Searching for the Lost Kingdom of the Chachapoya

Breakfast at the hotel.

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

Kuélap, the most important archaeological site in northeastern Peru, was built by the Chachapoya culture around 800 AD. It is renowned for its monumental stone structures covering an area of 6 hectares atop Cerro Barreta, at over 3,000 meters above sea level. From here, you can appreciate its connection to the natural surroundings of montane or cloud forests.

Lunch is included at the home of Señora Teudula, where you will enjoy a meal surrounded by stunning mountain views.

We then continue to the Milpuj – La Heredad Private Conservation Area in the Utcubamba Valley. Here, Pedro Heredia will share the inspiring story of his efforts to conserve and restore degraded dry forests and scrublands in the mid-Utcubamba River basin.

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 not included.

Overnight stay at Casa de Doña Lola in Milpuj.

Breakfast at Casa de Doña Lola.

In the town square of San Bartolo, a cultural guide will accompany us during the Revash and Notched Houses experience. We will visit the interpretation center, the notched houses, and chocho plantations while seeing a rich variety of flora and fauna. Our path leads to the Mausoleums of Revash, resembling small houses that form miniature villages, possibly modeled after the dwellings of their time. The mausoleums have been preserved thanks to the cave that shelters them and the difficulty of accessing the site.

Inside the cave, you will see depictions associated with the mausoleums with other rock paintings predating this culture.

We will conclude the experience with a traditional bread-making workshop and enjoy a delicious lunch in a local family’s home.

Afternoon free in Leymebamba.

Dinner is not included.

Overnight stay in Leymebamba.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Art runs through the veins of the people of Leymebamba. Take part in a creative experience with Leymebamba’s most renowned wood artisan, Miguel Huamán whose life was forever changed by the discovery of ancient remains at the Laguna de los Cóndores. This pivotal moment inspired him to develop a technique of perfectly replicating the original wooden artifacts that characterize the Chilchos. Miguel’s use of naturally fallen wood for his works and his commitment to reforesting native plants in the Amazon rainforest sends a powerful message against deforestation. This initiative represents Peru’s most extensive community conservation effort.

After this powerful experience, visit the Leymebamba Museum, and engage with the fascinating history of the Chachapoya and the Laguna de los Cóndores through an interactive tour. The museum houses the largest collection of mummies in Peru. Artifacts reveal the warlike spirit of the Chachapoya and Incas. It also showcases diverse techniques to prepare their dead for eternal rest, including sarcophagi, niches, and mausoleums. Additionally, you will see a significant collection of Quipus from the Chachapoya-Inca period.

Lunch is included.

After lunch, we head to the community of Cocachimba.

Enjoy a free afternoon to take in the natural surroundings of your accommodation or visit the Spatuletail Hummingbird Sanctuary.

Dinner nis ot included.

Overnight stay in Cocachimba.

Breakfast at the hotel.

We will travel to the village of Cocachimba, located along the banks of the Utcubamba River, the starting point for visiting the Gocta Waterfall. Along this nearly three-hour route, six viewpoints offer unique perspectives of this spectacular waterfall, the third-highest in the world.

Throughout the trail, you’ll encounter a variety of insects, butterflies, orchids, and flowers. In quieter sections of the journey, with some luck, you might catch a glimpse of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock or the Spatuletail Hummingbird.

Lunch is not included.

After lunch, transfer to the city of Chachapoyas, either to your hotel or the bus station.