Imagine a country with 1,804 species of birds…. A country with more bird species than found in all of North America and Europe combined. Home to 120 endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world! Imagine traveling through the land of the Incas, among locals dressed in colorful woven fabrics. Here at the birthplace of the potato, visit with the people of ancient traditions, savor tasty cuisine, mingle in lively markets and see sophisticated folk art-just to name a few of the country’s unmistakable allure. Visualize waking up in the morning to the ear-deafening noise of thousands of parrots and macaws—an unforgettable cacophonic experience as they arrive each morning for their daily supplementary diet of mud. Picture yourself seeing a beautiful male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock with the backdrop of the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu.
Group Size
1 – 8 Guests
Experience | Difficulty
- Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
- DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
- Moderate schedule
- Travel by car or minibus
- Moderate elevation changes and lots of walking and hiking (none of our adventures have difficult hikes)
- (non-photographers also welcome)
Weather | Sun
May – Temps 70/40 F 20/2 C Sunrise 5:24 | Sunset 7:23 (19:23)
September – Temps 75/42 F 24/5 C Sunrise 6:10 | Sunset 6:35 (18:35)
Includes
- 6 Days
- Travel, landscape, nature, wildlife, and people photography
- Professional photographer | guide
- Photo walks & discussions
- Small group size (1-8 guests)
- 3 or 4-star hotels
- Breakfasts
- All Meals
- National Park Permits
- Local transportation
Travel Information
Arrival Airport:Lima -Jaen– Transfer time to hotel 4 hours
Departure Airport:Jaen-Lima – Transfer time to hotel 4 hours
Our adventure begins in the morning on the first day and ends at and of the last day.
Travel Visa: Note required
Accommodations
Hotels,Lodges
AdventurePriceREGISTER
- 2 people : US$2100.00 per person
- 3 people: US$2000.00 per person
- 4 people : US$1900.00 per person
- 5 people : US$1800.00 per person
- 6 people : US$1700.00 per person
- 7+ people : US$1600.00 per person
ITINERARY Kuelap Trek
Jaen Chachapoyas We reach the bridge over the Marañon, one of the great tributaries of the Upper Amazon, which was formerly believed to be the source of that mighty river. Here we enter the Peruvian department of Amazonas, former home of a mysterious and powerful civilization, the Chachapoyas, whose remnants we will explore during this journey.
We follow the Utcubamba River, the main artery of the Chachapoyas heartland, first ascending a dramatic canyon then winding up the mountainous valley which leads us to El Chillo, our hotel at the foot of the high road to the mountain top site of Kuelap,
Transfer to Cruz Pata (2.5 hours approx). We will go to the 8-feet high funeral sarcophagi of Karajia (also known by the local as Purunmachus, quechua word that means: purun= wild and machu=old) located on a mountain cliff at about 2,600m (20 minutes downhill hike) and continue with the route of sarcophagi where you can observe from the road more than 20 discovered sarcophagi. Afternoon transfer to Choctamal Marvelous Spatuletail Lodge where you can enjoy the visit of hummingbirds, including the endemic Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird. The lodge is located on the road to Kuelap at only 35 minutes from the fortress, excellent panoramic views of Kuelap and the Abra Yumal Pass
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. We will spend the night in Leymebamba.
Visit 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. We continue with our trip to Revash Mausoleums (1.5 hours hike). Revash Mausoleums are small rectangular miniature houses located under the shelter of the rock. (also called Chullpas). Night in Gocta Lodge overlooking Gocta waterfall.
Full day hike to Gocta waterfall. The measured height of 771 meters. As a result of an expedition lead by Stefan Ziemendorff and Telesforo Santillan (local guide) in March 2006, Gocta waterfall made the international news testifying the remoteness and unfolding discoveries of America’s newly accessible and most pristine ecological and archeological destination. During the hike you will be able to observe variety of hummingbirds, birds, flowers, maybe toucans, monkeys and other species from the region. Night in Gocta Lodge overlooking the waterfall.
After an early breakfast we return to Jaen by road. We will make a pleasant stop at a suitable spot along the way to eat our box lunch. We arrive in Lima in the late afternoon and transfer to a selected hotel. End of our Kuelap Trip/Our Services.