere. You will gain an insight into some of the history of theruins that you encounter over the next few days in the Landof the Cloud People. Later an uphill walk takes you toRevash. Follow a scenic, shady trail into the mountains tosee the cliff tombs with carved windows peeking out of themountainside, which resemble small houses and have redpictographs dating back to AD1200. Continue by road for afurther hour to Chillo.
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A sinuous road leads from Chillo, before we take therecently inaugurated cable car for the last part of thejourney, to the ruins at Kuelap (2.5 hours). Thisextraordinary site is haughty in its grandeur and scale; awalled city perched high on a mountain top. A greaterquantity of stones was used for its construction than for thegreat pyramids of Egypt. Explore the many ceremonialstructures and aqueducts, and sit for a while to absorb themajesty of the site and the beauty of its location way abovethe river valley. Little is known about the pre-IncaChachapoyan culture, but each year more ruins are beinguncovered and investigated. Evidence thus far suggeststhat the Chachapoyans were among the most advanced ofall pre-Inca cultures. Drive to your hotel in Chachapoyas(3.5 hours).
Head west by road and on foot to the burial sites of Karajía(2.5 hours). The Chachapoyans buried their chiefs indecorated clay sarcophagi which are adorned withimperious carved heads. These were then placed in cliffcrevices which faced east towards the rising sun. Thesurrounding countryside is one of rolling farmland, in whichsmall, traditional villages are connected by muddy tracks.Return in the evening to Chachapoyas.
Follow a meandering mountain road to the small communityof Cocachimba, where a 3-hour walk down a steep trailleads to the base of the Gocta Falls: a burst of spring waterwhich emerges from dense vegetation in the mountainsidecascading 771m into a deep and inviting pool. The Goctacataracts are presently ranked as the 16th-highest in theworld (it was originally claimed they were the 3rd-highest),and they were only discovered in 2005 by German StefanZiemendorff, and his team of Peruvian explorers. Even ifyou don’t make it all the way it’s a lovely walk, and there isplenty of time to relax in Chachapoyas in the afternoon.
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A scenic journey takes you through the Chamaya andHuancabamba valleys to the continental divide. At 2,140m,this is the lowest part of the Andes between the Atlantic andthe Pacific oceans. At lower levels the landscape turns todesert plain before we reach the city of Chiclayo (10 hours).The lively city is home to an extremely friendly populationand hosts one of the largest and most colourful markets inPeru. Stalls sell magic potions, lucky charms and a varietyof local herbal remedies.
The Sipán museum is one of the best in Peru and housesone of the country's great treasures. The 'Lord of Sipán'was a Moche nobleman who was buried in a pyramid inaround AD200. His tomb was unearthed by grave robbersin 1986 and subsequent excavations have revealedstunning burial goods of gold, silver and copper, andexquisite cloths. The aridity of the coast perfectly preservedthese ancient remains which are greatly revered by natives.
Continue to Túcume to see the ruins of a city built over1,000 years ago. Explore the site at sunset to experiencethe full impact of this mysterious and evocative complex. Ashort climb to the viewpoints on Cerro la Raya (or ElPurgatorio) gives an extraordinary panorama over all the 26major pyramids, the platform mounds, walled citadels andresidential compounds that flank a ceremonial centre andthe ancient cemeteries.
Drive to the airport for a flight back to Lima (70 minutes), fora final night in the capital. Time permitting there will be achance to visit some of the famous museums the city has tooffer.
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To find out more about how our group tours including group sizes, solo travellers and why to choose us. Pleaseclick here.
On this tour, you’ll be accompanied from start to finish by one of our exceptional Journey Latin America tourleaders. From the moment you land in Latin America until the day the tour ends they will deal with all thepracticalities, expertly adapting to the circumstances and individual needs of the group. Rather than differentguides in different cities, your leader will get to know the group and keep you informed and entertained as yougo.
2 flights (longest 1 hour), 6 road journeys (longest 10 hours, most 1-3 hours).
Services of Journey LatinAmerica tour leader
All land and domestic airtransport
Accommodation as specified
Meals as specified
Excursions as specified
Lima: walking tour
Trujillo: Chan Chan andHuacas del Sol y de la luna
Cajamarca: walking tour
Leymebamba: museum
Leymebamba: tombs ofRevash
Chachapoyas: citadel ofKuelap
Chachapoyas: sarcophagi atKarajía
Chachapoyas: Gocta Falls
Chiclayo: Lord of Sipán andTúcume
Tips and insurance
Meals other than specified
Optional excursions
Some domestic flight taxes
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For our Discovery Journeys we aim to use good quality, value-for-money accommodation, in a mix of largermore modern and smaller family run hotels. All the properties we use are well maintained and rooms will have aprivate bathroom.
