Explore the ancient world of the Chachapoyas! A pre-Columbian culture conquered by the Incas, their villages, settlements and impressive fortress have remained hidden in the cloud forests for hundreds or years. Hiking and on horseback, you'll explore the legacies of this forgotten people.

Day 1 – Chiclayo to Chachapoyas
In the morning you will depart from Chiclayo in a private vehicle with air-conditioning. The journey will cross 4 different Peruvian areas: Lambayeque, South Piura, the North of Cajamarca and end in Amazonas. You'll start on the coast and arrive in the late afternoon in the cloud forest of Chachapoyas. Box lunch and dinner included. Spend the night at Hostal El Chillo. (L, D)

Day 2 – Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will visit Kuelap, a spectular pre-Inca walled city hidden atop a precipitious mountain. Although Kuelap was discovered 60 years before Machu Pichhu, it is not as well-known to the outside world. Netherless recent amazing discoveries in nearby areas that relate to Kuelap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologist, international magazines and film companies. Box lunch. Following your visit to Kuelap, you will return to Chillo for the night. Dinner and overnight at the Hostal El Chillo. (B, L, D)


Day 3 – Chachapoyas
After breakfast you will enjoy an excusion to observe the burial towers of Marcos, an outpost of the Chachapoyas culture built into cliffs overlooking the Utcubamba River.  It's unique location allowed for contact signal fire with the fortress high above the mountain and visible through a cleft in the valley hills.  Then you will enjoy an excursion by horse to visit the colorful 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 Leymebamba where we wil have dinner and spend a night at Hostal El Chillo. (B, L, D)

Day 4 – Chachapoyas/Leimebamba
This morning the drive will take you toward Leymebamba. On the way you will stop at Las Palmas with a light trek to La Congona, a spectular settlement pattern of the Chachapoyas culture. In this area you will be able to discover outstanding friezes and defensive towers still untouched in the jungle. After a picnic lunch we will return to Leymebamba where we will spend a night at Leymebamba Museum Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Leimebamba/ Cajamarca
In the morning, we will visit the museum of Leymebamba with its amazing collection of well peserved pre-Inca mummies discovered in the Laguna de los Condores.  Continue the drive to Cajamarca, crossing two cordilleras and several different habitats, such as cloud forest, agricultural land, desert-like areas and the Maranon Canyon.  Box lunch on the way. Overnight at La Laguna Seca Hotel. (B, L, D)

NOTE: The journey from Leymebamba to Cajamarca, by way of the Maranon Canyon, is one of Peru's most spectular drives. The Maranon River forms one of the world's deepest canyons, and you will descend through different ecosystems from over 10,000 feet in altitude to the town of Balsas at 4,000 ft. After crosssing the river you then ascend back through the various habitats to nearly 10,000 ft. above sea level.

Day 6 – Cajamarca
This morning take a light trek through the Cajamarca countryside to see local people in their daily activities including children going to school.  Next we visit the Ventanilllas de Otuzco, a pre-Inca cemetery that features a gallery of secondary buriel niches (located 5 miles from the city). After lunch we'll explore 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 to obtain his freedom in 1532; to the Belen complex which includes the Belen chruch constructed entirely of sculptured rock.  Next, on to Santa Apolonia Hill, for a scenic view of the valley of Cajamarca where one may also see the ceremonial Inca seat. Finally, we will have a delicious cup of coffee at the local cafeteria. Return to the hotel to enjoy its swimming pools with thermal waters or a nice massage at the Spa. (This service is not included in the price). We'll have a farewell dinner and overnight at Hotel Laguna Seca. (B, L, D)

NOTE: Cajamarca was a major center of the Inca Empire.  It is most famous for being the place of first contact between Pizarro and the Inca army, which he defeated in a one-sided battle shortly thereafter, and captured Atahualpa, the last of the independent Inca monarchs.  Although the Inca city was razed to the ground, Cajamarca boasts many beautiful colonial buildings, as well as the Inca-era "Ransom Room," where Atahualpa was kept as a prisoner of the spanish before being garroted.

Day 7 – Cajamarca to Lima
We'll take you to the airport in the morning for your return flight to Lima. B

Chachapoyas Explorer
Trip length	7 days/6 nights
Departures	2008:  June/14, June/28, July/12, July/26, Aug/9, Aug/23, Sept/6, Sept/20, Oct/4, Oct/18
Group size	2	3	4	5 or more	Single Supplement
Per person cost	$1590.00	$1450.00	$1450.0	$1380.00	$210.00
Prices based on 3-star hostel accomodations. International and domestic airfare not included. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change until booking is confirmed.