Culinary Journey in Peru’s Amazonian Andes: Savoring Ancestral Traditions

Transfer from the hotel to Jorge Chávez Airport.

Pickup from Chachapoyas Airport and transfer to Maray.

Marilyn will welcome you and explain everything that will take place in the community-based learning experience, offering an introduction to the communities we will visit. Later, our host Teresa and her friends will share with you the local artistry and culinary culture. You’ll have the chance to experience the use of a key artifact from pre-Hispanic kitchens, the "maray" or Andean "batán." You’ll also learn about the main aromatic plants of Amazonian cuisine, the gathering basket, the food and tools of the muleteers, and the preparation and presentation of dishes on the traditional table known as the tishcob. Finally, you’ll savor the dishes you’ve learned about, engaging all your senses in a moment of mindful appreciation.

Lunch and dinner are included.

Overnight stay in rural Maray in a single or shared room.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will depart for the community of Cuemal, a hidden treasure where men and women work the land. In the village square, you will be welcomed by the community guide, who will introduce you to the experience “Chuquiaj, Bird of the Water.”

You’ll learn their ancestral wisdom: planting by the phases of the moon, their traditional diet, the importance of medicinal plants, their connection to nature through dance and flowers, how they restore the soil, their agricultural heritage, the significance of water harvesting, and so much more! To top it all off, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in the countryside.

In the afternoon, return to Maray.

Dinner included at the hotel.

Overnight stay in rural Maray in a single or shared room.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will head to the boarding station for Peru’s first cable car system, which will take us to Malca, the starting point for the ascent to Kuelap.

Kuelap, the most important archaeological site in Peru’s northeastern region, was built by the Chachapoya culture around 800 AD. It is renowned for its monumental structures made of massive stones, covering an area of 6 hectares atop Cerro Barreta, at over 3,000 meters above sea level. From this vantage point, you can appreciate its connection to the natural surroundings of the montane forest, also known as the cloud forest.

Lunch is included at Casa de Doña Lola in the Milpuj – La Heredad Private Conservation Area in the Utcubamba Valley. Here, Pedro Heredia will share how the mission to conserve and restore the degraded areas of the dry forests and shrublands in the middle basin of the Utcubamba River was born.

We will walk along the interpretive trail to meet the great Higuerón, the guardian of guardians. Legend has it that wherever a Higuerón stands, it marks the sacred territory of the Duendes. The Duendes are faithful protectors of nature and sowers of medicinal plants to provide good health.

When you visit a Higuerón, the guardian of guardians, I suggest bringing a gift filled with faith. Approach it with deep respect and place your palm on its roots to release your negative experiences. The tree will bury them deep beneath the earth and, in return, bring you positive energy capable of fulfilling your wishes. The rest will be the work of the Duendes.

Dinner is included at la Casa de Doña Lola.

Overnight stay at Casa de Doña Lola in Milpuj in a single or shared room.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, we depart from Leymebamba to the community of Nuevo Huacas, where we will be welcomed by the community guide, who will introduce us to the Chachapoya Cultural Landscape Ecomuseum.

We will walk approximately 15 minutes to the cultivation area, where we will be greeted with music and dance, which we are welcome to join. We will participate in agricultural activities aligned with the seasonal calendar of local crops, reflecting the different stages of growth and development according to the seasonal produce.

A traditional minga lunch, prepared as their ancestors once did and still practiced today, accompanied by conversations filled with ancestral wisdom shared by the elders of the community.

Dinner is included at the Casa de Doña Lola.

Overnight stay at Casa de Doña Lola in Milpuj in a single or shared room.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will visit the remarkable Leymebamba Museum, where you’ll dive into the fascinating history of the Chachapoya at the Laguna de los Condores through an interactive experience.

The museum houses the largest collection of mummies in Peru, along with artifacts that reveal the warrior spirit of the Chachapoya and Incas. It also showcases various techniques to prepare the dead for eternal rest, including sarcophagi, niches, and mausoleums. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to see an important collection of Quipus from the Chachapoya-Inca period.

We continue our journey to the village of Dos de Mayo to visit Isabel at her shop and textile workshop, “La Huayaquita.” Here, you’ll learn her story and the origins of the backstrap weaving technique. You’ll take part in the entire process of this ancient method, from obtaining the thread and dyeing it with native plants to weaving intricate Chachapoya designs.

A culinary experience at Intimachay, where you’ll learn to prepare juanes, a traditional dish of our cuisine.

In the afternoon, return to Maray.

Dinner included at Maray.

Overnight stay in Maray in a single or shared room.

After breakfast, engage in a hands-on session in the community-based learning space, letting your creativity flow based on everything you’ve learned from the communities.

Lunch and dinner are included at Maray.

Overnight stay in Maray in a single or shared room.

Today we celebrate!

You will host this experience, sharing the banquet you’ve prepared with our mentors and newfound friends who have shared their lives with you along this journey. We will dine as a community, strengthening the connections we’ve built during this journey through Peru’s Amazonian Andes.

Lunch and dinner included at Maray.

Overnight stay in Maray in a single or shared room.

Transfer from the accommodation to Chachapoyas Airport.

Classics of Peruvian cuisine (Barranco).

During this walking culinary tour of Lima, we’ll taste more than 15 Peruvian foods and drinks in one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods: the artistic and bohemian Barranco. We’ll have the chance to interact with our local hosts and learn how to prepare the famous ceviche and pisco sour. Along the way, you’ll discover the historical and cultural stories behind each dish you enjoy during this 4-hour walking culinary experience in Lima.

Overnight stay in Lima in a single room.

Transfer from the hotel to Lima airport.