| Easy Chachapoyas | Grand Chachapoyas Traverse | Jungle/Mountain Combo |
| Chachapoyas Highlights | Jungle, Mountains, Desert | |
| Gran Vilaya Expedition | Laguna de los Condors | Special Inca Highway Adventure |
Tucked in a remote corner of northeastern Peru, Chachapoyas and the province of Amazonas is a forgotten land of ancient empires, towering peaks and friendly people. It is a place where the eastern Andes tumble into the Amazon basin so suddenly that one day of hiking covers thousands of vertical meters through a myriad of ecosystems. The entire area is a rare bio-occurrence called a "cloud forest." This is a result of low clouds and ever-present fog dumping heavy rain on the mountainous terrain. The result is the Peruvian high jungle, the "ceja de selva"; the eyebrow of the jungle. The area's dense vegetation combined with fog and towering peaks gives Chachapoyas an unforgettable fairy tale appearance.
Modern exploreres are not the only ones fascinated with this region. Over a thousand years ago, a mysterious race of fair-skinned natives known as the Chachapoyans, the "cloud people", built massive empires on mountain tops all over the region. Their name came from not only the area they inhabited but also from their unusually light skin and height. Their dominance over the region is apparent today as most mountain crests are crowned with at least a wall, if not an entire ruined city. Cliff tombs, mummies and hieroglyphics are all testament to a culture that was as advanced as the Inca, if not more so. Despite this fact, very little is known about the "white jungle natives" and their vast empire.
Day 2 Excursion to Purumllacta
Purumllacta lies to the east of Chachapoyas. It is a fascinating and
enigmatic site that doesn't fit the usual model of a Chachapoyas
settlement pattern. Here we find rectangular houses connected by stairways
on slopes covered with stone terraces. Still partially covered by forest
and scrub, this massive settlement still puzzles explorers about its true
purpose. Return to Gran Hotel Vilaya for the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Excursion to Levanto
The village of Levanto was established in 1538. On the way we stop at the
pre-Hispanic ruins of Yalape, visiting a well-preserved irrigation
canal. We also admire a typical reconstructed Chachapoyan roundhouse. For
fit walkers, there is an optional hike back to Chachapoyas on an Inca road
(3 hours). Return to Gran Hotel Vilaya for the night. (B, L, D).
Day 4 Pueblo de los Muertos
Today we head east to the other side of the Utcubamba Canyon. Above the
village of Lamud is the photogenic site of Pueblo de los Muertos. A cliff
burial site with roundhouse style tombs mad of mud perched on a ledge,
those placed within have stared out at the stunning valley for
centuries. Also at the site are sarcophagi and a stunning view of the
Utcubamba Canyon. We return to the Utcubamba River by private transport
and head south to El Chillo, a converted hacienda, where we stay the
night. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Excursion to La Jalca Grande
Today we visit La Jalca Grande, the most traditional village in the area
and one of the oldest Spanish settlements in Peru. Many of the locals
still wear traditional dress and congregate by the stone church, which
displays Chachapoyas and catholic symbols. We eat a hearty lunch typical
of this high area, located at 2,900 meters above sea level (10,000
feet). Return to El Chillo in the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Revash and Leymebamba Museum
We drive to Yerbabuena (1 hour) and we walk for a steady 2 hours uphill to
have a close up view of a beautifully decorated series of cliff
tombs. This extremely photogenic site is perched on a yellow cliff and the
tombs are like mini houses decorated with red pictographs. It is believed
the site dates back to 1200 AD. We continue on to Leymebamba (45 mins) and
visit the new museum that houses the 219 mummies found at a nearby lake in
1997. Return to El Chillo for the night. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Kuelap
To get the best opportunity for photography we leave the lodge early and
drive for 1.5 hours to the carpark at Kuelap. The towering walls and
hundreds of round houses capped by the cloud forest at 3,000 meters (9,900
feet) above sea level always amaze first time visitors. We'll explore the
many ceremonial constructions, aqueducts and brilliant layout as a group
with plenty of opportunities to wander on you own. We then travel three
hours by private transport back to Chachapoyas, soaking in the electric
scenery made all the more so by the setting sun. Night in the Gran Hotel
Vilaya. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Chachapoyas to Lima
Leaving early from the Gran Hotel Vilaya we make the return trip to
Chiclayo. There is pleanty of time to visit the famous Brunig Museum on
the way at Lambayeque that holds the gold found at the Moche ruin of
Sipan. Last flight from Chiclayo to Lima. (B, L, D)
2002 Dates: May 25 - June 1, June 1-8, July 20 - 27
Minimum group of 4 ,Maximum of 10.
