CLASSIC CHACHAPOYAS PROGRAMMES

.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. Situated in the cloud forests around the town of Chachapoyas in Peru's northern Amazonas Department, these sites are dominated by the mighty fortress of Kuelap, perched majestically atop mountain-top cliffs overlooking the verdant Andean landscape. The programmes allow clients to explore and discover Chachapoyas and Cajamarca, site of the first contact between the Spanish conquistadors and the Inca civilization.

Here you find our programmes to explore Chachapoyas:
- 4 day program Chachapoyas Express
- 8 day program Chachapoyas Explorer
- 5 day program Kuélap Discoverer

Fixed departure itinerary 4 days/ 3 nights
starting from Chiclayo

Day 1: Chiclayo/Chachapoyas
In the morning you will depart from Chiclayo by private car, van or minibus with air conditioning. 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. Box lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Hostal El Chillo. (lunch/ dinner)

Day 2: Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will enjoy an excursion by horse to visit the colourful funeral buildings of Revash perched on a ledge up high on a cliff. They overlook a valley and tributary of the Utcubamba, near the town of Santo Tomas. The Cliff walls at Revash are decorated with geometric designs and figures of camelids. Some of the tombs are decorated with T and a cross-shaped niches. Box Lunch. Then you will continue to town of Leymebamba to visit an amazing collection of well preserved pre-inca mummies discovered in the Laguna de los Condores. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 3: Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will visit Kuélap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city, hidden atop a precipitous mountain. Although Kuélap was discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu, it is not as well-known to the outside world. Nevertheless recent amazing discoveries in nearby areas that relate to Kuélap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologists, international magazines and film companies. A packed lunch. Following your visit to Kuélap, you will return to Chillo for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hostal El Chillo. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 4: Chachapoyas/Chiclayo
After an early breakfast you will return to Chiclayo by road. Packed lunch included.
Late afternoon arrival and transfer to selected hotel. (breakfast/ lunch)

Fixed departures operates every Wednesday and Saturday from May to October.

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Fixed departure itinerary 7 days/ 6 nights
starting from Chiclayo

Day 1: Chiclayo/Chachapoyas
In the morning you will depart from Chiclayo by private car, van or minibus with air conditioning. 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. Box lunch and dinner included. Overnight at Hostal El Chillo. (lunch/ dinner)

Day 02: Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will visit Kuélap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city, hidden atop a precipitous mountain. Although Kuélap was discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu, it is not as well-known to the outside world. Nevertheless recent amazing discoveries in nearby areas that relate to Kuélap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologists, international magazines and film companies. Packed lunch. Following your visit to Kuélap, you will return to Chillo for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hostal El Chillo. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 03: Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will enjoy an excursion to observe the burial towers of Macro, an outpost of the Chachapoyas culture, built into cliffs overlooking the Utcubamba River. Its unique location allowed for contact via signal fires with the fortress, high above in the mountains and visible through a cleft in the valley hills. Then you will enjoy an excursion by horse to visit the colourful funeral buildings of Revash perched on a ledge up high on a cliff. They overlook a valley and tributary of the Utcubamba, near the town of Santo Tomas. The cliff walls at Revash are decorated with geometric designs and figures of camelids. Some of the tombs are decorated with T and cross-shaped niches. You will return to Chillo. Dinner and overnight at Hostal El Chillo. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 04: Chachapoyas/Leymebamba
This morning you will drive towards Leymebamba. On the way you will stop at Las Palmas where you embark on a light trek to La Congona, a spectacular settlement pattern of the Chachapoyas culture. In this area you will be able to discover outstanding friezes and defensive towers still left untouched in the jungle. After picnic lunch, return to Leymebamba where you will spend a night at a local hostel. Dinner and overnight stay. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 05: Leymebamba/Cajamarca
Morning visit the museum of Leymebamba with its amazing collection of well preserved pre-Inca mummies discovered in the Laguna de los Cóndores. Then you continue with a drive to Cajamarca, crossing two cordilleras and several different habitats, such as cloud forest, agricultural land, desert-like areas and the Marañon Canyon. Packed lunch on way. Overnight at La Laguna Seca Hotel. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 06: Cajamarca
Morning light trek through the Cajamarca countryside to see local people in their daily activities including children going to school. Then you visit the Ventanillas de Otuzco, a pre-Inca cemetery that features a gallery of secondary burial niches (located 5 miles from the city). After lunch exploration of the main points of the city: Main Square, the Cathedral and the 17th Century San Francisco church, which houses the Museum of Religious Art. Continue on to the ´Ransom Room´ which Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor, filled once with gold and twice with silver so as to obtain his freedom in 1532. Then on to the Belen complex which includes the Belén church constructed entirely of sculptures volcanic rock and finally on to Santa Apolonia Hill, for a scenic view of the valley of Cajamarca and where one may also see the ceremonial Inca seat. Finally we will take a delicious cup of coffee at local cafeteria. Return to hotel to enjoy its swimming pools with thermal waters or a nice massage at the Spa. (This service is not included in the price). Farewell dinner and overnight at Hotel Laguna Seca. (breakfast/ lunch/ dinner)

Day 07: Cajamarca/Lima
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima.


Optional program:

Day trip Kunturwasi
Visit this ceremonial centre of the formative period (1200-50 BC) of ancient Andean civilization with an architectural complex and stone monoliths. Includes: Transportation from Cajamarca to Kunturwasi, Packed lunch, entrance fee and transportation to Trujillo's airport to take the night flight to Lima.

One more day in Cajamarca
It includes an additional day to explore different parts of the city and visit Cumbemayo where we will admire the hydraulic knowledge (a canal cut into rock) from the Incas use for the management of water and land. Includes: an extra night at Cajamarca, private transportation, guide and entrance fees.

Trujillo extension for Chachapoyas Explorer:

Day 07: Cajamarca/Trujillo
You will depart Cajamarca in the morning via private car/bus for the overland journey down through the mountains to Trujillo. Early afternoon arrival and visit the colonial city of Trujillo. Overnight at Libertador Hotel.

Day 08: Trujillo/Lima
After breakfast visit the beautiful Moche Sun and Moon temples, and then continue to the beach for a relaxing lunch in the town of Huanchaco. After lunch you will visit Chan Chan, the sprawling ruined city of the Chimu culture. At the end of the afternoon you will transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima.

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