In the morning, visit the two most important Moche ceremonial centers in the countryside of Trujillo. Explore the Huaca, Temple of the Sun, a massive terraced pyramid made of 140 million adobe bricks and called for over 200,000 workers during its construction. Unfortunately, there is no access to the pyramid, but it can be viewed from outside.

Not far away is the Huaca, the Temple of the Moon. The Moche political center recently uncovered friezes of mystical images that are believed to belong to a divinity of sacrifices. Ongoing excavations by Peruvian and foreign scholars reveal the complexity of the structure. Visit the complex and new Huacas de Moche Museum to see some unique artifacts and ceramics found on the site.

Continue to Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient capital of the Chimu Kingdom peaked during the 15th century, after the collapse of the Moche and not long before the rise of the Incas. This huge adobe brick city is the largest in pre-Colombian America. The Chimu named the city Jang-Jang, which in the ancient Moche language means “sun”.

Enjoy lunch on your own in the cute village of Huanchaco, known for its “caballitos de totora”, a small authentic reed boat used by the local fishermen.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for a full-day tour covering the archaeological highlights of Chiclayo and Lambayeque. From Chiclayo, visit Tucume and the Valley of the Pyramids. This city belonged to the Lambayeque culture (BC 1000 to 1350 AD). Tucume was the capital of the Sican culture, after their former capital Batan Grande was burnt and abandoned. Take your time exploring the 26 adobe pyramids scattered over the deserted forest.

Later, visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum and the Huaca Rajada. The museum was built in the shape of a pyramid and tells the tale of the Moche rulers whose graves were unearthed in the 1980s. The Sipan tombs held gold masks, scepters, jewelry and other artifacts from the Moche culture. The museum gives an excellent overview of how Peruvian archaeologists carefully excavated the site over the course of a decade. Also visit the Huaca Rajada, where you can see the actual graves.

After breakfast, drive to Utcubamba and cross into the neighboring Province of Luya. From the village of Luya, continue to the village of Cruz Pata, where a short 45-minute walk takes you to Karajia. In Karajia you will find striking sarcophagi, sculptured like humans, that have become an icon of the area. For 750 years the statues looked towards the rising sun and undoubtedly mark the resting place for some elite members of the Chachapoya warriors. Snap a few photos of the sarcophagi before continuing to the city of Chachapoyas for lunch.

Continue north to the small village of Huancas, famous for its pottery made by local women. Close to Huancas is a stunning lookout across the 1000m deep Sonche Canyon. Explore the area and return to Chachapoyas in the late afternoon.