Price: $1045 per person, $30 single person
supplement.
Included:
-Flight Lima-Chiclayo return (if there is a flight Lima-Chachapoyas we
will fly direct)
-Private transport in Chiclayo-Chachapoyas return
-3 nights in the 3 star Gran Hotel Vilaya, Chachapoyas
-3 nights in Estancia El Chillo
-All excursions with private transport as in the description
-All food as in the description
-Bilingual guide
-All entrance fees
Not Included:
-Tips
-Alcoholic beverages with meals
Day 1 Lima - Cajamarca
We meet at Cajamarca's airport in the morning and get acquainted over a
traditional Andean lunch in the town's historic central plaza. We spend
the afternoon visiting the enigmatic aqueduct of Cumbe Mayo - a
fascinating ancient technology that linked the Atlantic and Pacific
watersheds millennia ago. After a great dinner, we stroll around gorgeous
Cajamarca before turning in at our colonial, courtyard hotel.
Day 2 Cajamarca - Pusac - Cochabamba
After a hearty breakfast, we board our private van and travel 6 hours
across the Andes to our trailhead in the tiny town of Pusac. After loading
our horses and meeting our support crew, we begin the trek to
Cochabamba. After arriving in this hamlet, built around Inca ruins, we set
up camp and dine at a nearby homestead.
Day 3 Cochabamba - Atuen
Today you'll appreciate allowing time to acclimatize as we climb from 2500
meters above sea level in the morning to over 4000m by early
afternoon. Your ascent up an old Andean trade route pays off as you look
down on steep terraces and verdant valleys below. After a brief stop at
the high pass, we descend gradually, passing grazing alpaca before coming
to a large ruined Chachapoyan city overlooking the birth of the Atuen
River. Obviously an important ritual settlement considering its strategic
and easily defendable location, the structures are the perfect platforms
from which to view what we at Vilaya Tours call the "Snake Lake" -
essentially a lake "tiled" by quarried rocks in the form of a serpent - a
sacred symbol to both the Chachapoya and Inca. We set up camp close to
several Inca Baths and dine in a local homestead.
Day 4 Atuen to Tajopampa
Today isn't just a day of epic trekking but an exercise in tomb spotting
as we trek through the valley of cliff mausoleums. Some crevices yield as
many as 3 or 4 structures, most still containing remains of Chachapoya
royalty buried over 600 year ago. By mid afternoon we arrive in Tajopampa,
a Vilaya Tours mountain lodge located on a sacred mesa ringed by funerary
cliffs and forgotten summit cities. Perhaps more than anything, Tajopampa
will remain with you forever for the luminescent night sky that often
regales visitors with a perfect view of the Milky Way.
Day 5 Tajopampa Exploration
After a copious breakfast in the lodge's rustic kitchen, we head out to
explore this sacred landscape. The day trip begins at the foot of the La
Petaca cliff mausoleum where inaccessible tombs and giant hieroglyphs
block out the sky.
We then have the option of following a dry riverbed at cliff's bottom to
some accessible cave tombs still littered with ancient textiles, pottery
and bones. We then scope Diablo Huasi, a collection of even more funerary
cliff tombs, from an adjacent observatory. We then explore the summit city
of La Boveda and marvel at the extensive agricultural terracing that
rivals anything in the Cuzco area.
Day 6 Tajopampa - Chachapoyas (El Chillo Lodge)
We follow the Atuen back to civilization and pass numerous homesteads
before arriving in the quaint town of Leymebamba, home of a brand new
museum, housing the 219 mummies discovered at the Lake of the Condors in
1996. After a well deserved lunch in town and a visit to the museum, we're
off to El Chillo Lodge, acclaimed as one of the top bed and breakfasts in
Northern Peru. Relaxation is the order of the day tonight.
