Starting in the beautiful Puerto Palmeras jungle resort, this Northern Peru Amazon adventure takes you to indigenous ethnic communities that maintain their ancestral customs dating back to their resistance against conquest by the Inca Empire. You trek Inca trails to the remote archaeological complex of Yalape, and receive an in-depth guided tour of Kuelap, the massive mountainside fortress of the Chachapoya culture.

Includes:

• One night in Puerto Palmeras
• Two nights Casona Colonial lodge
• One night Choctamal Marvelous Spatuletail Lodge
• Lamas excursion
• Levanto-Choctamel excursion
• Full-day excursion to Kuelap
• English-speaking guides
• Entrance fees

Prices available upon request.

Day 1: Lima - Tarapoto

Pick up from Tarapoto Airport. First night in the jungle resort of Puerto Palmeras.

Day 2: Tarapoto - Chachapoyas

In the morning we visit the town of Lamas, 14 miles (22km) from Tarapoto. The residents or "Lamistas" are descendants of the Chancas who were defeated by the Inca when they tried to invade Cusco Even now, they still maintain their traditions and speak the Quechua language. We also visit a orchid nursery. Lunch is in a jungle complex surrounded by a variety of animals native to the region. We spend the night in Casona Colonial lodge in Chachapoyas. (B/L)

Day 3: Chachapoyas - Levanto - Choctamal

A private bus takes us one hour from Chachapoyas to Levanto, the most important town in the region during the time of the Inca invasion, and the Spanish colonial period. We also see a colonial church as old as any in Lima. Twenty minutes further down the highway we explore the ruins of Yalape. Colla Cruz was a crossroads connecting important Inca trails linking towns at all points of the compass within the empire. An optional 3-hour walk follows one of the Inca trails back towards Chachapoyas. We spend the night at the community-owned Choctamal Marvelous Spatuletail Lodge, where you can admire the fortress of Kuelap on a distant ridge, try to capture a photo of a hummingbird in flight, and watch the dawn surrounded by the clouds, all from your balcony. (B)

Day 4: Choctamal - Kuelap - Chachapoyas

We spend the day in the Fortress of Kuelap, known as the "Machu Picchu of Northern Peru." Box Lunch included. Kuelap contains more than 400 stone buildings within its walls. It's the largest limestone structure in the Americas. Built at an altitude of more than 9,840 feet above sea level (3000m.a.s.l.), orchids and bromeliads covers the walls and trees of the complex. On the road back to Chachapoyas we can see the platforms of Macro, on the ridges of another mountain on the shores of the Utcubamba River. We spend the night in Casona Colonial lodge, just off the main square of Chachapoyas. (B/BOX LUNCH)

Day 5: Chachapoyas - Chiclayo

We drive by private transport from Chachapoyas to Chiclayo (9 hours). (B/BOX LUNCH)

(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner

Tour Includes:

• All entry fees
• Transfers to airports and bus stations
• Meals mentioned in the program
• Private transport specified in the itinerary
• Transfers between cities
• Accommodation
• Bilingual guide

Not included:

• Tips
• Alcoholic beverages
• Airport Taxes
• Internal Flights (We are an IATA-affiliated agency and can book your air tickets if you want)