Chachapoyas & Gocta Falls Immersion Tour

Arrival in Chachapoyas at 10.10 am, transfer to Huancas, a village well known for its pottery.

You will join the ladies from Huancas to see how they prepare a typical Andean dish, before having lunch together.

After lunch, you will participate in a hands-on ceramic class, prepare the clay mixture and make your own bowl or figure. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, this is physical work!

After your lesson you will discover the viewpoint of the Canyon de Sonche, the highest canon (980 meters) in the Peruvian Amazonia. You will then leave Huancas by passing at the view point of Luya Hurco with an amazing view on Chachapoyas and the majestic mountains around.

This morning you will leave with your driver and your English-speaking guide to the start point of a hike to the archaeological site of La Petaca. This site is still unknown to many, but the landscape is gorgeous !

Once you are back in the afternoon, you’ll participate in hands-on weaving lesson with Sra. Isabel that will explain to you the entire process from the wool over the preparation of the thread, its dye and finally the weaving itself to come up with the traditional ponchos or the more modern tablet covers.

This morning you will visit of the Museum Mallqui where you will see a collection of 219 mummies in perfect conservation state, archaeological pieces of the Chachapoya culture: fabrics, ceramics, wooden statues and a quipus exposition.

Thereafter transfer of about one hour to the district of San Bartolo (2 800 m). From the village you will hike of about 30 minutes (3 km) until you can see the Mausoleum of Revash (2 600 m altitude), another evidence of the Chachapoya funeral constructions, situated on a mountain cliff looking like houses with roofs, between one and three levels, decorated with symbols such as the Andean cross.

Hike back to the village and drive to Nogalcucho.

You descend through the valley of the Utcubamba River for just 15 minutes. You continue another 10 minutes to reach the district of Tingo where you take the bus that will bring you to the cable car station. Then you are off for a 20-minute ride (4 km) with the cable car and spectacular views.

Arrival at the tourist stop of La Malca from where you start a 2-km easy walk. Visit of the fortified city of Kuelap (3000 m): Built from 400 years AC in an area of 6 hectares, with more than 500 circular buildings and other religious buildings such as the Major Temple, El Torreon. The buildings are decorated with friezes, diamonds and stylized beings, representing the major deities. The walls of this fortified city, discovered in 1843, are between 5 and 20 meters high and the city measures 600 meters long and 110 meters large.

Return back to la Casa de Dona Lola for lunch.

In the afternoon you will visit the property, learn about the reforestation and the environmental efforts of Perico, the owner. You will then take part in a cacao ceremony and read from the coca leaves.

In the evening, you will take part in a coca leaves and spiritual cleaning ceremony. Maestro Sixto will prepare his “table” with the symbolic elements, coca leaves and special tinctures. He is wearing his traditional poncho and decoration. You will sit in a circle, and he will start the invocation of the apus, the mountain gods. Then the ceremony follows a mystical protocol, moving the coca leaves and talking with them. He will read the message of the coca leaves. This ceremony takes between 40 to 60 minutes. Thereafter you will assist the “limpieza spiritual”. Maestro Sixto will come to each person to “clean” you with his special mixtures, depending on each person. During the ceremony, he will burn eucalyptus or palo santo to have the mystical environment.

Early departure and drive along the Utcubamba Valley before taking the uphill road to Cruz Pata (2 700 m above sea level) for about 2 hours. From there we walk another two kilometers and we arrive at the Sarcophagi of Karajia, the funeral statues of the Chachapoya culture.
After your return to Cruz Pata, you will take the car to Cocachimba, where you will have time to relax at the pool or go and visit the Hummingbird Refuge not far from the hotel (not included).

Included: private transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees

Today is a free day that you might want to use to hike to the waterfall of Gocta, one of the highest in the world!

Descend to the valley of the Utcubamba River; you will travel for 1 hour until you arrive at the Cocachimba community (2 000m). Walk and/or ride 2½ hours (6 km) to the waterfall.

During your way, you can observe the local agricultural activity and the dense vegetation typical in cloud forest. You might see the spatuletail hummingbird, cock of the rock (national bird), orchids and bromeliads. When you reach the base of the waterfall, some time for outdoor recreation (swimming for the brave ones).

Pick-up at your hotel and trip back to Chachapoyas Airport.