Day 7 Kuelap - Chachapoyas
To get the best opportunity for photography we leave the lodge early and
drive for 1.5 hours to the carpark at Kuelap. The towering walls and
hundreds of round houses capped by the cloud forest at 3,000 meters (9,900
feet) above sea level always amaze first time visitors. We'll explore the
many ceremonial constructions, aqueducts and brilliant layout as a group
with plenty of opportunities to wander on you own. We then travel four
hours by private transport back to Chachapoyas, soaking in the electric
scenery made all the more so by the setting sun. Night in the Gran Hotel
Vilaya.
Day 8 Chachapoyas - Molinopampa
Today we have a leisurely start with plenty of time to take in
Chachapoyas. After visiting the local market, we board our private van and
travel an hour east to our trailhead in the town of Molinopampa. We camp
by a river just outside of town.
Day 9-11 Trekking to Rioja (High Amazon)
This is Andean adventure trekking at its finest. Uncharted, unsettled and
vast, the eastern Andean Pishcahuaynuna Range has fascinated explorers
since Conquistador Aguirre's forays in search of the Golden City of El
Dorado. And little has changed as hamlets of four or five houses qualify
as civilization here. The area puzzles with modern day enigmas as well -
claiming an unusually large number of airplane crashes over the last fifty
years, in effect being dubbed the "Andean Triangle" by the
poetically-inclined. Our trail takes us over the Pishcohuaynuna mountain
range at 3,650 (12,000 feet) meters above sea level and then we make the
long descent to the jungle 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) below.
Day 12 Moyobamba Hotsprings
Our last day of the trek leads us through beautiful and down to the road
head where we meet our bus. We then drive one hour to Moyobamba and the
Hotel Marco Antonio.
Day 13 Moyobamba - Tarapoto - White Water Rafting
We travel by private van for 4 hours along the lush jungle highway towards
the Amazon and Tarapoto, the area's largest city. After lunch we go white
water rafting along exhilarating Class 3 rapids, flanked by traditional
Amazon villages. All our river guide crew and equipment is certified and
river novices will be briefed before we commence paddling. Monkeys and
incredible bird life can be seen en route. We return to Tarapoto by sunset
and, after a traditional Amazon dinner, we unwind in our luxury hotel -
replete with rooftop pool and Jacuzzi. Tarapoto's exciting nightlife
awaits those who want to keep the adventure going.
Day 14 Tarapoto - Lima OR Pacaya-Samiria Amazon Reserve Extension
After a late morning and copious breakfast in Tarapoto, we head to the
airport and await your flight back to Lima. END OF YOUR ADVENTURE.
OR
Keep the adventure going by exploring the Pacaya-Samiria Amazon Reserve, Peru's largest reserve. Please see our Pacaya-Samiria Amazon Adventure for details and pricing.
Date: 23 June - 6 July 2001, 1 - 14 September 2001
Price: $2145 per person , $35 single person supplement
Includes:
-Flight from Lima to Cajamarca
-Excursion to Cumbe Mayo
-1 night in the 3 star Hostal Portal del Marquez
-Private transport for trip duration
-All trekking personnel, including cook and horse for each participant
to ride.
-All food as outlined in the program
-1 night in El Chillo
-1 night in the 2 star Gran Hotel Vilaya, Chachapoyas
-1 night in Hotel MarcoAntonio, Moyobamba
-1 night in Hotel Nilas
-Thermal baths and rafting
-Bilingual guide
Not Included:
-Tips/gratuities
-Alcoholic beverages with meals
-Airport taxes
Day 1 Lima/Tarapoto/Lagunas
Today we will fly from Lima on the early afternoon flight northeast across
the Andes and down to the jungle city of Tarapoto. We board a small
5-seater private hire aeroplane to continue our journey to Lagunas a small
town on the edge of the Pacaya-Samiria reserve. We will spend the night
in the Hotel Miraflores. (D)
Day 2,3 and 4 Pacaya-Samiria
After breakfast on day2, an easy hike along cultivated Amazon fields
brings us to the mouth of the reserve (2 hrs.). We meet our native guides
and board our dugout canoes - our only form of transportation in the
rainforest.
