DESTINATIONS LATIN AMERICA | PERU


exper expert ASK THE Alex Lopez


travel specialist, Latin Routes


“Visitors to northern Peru will be wowed by the incredible archaeological sites. The


region is great for travellers who have discovered the most- known wonders of the central and southern regions and want to see something different.


Trujillo is the main city and has unbeatable gastronomy – plus it’s next to the marvellous adobe site of Chan Chan.


Farther north, many treasures were found in the pyramids that were once tombs for the


Mochica kings. They’re now on display in the Museo Nacional Tumbas Reales de Sipán. Northern Peru is perfect


for history and archaeology, and great to combine with


Ecuador, with clients heading from Quito to Tena, Baños and Cuenca before crossing the border into northern


Peru and visiting Máncora, then travelling to Trujillo.”


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Trujillo Cathedral; Gocta Falls, Chachapoyas; ruins at Kuélap


PICTURES: Shutterstock/Christian Vinces, Orlando Photography, Niar Krad


BOOK IT


Latin Routes can organise a seven-day extension to any itinerary for southern Peru or Ecuador to take in northern Peru from £1,339 for departures this year and from £1,479 in 2023. Prices include domestic flights in Peru, accommodation in three-star properties on a B&B basis, some lunches and all tours and transportation. latinroutes.co.uk


42 9 JUNE 2022


star attractions lie within a two-hour drive of Chachapoyas. The undisputed gem is the stone citadel of Kuélap, a clifftop fortress situated above the lush cloud forest of the Uctabamba Valley. Built sometime between the 5th and 15th centuries, this archaeological site became easier to reach in 2017 thanks to the installation of a cable car, which has trimmed travel time to a meagre 20 minutes. Within the area, hiking trails to the spectacular two-tiered Gocta Falls or to the lesser-known – and taller – Yumbilla Falls are other prime attractions. For longer stays, the remarkable 219 mummies of the Museo de Leymebamba and the three-day trek to reach highland lake Laguna de los Cóndores (where the mummies were discovered) make fantastic additions to the itinerary. Lodgings within Chachapoyas


are improving, but the best lie nearby in Cocachimba, at the foot of Gocta Falls. The five boutique cabins of Gocta Natura are the ideal place for a relaxing retreat,


each offering privileged views of the waterfalls from their private decks. Refurbished with slick, modern designs, the cabins have access to a plunge pool and gourmet Peruvian dishes are served alfresco on a stunning communal terrace. The hotel’s sustainable credentials


are impressive: owners Rocio and Augusto have implemented reforestation initiatives in the local area, and established a short hiking trail through secondary-growth forest on their own land. Rates start at £280 per night for a full-board stay in a double cabin, with a two-night minimum stay. goctanaturareserve.com


CHICLAYO North of Trujillo, Chiclayo is northern Peru’s business capital. What it lacks in colonial charm is made up for in its access to regional pre-Columbian pyramids and excellent museums, all of which are tucked into a desert landscape populated by the largest dry carob forest in South America. Clients can begin at the Museo Nacional Tumbas Reales de Sipán,


which lies in nearby Lambayeque. Home to an extensive collection of Andean gold and the recreated tomb of an important Mochica noble, it’s considered one of the finest museums in Peru. Túcume, a site containing


26 adobe pyramids and an award-winning museum, should also feature on itineraries. Back in Chiclayo, guests can experience traditional northern Peruvian cuisine at Fiesta Chiclayo Gourmet, one of two restaurants owned by celebrity chef Hector Solis (his other, located in Lima, is ranked number 34 in Latin America). The house speciality is rice with farm-raised duck, an exquisite ancient dish favoured by the Mochica.


Casa Andina Select, on the


outskirts of the city centre, won’t win any prizes for architectural design, but what it does have are comfortable, three-star facilities, including a gym, spa and 130 modern bedrooms, with all mod cons. Doubles start from £52 per person per night, room-only. casa-andina.com


TW travelweekly.co.uk


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