The Pre-Columbian Chachapoyas culture, conquered in the 15th century by the Incas, has left a landscape scattered with villages and burial sites which until recently has been largely overlooked by archaeologists. Dr. Peter Lerche has worked more than 25-years in the Chachapoyas region.
Your international flight arrival in Lima and connection to Chiclayo
Day 1: CHICLAYO - CHACHAPOYAS
Arrival Chiclayo. Private transportation to Chachapoyas (10 hours).
You will cross 4 different Peruvian departments: Lambayeque, south Piura, the North of Cajamarca and end in Amazonas, starting in the coast and arriving in the late afternoon in the cloud forest of Chachapoyas.
Overnight Gran Hotel Vilaya
(Box-Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: KUELAP
Meet with Dr. Peter Lerche for an introductory talk about Chachapoyas culture.
Visit to the fortress ruins of Kuelap.
The great fortress of Kuélap, associated with the Chachapoyas culture, consists of massive exterior stone walls containing more than four hundred buildings. The structure, situated on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, is roughly 600 meters in length and 110 meters in width. It was likely built to defend against the Huari or other hostile peoples. Archaeological evidence shows that the structure was built around 500 AD and occupied until the Early Colonial period (1532-1570).
Overnight Chillo Lodge.
(B,BL,D)
Day 3: REVASH LEIMEBAMBA
Visits to the ruins at Revash. Transportation to Leimebamba to visit the mummy museum and local people.
Leimebamba might have languished in total obscurity were it not for events beginning in late 1996, when looters discovered a stash of 219 mummies in the cliffside tombs overlooking the nearby Lake of the Condors. The Discovery Channel filmed the ensuing recovery operation, introducing Leymebamba to the world.
Overnight Chillo Lodge.
(B,BL,D)
Day 4: CHACHAPOYAS
Visiting communities Levanto and Magnalena. Ruin sites include Yalape, Colla Cruz, and Shihual.
Overnight Gran Hotel Vilaya
(B,BL,D)
Day 5: KARAJIA
Visit the sarcophagi site of Karajia.
Karajia: 3 meter anthropomorphic wooden coffins located under a cliff. Mummies were placed inside each coffin. Known locally as purunmachus (from the Quechua, purun "wild" and machu, "old"), the funerary statues broom from cliffside perches overlooking the left bank of the Utcubamba River.
Overnight Gran Hotel Vilaya
(B,BL,D)
Day 6: GOCTA WATERFALL
"Discovered" in March 2006, the Gocta Waterfall measures 2,530 feet.
The waterfall has rarely been seen by anyone, due to its remote location and legends that it is haunted by a mystical siren have kept the native population at bay for hundreds of years.
Morning trip to the small village of San Pablo. Hiking and by horseback to the upper levels of the Gocta Waterfall.
Afternoon transfer to the town of Cocachimba.
Overnight camping
Day 7: GOCTA WATERFALL
Hiking from Cocachimba to the lower levels of Gocta Waterfall.
Overnight Gran Hotel Vilaya
(B,BL,D)
Day 8: CHACHAPOYAS
Chachapoyas city tour, visits with local artists, afternoon at leisure to explore the city.
Overnight Gran Hotel Vilaya
(B)
Day 9: CHACHAPOYAS - Lima
Morning transport to Chiclayo for flight to Lima. Connect with international flight home.
Optional extension tours to Cusco, Machu Picchu, Nasca Lines and/or Amazon jungle lodge are available upon request.