The focus of these trips is on getting outside, seeing the sights, and experiencing local restaurants and cafes,therefore a few hotels may not have evening dining facilities.
• Lima: Hotel El Tambo I• Trujillo: Hotel Paraiso• Cajamarca: Hotel Cajamarca• Leymebamba: La Casona• El Chillo: Hostal El Chillo • Chachapoyas: Casa Vieja• Chiclayo: Intiotel
These hotels are subject to change and are dependent on availability. Address and contact details will be sentout with your final documents.
Breakfast daily; dinner day 7.
14 days, 13 nights: Lima 1; Trujillo 2; Cajamarca 2; Leymebamba 1; El Chillo 1; Chachapoyas 3; Chiclayo 2;Lima 1.
There are optional excursions available throughout this tour, which are booked locally through your tour leaderonce you are in Latin America. Not all excursions available will suit everybody, whilst others only operate withincertain seasons, with minimum numbers or may not be included due to time constraints. A budget of around$100 USD should cover participation in most of the following options, but prices can fluctuate depending on thesize of the party and so cannot be provided accurately until travel commences.
• Cajamarca: visit the pre-Inca aqueducts of Cumbe Mayo• Lima: the Inca ceremonial centre at Pachacamac• Lima: Larco Museum
A budget of around $35 USD per day should cover the cost of meals, drinks and the odd souvenir.
Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so a debit or credit card with a PIN is the mostconvenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also payby card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on acard to access funds.
We recommend that you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than the amount covered byyour insurance), which you can exchange into local currency. These bills should be in good condition as soiledor torn bills may be refused. Travellers’ cheques are increasingly less favoured by visitors who find them difficultto exchange as well as offering a poor rate of exchange. If you do decide to carry some with you they should beUS dollar cheques only (American Express are by far the most accepted brand).
The unit of currency in Peru is the sol.
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Tips are normally welcomed and expected. Local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of theirincome. We recommend approximately $3 USD (or local equivalent) per person per day for each of guides anddrivers, depending on the size of the group.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotelporters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 - 12% in restaurants.
If you would like to show your appreciation to your Journey Latin America tour leader, who you may feel hasexceeded your expectations, a discretionary gratuity would be gratefully received. As a guideline werecommend an amount of between $4 and $6 USD per person, per day. You are obviously free to tip more orless as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality.
Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
All airport taxes will be included in the price of the tickets.
There are some early mornings and very long days of travel on this trip. All walks are optional, and you candiscuss with your tour leader which are suitable for you.
The rainy season in the Andes runs between November and March when there are showers most afternoons.The dry season is in June, July and August when the sun is strong during the day, but at night the temperaturedrops dramatically (from freezing point to 10°C). April, May, September and October are less predictable, withboth rainy and sunny spells.
On the coastal strip it is generally warm and dry with hazy sunshine with temperatures averaging 22-26°C.Generally the further north you go along the Peruvian coast, the warmer it gets, and from November to April itcan be extremely hot. Lima is covered in a dull grey mist for much of the year, although the sun does breakthrough between November and March. It almost never rains in Lima, and temperatures are moderate. The restof the coast is sunnier than Lima and for most of the year it is warm enough to wear a t-shirt during the day andperhaps a light jumper at night.
Several days are spent at high altitude (over 2.500m). You may notice the effect of high altitude; symptoms vary:most common are mild headaches and breathlessness. If you drink plenty of water and allow your body toacclimatise (don’t exert yourself or drink alcohol) in the first couple of days after arrival, you will minimise yourchances of being adversely affected.
For day-to-day wear you should go prepared to encounter all seasons. Both warm clothing and a sun hat areessential at altitude; a light fleece jacket and a Gore-Tex outer shell make a good combination. Trousers orshorts made from light, quick-drying synthetic materials work well. Strong, comfortable footwear is essential andyou should bring insect repellent, sun block and sun glasses. You should also take swimwear.
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very importantand hard to come by in South America.
Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. Forspecific requirements you must consult your GP. You can also find helpful information on the Masta TravelHealth pages.
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Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 monthsafter the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevantconsulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
There is no extra cost for single travellers who are willing to share a room. You will be accommodated with asame-sex member of the group who is usually also travelling solo. For single travellers who wish to be sure ofhaving their own room there are a limited number of single supplement places available, which carry asurcharge.
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