North Peru Travel and Tourism Information

The Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin, which occupies more than the half of Peru’s landmass, consists of dense tropical forest and species-rich areas of biodiversity hotspots. Thanks to the difficult access to this region, the Amazon jungle still remains away from modernization’s reach and protects by this way its mysterious beauty. Her you can find one of the most astounding diversity of wildlife with about 1,700 species of birds.

Main Attractions

• Iquitos: a beautiful jungle town, where three major rivers flow together. Great starting point for viewing wildlife, as the city itself is concentrated on ecological tourism.

Infrastructure

• Access Routes – Iquitos is just accessible by boat up the Amazon River or by plane.
• Accommodations – All types of accommodation are available in Iquitos.
• When to go – During December till April is the rainy season in the Amazon Bain. Though in the rainforests, it naturally rains a lot, so that travelers visit usually the whole year-round this area as it seldom rains for more than a few hours.
• How long – We suggest staying at least three days till one week.
• Tips – We recommend to visit the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER) close to Iquitos which offers the “Amazon canopy walkway”. It is a 450 meter trail and passes through the most reserved and plentiful part of the forest.

Trujillo
The historical important city with charming colonial architecture and impressive archaeological wealth of the pre-Inca cultures of the “Chimu” and “Mochica” culture in its environment About Trujillo in the Pacific Coastal deserts

Located in the narrow lowland coastal region, Trujillo offer a charming historical city in an astonishing rich archaeological and historical environment of pre-Inca eras. It possesses various beautiful colonial buildings, convents, churches and streets which still prove the ancient wealth and importance of the republican city. Trujillo was the first Peruvian city which proclaimed its independence of the Spanish colonization in 1820.

The coastal region is a northern extension of the “Atacama” Desert which has its origins in Chile. A special character of this area is the so called “La Garuùa”, a dense fog produced by the collision of the heated sand of the “Atacama” and the cold waters of the Humboldt Current. This phenomenon affects a less dry but colder climate along Peru’s shores.

As great contrasts this Peruvian desert includes on the one hand the huge sand dunes and expansive farmland oases but on the other hand also three of the most populated cities which are allocated in this coastal line Trujillo, Chiclayo and Lima.

Main Attractions

Chan Chan: “Chan Chan” reflects the huge pre-Incan capital of the “Chimu” kingdom which felt under the Incas after its historical flourish in the 15th century. The big complex in an area of 15 square km was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It possesses 9 different palaces with several temples, squares, ponds, gardens, aqueducts, labyrinths. “Chan Chan”, the biggest ruin city in South American, doesn’t astonish only by its size the but also by its beautiful ornamented walls with different animal or natural symbols like fish, foxes, pelicans, rhombuses, etc.

Huaca del Sol y de La Luna – Mochica Culture

Situated 5 km south of the Trujillo City, these ritual centers of the pre-Incan “Mochica” Culture contain two pyramids with an height of 43 meters. The great complexes were constructed in only three days by 250,000 men.

Inside the monuments, the pyramids consist of overlapping temples built during different periods. Every floor of the pyramid offers beautiful colored ornamental painting and relief. In the area, you can also find a uncovered tomb with over 40 sacrificed warriors.

Infrastructure

• Access Routes – Trujillo, connected with the North Pan-American Highway, is easily accessible by bus or by plane.
• Accommodations – All types of accommodation are available in Trujillo.
• When to go – Trujillo has a mild and dry climate throughout the year with an average annual temperature of 19ºC.
• How long – We suggest staying to stay for about 2 days to visit the city center and at least one ruin in Trujillos Environment.
• Travel Tips – Visit the picturesque colonial town Cajamarca in the valley of Andean countryside, which possesses the famous “Cuarto del Rescate” (Rescue Room) the one that “Atahualpa”, the Incan king filled with silver and gold in exchange of his liberation from Pizarro. The significance of the pre Hispanic and colonial monuments have been worth this city to be declared as “America Heritage Site” by UNESCO. It is located about 300 km (180 miles) to the east of Trujillo.