We continue deep into the reserve seeing a host of animals and plants in
their natural habitat (3.5 hrs.). We camp on an Amazonian beach using
camping equipment including mosquito nets, ventilated tents and sleeping
rolls.
We continue deeper into the jungle and fish for our piranha lunch. We then
leave our canoes and embark on a three-hour jungle hike where there is a
good chance of seeing terrestrial fauna like snake, tortoise and ocelot.
We spend the night camping at the mouth of a sunny Amazon bay.
We rise early and make our way back with the canoes to the mouth of the
reserve (4 hrs.). Night in Hotel Miraflores.
Day 5 Dolphin excursion
We will continue down the Huallaga River from Lagunas two hours in a canoe
with motor. A meandering tributary leads to small lake where we can
observe and swim with pink dolphins. After lunch we will return back to
Lagunas for our last night at Hotel Miraflores (B, L, D).
Day 6 Lagunas/Yurimaguas/Tarapoto
Leaving by private motor boat we will go up the Huallaga to Yurimaguas (4
hours). Along the way we will see all sorts of river traffic on this
major artery of the Amazon River. After lunch in Yurimaguas we will go by
private car to Tarapoto (4 hours). This is another road that is
stunningly beautiful as it leaves the Amazon plane and reaches the edge of
the Andes. We spend the night at the 3 star Hotel Nilas in Tarapoto (B,
L, D).
Day 7 Tarapoto - Chachapoyas
This is a favourite journey for us at Vilaya Tours. We drive in to the
mountains and pass by thousands of hectares of virgin forest. We will
have time to stop and take photographs and enjoy the journey. At
Pomacochas we will drop down to the Utcubamba river gorge. This powerful
river divides the northern territories of the Chachapoyas kingdom and we
will follow it upstream to the city of Chachapoyas. (9 hours). We will
spend the night at the Vilaya Tours base - the Gran Hotel Vilaya (B, L, D)
Day 8 Chachapoyas Excursion
After a leisurely start, we will travel by private transport to the nearby
village of Huancas (half hour) to acclimatise and a short walk will allow
you to enjoy the fabulous view of the surrounding mountains and the 1000m
deep Sonche Canyon. In the afternoon, if people want we can drive to the
village of Levanto (1.5 hrs) and the Chachapoyas style house of Colla
Cruz. Returning to Chachapoyas we spend another relaxing night at the
Gran Hotel Vilaya. (B, L, D).
Day 9 Chachapoyas/Kuelap/Leimebamba
After an early breakfast we will drive to the fortress of Kuelap (3
hours) - the jewel in the massive archaeological crown of the Chachapoyas
Cloud People. The mystical structure is 1,200 years old with massive
limestone walls towering 60 feet. A day of exploring yields pottery, bones
and hundreds of mysterious round stone structures. We have lunch at the
ruins and board our private transport and once again drive to the
Utcubamba river which we follow upstream to the sleepy village of
Leimebamba. We will spend the night at the Hostal Laguna de los Condores
(B, L, D).
Day 10 Leimebamba to Tajopampa
After breakfast we visit the museum that houses the mummies found in 1997
at the Laguna of the Condors. The site of 219 mummies was the most
important Andean archaeological find in the last 20 years. Later, we
start our trek and follow a beautiful forested gorge carved out by the
Atuen River. The trail follows a well-preserved Inca road for three and
half-hours. Taking a side valley we make a short climb up to Tajopampa, a
lonely farmstead surrounded by ruins and mountains. This is a cold night
and you have the option of sleeping in tents or in the house. (B, L, D)
Day 11 La Petaca
Near to Tajopampa are the cliff tombs of La Petaca and Diablo
Huasi. These are situated high up on unclimable cliffs of which every
ledge seems to have a building or pictograph. It is anybody's guess how
the ancient people managed to put their dead in such a place. We will
have plenty of time to visit Boveda a beautiful small Chachapoyan site
that overlooks Tajopampa. Return to Tajopampa for the night. (B, L, D).
