CHT-1112 SECRETS OF THE TAJOPAMPA TOMBS 5d/4n Moderate Cajamarca, Choctamal, Diablo Huasi, La Petaca, Kuelap, Leymebamba
This is a moderate trip that will include a short horseback ride into a zone that the great archaeologist Raymondi described as 15,000 sq. kms. of unexplored Andes before the first road, (not that long ago). Here you can see tombs in cliff mausoleums filled with bones and funeral wrappings blowing out in the wind. You will also get to see Kuelap, the largest and most mysterious building of the Americas, and a newly discovered ruins our team just found near there.
Day 1 Cajamarca – Choctamal Our bus 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 and continue to Choctamal MS Lodge to spend the night. (BL, D)
Day 2 Choctamal – Kuelap – Choctamal
After breakfast we will travel by car for 35 minutes from Choctamal Lodge to Kuelap. The fortress of Kuelap , associated with the Chachapoyas culture, consists of massive exterior stone walls containing more than four hundred buildings inside 3 levels of walls and is the largest stone structure in the Americas. Orchids and bromeliads cover the walls and trees inside this fortress. Kuelap is precariously perched on a mountain ridge at about 3000m, the structure overlooks the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, is roughly 600 meters in length and 110 meters in width. The 20m high fortress walls are impressive with an entrance that is trapezoidal and narrows rapidly (as a defense). Inside there are the remains of many small round houses, some with a zigzag or diamond pattern in their terraces. Archaeological evidence shows that the structure was started before 800 AD. Night in Choctamal MS Lodge located high the mountains with excellent panoramic views of Kuelap fortress. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Choctamal – Revash – Leymebamba Museum
We will continue traveling south from Tingo intersection to Leymebamba (two hours from Choctamal), on the way to Leymebamba we will visit Revash Mausoleums (two hours hike). Revash Mausoleums are small rectangular miniature houses located under the shelter of the rock. (also called Chullpas). After visint Revash we continue with our trip to the museum of Leymebamba that houses the 219 mummies that were discovered in 1997 by a group of local farmers. These mummies were located 10 hours horseback on a cliff under a waterfall by the Lake of the Condors. Research is being conducted in this museum under the supervision of Dra. Sonia Guillen. After visiting the KentiKafe and observe a variety of hummingbirds. Night in Casa Mallqui. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Leymebamba – Tajopampa – La Petaca - Diablo Huasi - Leymebamba
Private transportation to Tajopampa (1 hours) where our horses will be waiting for us for a two hour exploration to the Petaca Tombs, (some of them still contain mummified human remains) and he famous Diablo Huasi (devil house) located on a steep cliff with its variety of mausoleums with skeletons, mummies and burial cloth hanging from the tombs. Horseback to Leymebamba to spend the night. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Leymebamba – Cajamarca
Private transfer to Cajamarca. (B, BL)
RATES: 2 paxes USD p.p. 4 paxes or more USD p.p.
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
Horses to Tajopampa
NOT INCLUDED:
Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Airport taxes
Internal flights (we can provide upon request)
