LAKE OF THE CONDORS TRIP
8D/7N
Months: May to October (recommended)
CHALLENGING
Exciting 10 to 12 hour horseback expedition into the rugged foothills of the Andes.
Private departures available
This is a horseback expedition to the mausoleum where 219 mummies were discovered and documented on the Discovery Channel in 1998. This site is located on a cliff above a huge alpine lake. In the rainy season this is behind a waterfall from the cliff above. This appears to be a very sacred site where dead leaders were mummified and brought here from far away. In Leymebamba we will see these mummies and a large treasure of artifacts in the museum donated by the Austrians.
 
Day 1 Cajamarca
Airport pick up service in Cajamarma and night in Cajamarca beautiful Hacienda.
Day 2 Cajamarca – Leymebamba
Our private transportation climbs the sweeping cold cordillera and descends into an oven dry valley to cross the main trunk Marañon River. Here a coastal Chimu Colony uses their irrigation skills to grow exotic tropical fruits in a micro ecological system. We go up to Leymebamba to spend the night. (B, BL, D)
Day 3 Lake of the Condors
We saddle up early for an all day expedition into the 15,000 sq. km zone that was previously unexplored a few years ago and arrive at the Lake of the Condors. This supernatural mystic place is a huge pristine mountain lake with the mausoleum chulpa perched high on a cliff above it. Our camp is by the lake in a rustic facility. (B,BL,D)
 
Day 4 Lake of the Condors
We climb up to the chulpa which the Discovery Channel documented in the 1998 recovery of 219 mummies from this damp cloud forest. Despite being behind a waterfall in the rainy season, these mummies were better preserved than ones from Egypt's desert pyramids. This discovery made the zone famous because the entire area had never been filmed or seen by the outside world before this. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Leymebamba
We leave camp for the long trip back to Leymebamba on horseback. Night in local hostel in Leymebamba. (B,BL,D)
Day 6 Leymebamba- Museum Centro Mallqui – Choctamal
Now we get to see Peru's brand new Centro Mallqui Museum that the Austrians donated for this unique 1998 discovery at Lake of the Condors (you have seen on the Discovery Channel). The 219 mummies are here along with many artifacts. On the way to Choctamal we will see the Revash Ruins. Night in our Choctamal Marvelous Spatuletail Lodge gateway to Kuelap and Gran Vilaya, and have a well-deserved soak in the hot tub. (B, BL, D)
Day 7 Choctamal – Kuelap – Chachapoyas
We will spend the day at Fortress Kuelap known as "the Machu Picchu of the North". It has over 400 buildings inside 3 levels of walls, and is the largest stone structure of the Americas. Orchids and bromeliads cover the walls and trees inside this fortress. Night in 3 star Colonial Mansion. (B, L)
Day 8 Chachapoyas - Chiclayo
Transfer to Chiclayo for your evening flight to Lima. (B, BL)
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
All entrance fees
Transfers to airport or bus station
Meals where noted in the program
All transportation specified in the program
Transfer between cities
Hotels specified in the program
Bilingual guide
NOT INCLUDED:
Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Airport taxes
Internal flights (we can provide upon request
Contact Us: kuelap@msn.com
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