Every time I visit a new country, I vow to come back some day, sooner than later. Sadly I seldom do because there are so many other places in the world that I have never been to and want to see.
But I returned to Peru, only nine months after my first visit. I simply fell in love with this beautiful country and its people.
Last year I spent many days in Lima and Cusco and explored their surrounding areas. This time, I travelled with fellow South African Archaeological Society members, focusing on pre-Inca archaeological sites on Northern Coast and in Amazonas Andes.
Tourist map of Amazonas Department (Capital: Chachapoyas)
The places we visited are circled in red.
Day 1: Johannesburg – Sao Paulo – Lima
Day 2: Lima
Shop assistant. Lima, September 2024Alley. Lima, September 2024Morning walk. Lima, September 2024Preparing for the day’s business. Lima, September 2024Shopkeeper. Lima, September 2024“Special offer, 25 soles”. Lima, September 2024
Day 3: Lima – Pachacamac – Trujillo
Pachacamac, September 2024
Day 4: Trujillo – Chan Chan – Huanchaco – Trujillo
Chan Chan, September 2024Dog at Museo de Sitio Chan Chan. Chan Chan, September 2024D’Onofrio ice cream cart. Huanchaco, September 2024Fisherman carrying a caballito de totora (traditional reed watercraft). Huanchaco, September 2024Caballitos de totora (traditional reed watercraft). Huanchaco, September 2024Caballito de totora (traditional reed watercraft). Huanchaco, September 2024Curious dog. Huanchaco, September 2024 American oystercatcher. Huanchaco, September 2024PlazaVea shopping mall. Trujillo, September 2024
Day 5: Trujillo – Huancas de Moche – Trujillo
Kassia, 5-year-old German Shepherd. Her owner has 22 rescue dogs. Plaza de Armas, Trujillo, September 2024Alberto Fujimori died the day before. Trujillo, September 2024Homeless lady in front of one of numerous pharmacies. Trujillo, September 2024“This is all mine!” says the dog while scent-marking. Mercado Central, Trujillo, September 2024“A safe visit to our huacas”. Huacas de Moche, September 2024“It is forbidden to abandon animals in the archaeological site”. Huaca de la Luna, September 2024Artisan’s daughter. Huaca de la Luna, September 2024
Day 6: Trujillo – El Brujo – Chiclayo
Separate pots for “plastic” and “solid waste”. El Brujo, September 2024Stylish lady in a mototaxi. Pacaguilla, September 2024
Boy in front of Museo de Sitio Huaca Ragada. Sipán, September 2024Black vulture. Huaca Ragada, Sipán, September 2024Túcume, the “Valley of Pyramids”, a complex of 26 pyramids, September 2024Túcume, September 2024Sunset. Túcume, September 2024
Day 8: Chiclayo – Chachapoyas
Restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Goats. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Meat being dried on the washing line. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Sheep grazing. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Puppy contemplating. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024“Turn off the engine”. Petrol station somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Roadside vendor. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Popular weekend outing spot for families? Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Papaya. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024Peruvian national flag. Somewhere between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas, September 2024
Day 9: Chachapoyas – Revash – Leymebamba – Chachapoyas
Somewhere between Chachapoyas and Revash, September 2024Somewhere between Chachapoyas and Revash, September 2024Old lady knitting. San Bartolo village, September 2024Two shop assistants. San Bartolo village, September 2024Mother and son. San Bartolo village, September 2024Old lady living alone in this big house. One son stays across the road but the rest of the family moved out of the village to faraway places, she lamented. San Bartolo village, September 2024Farmers. San Bartolo village, September 2024View from Revash mausoleums. September 2024Revash, 14th-century funerary buildings on limestone cliff ledges. September 2024Revash mausoleums, September 2024Revash mausoleums, September 2024“I am more beautiful than he is,” claim both males. San Bartolo village, September 2024 “Make up your mind, woman!” San Bartolo village, September 2024Local kids. San Bartolo village, September 2024Dignified dog. San Bartolo village, September 2024
Day 10: Chachapoyas – Kuélap – Chachapoyas
Ladies deep in conversation. Chachapoyas, September 2024Kuélap, so-called “Machu Picchu of the north” but 500 years earlier and twice as big. September 2024 Kuélap, September 2024Kuélap, September 2024Kuélap, September 2024“Are you coming, little one?” Kuélap, September 2024
Lámud, September 2024Sarcophagi of Karajía, 2.5m tall. September, 2024Sarcophagi of Karajía, September 2024At least two groups of sarcophagi are seen here. Karajía, September 2024Cruz Pata, September 2024Old couple. Cruz Pata, September 2024Young woman selling skewered grilled meat. Cruz Pata, September 2024Lady selling “chiclayo”, sweets made from maize (1 sol per cup). It was delicious! Cruz Pata, September 2024
Day 12: Chachapoyas – Chiclayo – Lima – Cusco
View from Pomahuaca Toll Gate. On the way to Chiclayo, September 2024Woman selling fruits at Pomahuaca Toll Gate. On the way to Chiclayo, September 2024
Day 13: Cusco – Pisac – Ollantaytambo
Glacier (5700m high). On the way to Pisac from Cusco, September 2024Woman selling coca leaves (3 soles per bag) and coca candies. A few coca leaves in the morning kept me perky and full of energy all day long. Pisac, September 2024Enormous maize kernels. Pisac, September 2024Pisac, September 2024Alpaca with the cutest face. Pisac, September 2024Alpaca key rings, 3 for 5 soles. Pisac, September 2024Ollantaytambo, September 2024Dog with lots of character. Ollantaytambo, September 2024Ollantaytambo, September 2024Ollantaytambo, September 2024Ollantaytambo, September 2024Ollantaytambo, September 2024
Day 14: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Machu Picchu, September 2024Machu Picchu, September 2024Machu Picchu, September 2024Machu Picchu, September 2024Machu Picchu, September 2024Machu Picchu, September 2024Aguas Calientes, September 2024Aguas Calientes, September 2024
Day 15: Cusco – Lima
Convento de Santo Domingo, Cusco, September 2024Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, September 2024Two ladies and their llama politely posing for money (but without asking). Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, September 2024Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, September 2024Plaza de Armas, Cusco, September 2024Iglesia de Compañía de Jusús. Plaza de Armas, Cusco, September 2024Templo y Convento de la Merced. Cusco, September 2024Cusco, September 2024Cusco, September 2024Flower seller. Cusco, September 2024Churro seller. 2 soles per bag. Cusco, September 2024This girl couldn’t stop staring at me. Cusco, September 2024
Masks absolutely beautiful and a wonderful selection of photos. Happy to have shared the experience with you and thank you for sharing your photos with us Love Valya
Masks absolutely beautiful and a wonderful selection of photos. Happy to have shared the experience with you and thank you for sharing your photos with us Love Valya
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