Peru, in search of the Cities of Gold
Travel to Peru
- 30 days & 29 nights
- Individual from 05/24 to 06/22/2025
- Groups (2 to 6 people) from 05/24 to 06/22/2025
Zia stands in front of her office window, gazing out at the rain that draws arabesques on the glass. Her 100-hour life no longer satisfies her completely. The city, the noise, the stress, the meetings... a life cut off from the earth, its rhythm and the cycle of the seasons.
When everything becomes "too much", Zia takes refuge in her books on archaeology, a passion she's had since she was a teenager. One autumn evening, as twilight envelops the city in light, she finds a map in an old book bought at a flea market the week before: an enigmatic map, stained with ink and time. The map seems to indicate a path through the Andes, winding between mythical places with familiar names and unexplored territories, a path that would lead to other golden cities, much older than those of the Inca civilization.
Zia knew this was the sign she'd been waiting for, and on a whim, booked a plane ticket to Peru. In less than 48 hours, her bags were packed: she decided to leave behind the security of her orderly life and flew to Peru, her heart pounding at the thought of the adventure that awaited her.
Map in hand, she arrives in Lima, mingles with the locals, listens to the stories of the elders and discovers objects that predate the Inca civilization. Each clue, each story, brings her closer to the path indicated on the map. She crosses deserts where the sun burns without mercy, forests where the mist hides age-old secrets, mountains where the cold bites to the bone.
As she meets new people, she learns more and more about the country she's visiting and the quest indicated on the old map. A guide with an enigmatic smile, a historian with extravagant theories, a shaman who talks to mountain spirits, shepherds and their caravan of llamas... Together, they decipher ancient glyphs, carve gourds, build and cross bridges suspended over bottomless chasms, purify themselves in warm waters nestled in the heart of the mountains...
But the real adventure lies within. Zia must face up to her own fears and doubts. Legend has it that the Cities of Gold are not only a material treasure, but also a test of the soul. Only those connected to the world can find them and understand their true meaning.
After weeks of searching, at the summit of a sacred mountain, Zia finally finds what she's looking for. Not palaces of gold,but a city of light, knowledge and wisdom, guarded by the descendants of the Wari civilization. They reveal to her that true gold is not that which glitters, but knowledge passed down from generation to generation, encounters and respect for the earth and the stars.
Back in Paris, Zia is transformed. Her quest in the Andes has given her a new way of thinking, and this extraordinary adventure is spreading wisdom and respect for the world around her on a daily basis.
Like Zia, let's dare! Let's pack our bags and head off to Peru in search of our golden cities! Let's embark on an extraordinary 30-day journey, a great epic of encounters, experiences, unusual moments, surpassing ourselves... a journey that will leave its mark deep inside us.
Highlights
- Star gazing after a good "asado" during a night's bivouac in Moron
- Experience real encounters and sharing with the inhabitants of different Peruvian communities throughout the trip.
- Participate in the annual reconstruction of the Queswachaka Bridge, the last and only Inca rope bridge to survive the Spanish invasion.
- Discover the majestic Machu Picchu at dawn
- See the mythical Raimondi Puyas up close in the Ayacucho region
- The moving discovery of the pre-Inca ruins of Wari, capital of the first Andean empire
- Board the legendary "Macho Train" to reach Huancayo
Does this trip inspire you? Are you dying to know all the details?
1. Complete the form below to download the complete pdf of the tour and find out all the information about the trip (stages, schedule, accommodation).
2. Request a quote or contact Vicky directly in Peru to organize your extraordinary trip: contact@terra-peru.com or by phone Monday to Friday from 3pm to 11pm (French time) on (+33) 09 70 46 66 20 (local call rate from France).