Day 12 Monte Viudo
Across the valley from Tajopampa is the little visited ruins of Monte
Viudo (2 hours) which demonstrate the decorative stone work at a typical
location of the Chachapoyas. These ruins are still hidden by cloud forest
- effectively lost for 500 years. Another superb panoramic view and an
easy ridge walk leads us back to Tajopampa for our last night. (B, L, D).
Day 13 Tajopampa to Cochabamba (7 hours)
We trek steadily upwards for 4 hours through the paramo grasslands and
terraces of the Chachapoyas to a high pass at 12,550ft (3800m) then
descend for lunch by a highland lake surrounded by jagged peaks. The
trail passes by an Inca tambo and a scared rock. Continuing down the side
of a valley the path is enclosed by pristine cloud forest until we reach
the village of Cochabamba (8600ft, 2600m). Here we will camp after
visiting the superb Inca baths and gateways. (B, L, D).
Day 14 Cochabamba/Pusac/Cajamarca
We leave Cochabamba after breakfast and continue our descent down towards
the hot, dry valley of the Maraņon. Our destination is the small town of
Pusac located at 1100m above sea level. Here we will have time to cool
off in the river and unload the horses and private transport will take us
to Cajamarca (8 hours). This is an infamous trip as it takes once again
from the 800m to 3800m before dropping down to the beautiful colonial city
of Cajamarca (2600m). We will spend the night at the 3 star Hostal Portal
de Marquez. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Cajamarca and onto your next destination.
2002 Dates: June 8 - 22, Sept. 14 - 28
Minimum group of 3 ,Maximum of 5
Price: $1,975 per person , $25 single person supplement
Includes:
-Service of English-speaking/bilingual guide, native guides, porters,
cooks, drivers and other support personnel
-All internal Peruvian airfare and transfers
-All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
-All entrance fees
-Accommodations and taxes (outside Lima)
-All transport (private air plane, private van/car, private speedboat,
your own horse)
Not Included:
-Tips
-Alcoholic beverages with meals
-Sleeping bag
This trip is limited to ten people and is expected to fill fast.
Day 2 Kuelap and Leymebamba
We leave Chachapoyas early and drive three hours to the magnificent
fortress of Kuelap. The visit to South America's largest ancient stone
construction is an enjoyable way to acclimatise to the altitude. The
towering walls and hundreds of round houses capped by the cloud forest at
9,900 feet (3000 meters) above sea level always amaze first time
visitors. We'll explore the many ceremonial constructions, aqueducts and
brilliant layout as a group with plenty of opportunities to wander on you
own. We will then continue our journey to Leymebamba (four hours) where we
will spend the night at the Hostal Laguna de los Condores. (B, L, D).
Day 3 Trek to Tajopampa
After breakfast we walk from the village of Leymebamba to the museum
housing 219 mummies and artefacts from Laguna de los Condores - a
mausoleum discovered in 1997 above a sacred lake. We continue trekking up
a beautiful forested gorge carved out by the Atuen River. We follow a
well-preserved Inca road for three and a half hours. Taking a side valley
we make a short climb up to Tajopampa, a stunning farmstead that held
great importance to the Chachapoyas and Inca cultures - evidenced by the
surrounding ruins and mountain tombs. This is a cold night and you have
the option of sleeping in tents or in the house. (B, L, D).
Day 4 La Petaca and Diablo Huasi
Close to Tajopampa are the mind-boggling cliff tombs of La Petaca and
Diablo Huasi. The myriad constructions are situated high up on
inaccessible cliffs. Sit and marvel at this tapestry of buildings and
pictographs - it's not unusual to identify a new construction every
trip. We can only speculate how the ancient people placed their dead in
such a place. We have plenty of time to visit the ancient city of Boveda -
a beautiful small Chachapoyan site that overlooks Tajopampa. Return to
Tajopampa for the night.
(B, L, D).
