From the world famous Incas, to the recent archeological discoveries
of the Moche civilization in northern Perú, Vía
Natura can be your pathway in the mystical discovery of ancient
Andean civilizations. Celebrate with us the grandiosity of Machu
Picchu in southern Perú, or the splendorous treasure of
el Señor de Sipán and Sicán, which have more
than 2,000 years of history. Visit with us the recent archeological
excavations of the pyramids of Tucumé and the Huaca de
la Luna in northern Perú.
Machu Picchu
Located three hours away from Cuzco by train, or 4 days on foot
through the famous Inca trail, the citadel of Machu Picchu is
by far the most important tourist attraction in Perú.
Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, this
citadel is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples
of landscape architecture in the world. Situated in an enclave
on the saddle of a mountain overlooking the deep canyon of the
Urubamba River, in an area of lush tropical forest, it served
as a place of worship, a site for stargazing and a private hacienda
of the family of the Inca Pachacutec.
It consists of two main areas: one agricultural, formed mainly
by mountains and food stores; and the other urban, which is noted
for its sacred zone, with its temples, squares and royal tombs
built with consummate skill. The stairways and canals carved out
of stone are recurrent throughout this remarkable archeological
site.
Tucumé
The archeological complex of Tucumé at 33 km from Chiclayo
in northern Perú, is also know as the Valley of the Pyramids.
The complex has an area of 220 Ha, surrounded by rich agricultural
fields. The sacred mountain, known as La Raya or Purgatorio stands
in its midst. Because of its size and its quality monuments, the
Pyramids of Tucumé are one of the most important monumental
centers of the Region. Its 26 buildings are made of adobe and
were intended for different activities ranging from ritual to
habitational. The construction of these buildings started approximately
in the late 10th century and continued for many centuries. Huaca
Larga is the largest building inside the complex. Its dimensions
are amazing: 700 m long, 200 m wide and 30 m high, making it the
largest adobe building in South America.
Sicán National Museum
The national museum of Sicán is located in the city of
Ferreñafe and a result of 23 years of uninterrupted archeological
research. It was built to exhibit, research, protect, disseminate
and preserve the Sicán or Lambayeque Culture. (750 to 1150
AD) though the findings taken from the scientific excavations
carried out and in other cases, to chow detailed replicas, made
with old technology, of the cultural production of these people.
Details of domestic practices can be appreciated, processes for
the manufacture of ceramics and metals, in addition to the recreation
of the tombs of the nobility.
Most of the objects displayed are shown in the context of use
or manufacture, including also explanations of how specialists
carry out this research.
Royal Tombs of Sipán National Museum
Located in the city of Lambayeque, just 11 km from the city
of Chiclayo, the Royal Tombs of Sipán National Museum exhibit
one of the world’s top ten gold treasures. This modern museum
exhibits the complete apparel and objects found at Huaca Rajada,
laid out as if they were still inside the tomb. The exhibition
concludes with an expected scene, an exact replica of the burial
place, where the remains lie in state of the Young Lord of Sipán,
the only remains discovered to date of an ancient governor found
in Perú.
This museum also includes exhibitions of the tombs of the other
rulers found at the site, such as those of the Priest and the
Old Lord of Sipán, of equal importance to the young Moche
governor. An especial area shows the ornaments recovered from
the actual ruins, such as the gold breastplate and the more than
400 pieces of jewelry that were buried with the leader.
Among the pieces belonging to the Moche governor that particularly
stand out are the gilded copper-covered cloth flags, a gilded
copper crown with royal symbols, breastplates made of seashells,
ear ornaments made of gold and turquoise, spondyllus shells, gold
sattles, a cotton headpiece and ornaments made of feathers.
Chan chán
Chan Chan’s archeological complex is situated in the Moche
Valley, 4.5 km northwest of downtown Trujillo. It was the religious
and administrative capital of the Chimú Kingdom and the
largest adobe citadel of pre-Hispanic America. Its area was about
20km2 and it is estimated that nearly 100, 000 thousand people
inhabited the site at one point. People of different social classes
coexisted in its urban perimeter, as evidenced by the three types
of buildings: popular, intermediate and monumental, the latter
represented by the nine palaces where the Chimí-Capác
lords lived. Its huge and strong walls were elaborately decorated
with embossed geometrical figures, zoomorphic styled shapes and
mythical beings. In Chan Chán there is a kind of labyrinth
of stunned pyramid passages, plazas, houses, shops, stores, walls
and excellent trails. The vast system of underground aqueducts
and ditches, built with greater mastery to carry water along huge
distances is admirable.
This archeological complex, declared a Historical and Cultural
heritage of Mankind by UNESCO in 1986, has a modern museum, where
the history of the city and of its inhabitants is explained.
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
These ceremonial centers are located in the countryside of the
District of Moche, 5 km south of the City of Trujillo. The Huaca
or the Temple of the Sun is a scaled pyramid measuring approximately
43m in height which, according to tradition, was built in only
three days by 250,000 men, using approximately 20 million adobes.
It was used for ceremonial purposes and possibly in administrative
functions as well as for housing for the upper class. The Huaca
or Temple of the Moon, located 500 m from the previous structure,
is a monument comprised of overlapping temples built during different
periods. A tomb was uncovered here, with over 40 sacrificed warriors.
At the top of the temple, its strong adobe surface there are remains
of large multi-colored murals, where the face of the Moche God,
Ai-Apaek is depicted.
Cuzco
Located in the southern eastern part of Perú, Cuzco also
called the Sacred City is Perú´s main tourist destination
and one of the most important in the Americas. Known by the incas
as the “home of gods”, Cuzco became the capital of
one of the largest pre-Columbian empires: the Tahuantinsuyo. Its
name in Quechua means “Navel of the world,” which
derives from when the city served as a hub for the vast network
of roads interconnecting virtually the whole of South America’s
western region, from northern Chile and Argentina to present day
Colombia.
Although it was settled centuries before the Incas arrived, it
was only during the period of Inca control (1438-1532) that the
Huatanay River basin, upon which Cuzco is built, reached its peak
as an administrative, religious and military center. The origins
of the city are shrouded in myth and legends which tell the tale
of how Inca empire came into being.
When the Spaniards arrived in 1533, many pre-Hispanic structures
were destroyed or used as foundations for new structures, which
included splendid churches, convents, and manors built on foundations
of elaborately carved stone with Baroque and Renaissance styles.
The local cuisine is also something for the traveler to look forward
to, including superb combinations of typical Andean foods. With
its vast landscapes, rich history and fascinating geography, Cuzco
is, without a doubt, something all travelers long to experience.
