Natural & Archaeological North Orient of Peru

Day 01: Lima

Arrival in Lima and transfer to the chosen hotel.

Day 02: Lima – Cajamarca

Early arrival in Cajamarca and transfer to the selected hotel. In the morning you will have a city tour to get to know the beautiful town Cajamarca. It is situated in the wonderful and fertile valley of the northern Andes and is one of America’s historic and cultural heritages. Cajamarcas’ buildings stem from the colonial time and reflect this era. The influence of the Spanish architecture can be seen in the cathedral, the San Francisco, and Belen church.
Afternoon at leisure.

Day 03: Cajamarca – Leimebamba – El Chillo

A 15 hours journey traveling across two cordilleras and several different habitats, such as cloud forest, agricultural land, desert-like areas and the Marañon Canyon. The journey from Cajamarca to Leimebamba, passing by the Marañon Canyon, is one of Peru’s most spectacular drives, offering astonishing scenery. The Marañon River forms one of the world’s deepest canyons, and you will descend through different ecosystems from over 3000 m to the town of Balsas at 850 m. After crossing the river you then ascend back through the various habitats to nearly 3200 m. Boxed-lunch on the road.

Afternoon visit to the Mallqui Institution Museum in Leimebamba. The Mallqui Institution has taken charge of recovering and restoring more than 200 Chachapoyan mummies found in the cliffs near the Lake of the Condors, a mystical site located in the cloud forest a day’s walk from Leimebamba.

Dinner and lodging at Hotel Estancia El Chillo.

Day 04: Kuelap – Chachapoyas

Full day excursion to Kuelap. Three hours hike from El Tingo Viejo (1800 m) to the fortress of Kuelap (3000 m). Kuelap is an ancient fortress built on the knife edge of a precipitously steep ridge. It was an important political, religious, administrative, and military center for the pre-Incan Chachapoya culture. The fortress is surrounded by an immense and impressive wall almost 2,000 feet in length. The gates, or main entrances, are uniquely constructed resembling narrow walled passageways that continue to narrow as they reach upwards and into the fortress. This brilliant design served to funnel and narrow any column of attackers down to just 2 men wide, so they could easily be killed as they tried to enter, effectively making Kuelap insurmountable to its enemies. Lunch in camping nearby Kuelap, the transfer by car to the city of Chachapoyas.

Dinner and lodging at the selected hotel in Chachapoyas.

Day 05: Chachapoyas – Abra Patricia

Transfer to Chachapoyas in prívate transportation. Then we head for Abra Patricia which is located at 2300 meters a.ms.l. On the way we will have the opportunity to observe different bird species. Once we reach our destination, a cozy Bungalow will be ready for us. It is time to take a well deserved rest.

Day 06: Abra Patricia

At dawn we will start our birdwatching activities in the sorroundings of the lodge where mixed flocks are common. It is also likely to see the Yellow-tailed Woolly monkey and other mammals. In the evening and at night birds can be observed within the reserve and in the different pathways it is very likely to hear the Long Whiskered Owlet. Dinner and night stay.

Day 07: Moyobamba – Tarapoto – Lima

Transfer in prívate transport from Abra Pagtricia to the Capital of the Orchids in Peru with more tan 2,800 varities. We will visit the nursery of Wakanki wich has a great diversity of orchids such as Anguloa,Brassia, Cataseum, Cattleya, Bollea, Coryanthes, Lycaste, Masdevallia and many others. The most representative is the Cattleya, locally referred to as “Golondrina” (swallow).

Transfer to Tarapoto and from there we will board a flight back to Lima.