Day 5 Tajopampa - Monte Viudo
Across the valley from Tajopampa lay the little visited ruins of Monte
Viudo which demonstrate the decorative stone work typical of the
Chachapoyas. These ruins are still hidden by cloud forest - effectively
lost for 500 years. Return to Tajopampa for the night. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Tajopampa to Atuen
We leave Tajopampa in the morning, rejoin the Inca road and trek towards
the village of Atuen (six hours). On the way we pass burial sites, some of
which can be explored. Atuen lays at the source of a river, rendering it
instantly sacred by the Chachapoyas and Inca who resided here. The
ancients even "created" a snake-shaped lake here by paving the bottom with
rocks in the desired formation. At 11,600 feet (3,550 meters), this is
another cold night and those brave enough can wash up in the two Inca
baths close by. (B, L, D).
Day 7 Atuen to Vira Vira (8 hours)
After an early breakfast we leave Atuen with fresh horses and follow Qapaq
Ņan up and over a high 13,300-foot (4,000 meter) pass before dropping into
a broad flat valley, ringed by jagged peaks. Leaving the flat valley we
climb up to another pass before dropping down to the Laguna Huayabamba - a
round-as-an-orange lake watched over by the ruined peak city of Vira
Vira. We spend the night nearby amidst the cloud-ringed summits. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Vira Vira
Today we will explore the ruins of Vira Vira and with luck may spot giant
King condors as we absorb the magic of this forgotten settlement. The area
was lifted from obscurity and introduced to explorers by Keith Muscatt,
author of "Chachapoyas: Warriors of the Clouds". We spend a second night
overlooking the Laguna Huayabamba. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Vira Vira to Uchucmarca
We climb over the pass by which we arrived and descend into the broad flat
valley of Las Quinuas to rejoin the Inca road. We take a diversion from
the road and traverse around a hillside and onto the village of Uchucmarca
(6 hours). (B, L, D)
Day 10 Uchucmarca to Bolivar
Today we have a choice of walking or going by private transport to
Bolivar. The walk takes us up a steep, two-hour climb before traversing
around to another valley leading to Bolivar (seven hours). The bus takes a
different route but connects with the walking route half way
along. Bolivar is a quaint village on the Qapaq Ņan route. The town is
flanked by a deep valley on one side and area's highest peak on the
other. We spend the night in a hostal in Bolivar. (B, L, D)
Days 11/12 Bolivar Exploration
We will make a two-day journey (with fresh horses) into the mountains
surrounding Bolivar. Few outsiders have explored these parts, yet many
sites exist, forgotten among the majestic mountains. Return to Bolivar for
last night (B, L, D)
Day 13 Bolivar to Cajamarca
Today we travel by private transport to Cajamarca (10-12 hours). This
beautiful colonial city witnessed a major turning point in world history
when the Spanish captured the Inca Atahualpa and held him to ransom.
Dip in the natural Inca thermal baths and immerse yourself in some of the
finest colonial architecture on the continent. We spend the night in Hotel
El Cabildo - a beautiful colonial hotel one block from the main plaza. (B,
L, D)
Day 14 Cajamarca
Free day in Cajamarca - relax with a massage in the hotel or visit a
pre-columbian aqueduct that carries water from the Pacific to Atlantic
watershed. Second night in the Hostal Portal del Marquez. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Cajamarca to Lima
After breakfast we transfer to Cajamarca airport for the flight to Lima.
(B)
2002 Date: June 22-July 6, Sept. 28 - Oct. 12
Price: $1,995 per person,
$25 single person supplement
Minimum group of 5,
Maximum of 10
Includes:
-10 days trekking with all meals.
-Internal airfares Lima-Chachapoyas and Cajamarca-Lima
-2 nights accommodation in the Hostal Portal del Marquez, Cajamarca
-1 night at the Gran Hotel Vilaya, Chachapoyas.
-1 night at the Hostal Laguna de los Condores, Leymebamba.
-Archaeological taxes and entrance fees.
-Bilingual guides.
-Horse for each tour participant, cook and assistant guide.
Not included:
-Tips
-Alcoholic beverages with meals
-Sleeping bag
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