| 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 housed in a half-million dollar museum donated by the Austrians.
Day 1 Cajamarca - Celendin
Flight from Lima to Cajamarca, the city of destiny. Pizarro marched his tiny band of 270 Spaniards here to capture Inca Atahualpa and an empire. We will see the cell where the Inca was held captive. It was filled 3 times with gold & silver for his ransom before he was executed. Afterwards we go by our bus to Celendin for the night. (L, D)
Day 2 Celendin - Leymebamba
Our bus climbs the sweeping cold cordillera and descends into an oven dry valley to cross the main trunk Amazon River. Here a coastal Chimu Colony uses their irrigation skills to grow exotic tropical fruits in a micro ecological system. A mile above, the Cordillera has 100 inches more rain per year than the dry river valley. We go up to the village of Leymebamba to stay in a local hostel. (B,BL,D)
Day 3 Leymebamba
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 - Choctamal
Now we get to see Peru's brand new Centro Mallqui Museum that the Austrians donated for this unique discovery. The 219 mummies are here along with many artifacts being investigated by Peruvian Dr. Sonia Guillen, (the worlds best mummy authority). She has also set up the advanced new laboratory in Cairo for the Egyptians. From there we go to our Choctamal Lodge (gateway to Kuelap and Gran Vilaya). (B,L,D)
Day 7 Choctamal – Kuelap - Chachapoyas
Today we explore Fortress Kuelap “the Machu Picchu of Northern Peru” with its 400 buildings and 3 levels of walls inside of walls. It is the largest edifice of the Americas. Orchids and bromeliads cover the walls of the ancient Chachapoyan Cloud Peoples’ stone houses. Our bus then takes us to Chachapoyas for the night in our 3 star colonial adobe mansion. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Chachapoyas - Chiclayo
Private transportation to Chiclayo. We will visit Tucume pyramids and transfer you to the airport for your evening flight to Lima. (B,BL,D)
PRICE:
US$ 1,246 (2 a 3 pax)
US$ 1,081 (4 and up)
Single supplement: US$ 195
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
All entrance fees
Meals where noted in the program
Accommodations and taxes
All transportation specified in the program
Transfers between Chiclayo and Chachapoyas/Chachapoyas-Chiclayo
Horses, arrieros, tents, cooks, etc.
Bilingual Guide
Snacks, water bottles
NOT INCLUDED:
Airport taxes
Sleeping bag
Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Internal flights
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Chulpa mummy - Lake of the
Condors
Foothillls of the Andes
Lake of the Condors or
"Laguna de los Condores"
Photo of typical walled city
in Grand Vilaya
Photo of stone wall in the
pre-Inca city
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