EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

Chachapoyas
& Kuelap

GIARDINO IN
TRIP ADVISOR

BEST TRAVELERS' CHOICE
2019 - 2025

Rated 5 out of 5

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The Chachapoyas, known as the “Warriors of the Clouds”, were an enigmatic Andean civilization that thrived in the misty cloud forests of the Amazonas region—a land of jungle, fog, and mystery. Conquered by the Inca shortly before the arrival of the Spanish, they left behind a legacy that still fascinates today.
At the heart of this region stands its greatest treasure: the majestic citadel of Kuélap. Perched high on a mountain ridge and surrounded by massive stone walls, it is often called the “second Machu Picchu” for its grandeur and mystique.
The journey continues with the sarcophagi of Karajía, watching silently from the cliffs; the caves of Quiocta, filled with natural wonders; and the cliffside mausoleums of Revash, resembling small painted houses of eternal rest.
Step into a world of clouds, history, and wonder.
Come and discover it with us.

Private

Chachapoyas

Tour/Culture

  • Kuélap Fortress (with cable car ride).
  • Sarcophagi of Karajía.
  • Quiocta Caves.
  • Revash Mausoleums and Leymebamba Museum.
  • Route of the Canyons.

8:30 a.m. Departure from Chachapoyas.
9:30 a.m. Arrival at the community of Nuevo Tingo and departure on Peru’s first cable car heading to the Malca station.
9:45 a.m. Arrival at La Malca and visit to the interpretation center, where we will learn about the Chachapoyas culture and the importance of Kuélap within the sacred geography of our ancestors.
10:00 a.m. Start of the hike to the Kuélap archaeological complex.
10:30 a.m. Arrival and guided visit inside Kuélap Fortress (60 to 90 minutes), during which our guide will explain and share information about this monument dating back to the 6th century AD. Afterwards, a brief visit to a replica of a traditional Chachapoya circular house located outside the fortress.
About 12:30 p.m. Return to La Malca station to take the cable car back to the community of Nuevo Tingo.
Arrival at the community for a delicious lunch.
2:30 p.m. Departure to the Utcubamba Valley, where we will enjoy a natural viewpoint overlooking the Macro archaeological complex on the opposite side of the mountain.
Return to the city of Chachapoyas.
4:00 p.m. Arrival in the city of Chachapoyas.
Hotel according to your choice.

8:30 a.m. We start our journey from Chachapoyas and head toward the Quiocta area, enjoying the scenic landscapes along the way. Soon, we arrive in the charming town of Lamud, where we pick up our tickets to Quiocta Cave, Peru’s first illuminated cave.
Next, we step into Quiocta Cave for a guided tour through its stunning stalagmites and stalactites. Every formation tells a story sculpted by nature over thousands of years, making this a truly unforgettable experience.
After exploring the cave, we enjoy a delicious lunch in Lamud, tasting the unique flavors of the Amazonas while soaking in the peaceful surroundings.
Our adventure continues to the remote community of Cruzpata, where we take a short hike to the Karajía Sarcophagi. These ancient cliffside funerary statues, unique to the Chachapoyas culture, rise dramatically from the mountainside. Standing before them, it’s easy to imagine life in a world long past, and feel the mystery of this fascinating culture come alive.
3:30 p.m. Return to Chachapoyas
05:00 arrive to Chachapoyas and to your hotel
Hotel according to your choice.

08:30 am. We depart from Chachapoyas and travel through the scenic highlands toward the community of San Bartolo.
Upon arrival, we take care of entrance tickets before starting a roughly one-hour hike to the Revash Mausoleums. Perched dramatically on the cliffs, these unique Chachapoya funerary structures are fascinating remnants of an ancient culture. Our guide will share their history and significance, bringing these mysterious guardians to life. After exploring, we return to San Bartolo.
Next, we continue to the community of Leymebamba, where we enjoy a delicious local lunch.
After lunch, we visit the Leymebamba Museum, home to 219 perfectly preserved mummies and over 2,500 artifacts, including textiles, ceramics, wooden carvings, engraved gourds, and 33 quipus, the Inca system of accounting.
The museum offers a unique opportunity to connect with the rich cultural heritage of the Chachapoyas people.
17:30 pm. We begin the journey back to Chachapoyas. Arrive to the city about 19:30 pm and transfer to your hotel.
Hotel according to your choice.

09:30 am. We depart from Chachapoyas and head toward the community of Huancas, where we purchase entrance tickets to explore the Sonche and Huanca Urco Canyons.
Our first stop is the Sonche Canyon, located at approximately 2,600 meters above sea level, with a depth of nearly 1 km and stretching over 12 km. From the La Goya viewpoint, admire the stunning native flora and fauna and take in the breathtaking panoramic views.
Next, we continue to Huanca Urco Canyon, where we explore its unique geological formations and observe the ancient mausoleums of the “people of the dead.” Along the way, we can also glimpse part of the first drop of Gocta Waterfall and enjoy the surrounding native flora and fauna.
We then return toward Chachapoyas to visit the Luya Urco viewpoint, where we pause for photographs and a guided explanation of the city and its surroundings.
Finally, we make our way back to the main square of Chachapoyas, concluding a half-day adventure filled with incredible landscapes.
You’ll have the afternoon free to explore, relax, or enjoy the city as you wish.
Hotel according to your choice.

  • 4 nights of Accommodation with breakfast.
  • Pickup and drop-off from your selected accommodation for all tours.
  • Comfortable air-conditioned tourist transportation to all sites. (vehicle type adjusts to group size).
  • Entrance tickets to all attractions.
  • Cable car tickets to Kuélap.
  • Traditional lunches during Full Day Tours (except Day 4 “Route to the canyons”.
  • Official certified tour guide for all visits.
  • Personalized permanent service.
  • First aid kit.
  • Arrival and departure transfers, depending on your airport of arrival (Jaen or Chachapoyas) or bus terminal.
  • Lunch during the visit to “Route of the Canyons”
  • Bus tickets or Domestic flights.
  • Horse riding services.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Additional services not mentioned in the itinerary as included
  • Gocta waterfalls (Full Day excursion)
  • Meaningful Travel Experiences (Sharing with locals, ceramic and special activities).
responsible

Responsible Travel

Respect for local communities and environment.

Guided

Professional guide English / Spanish.

Safe transportation

We verify the transport for a safe trip

Oxygen bottle

In transport and in hotels.

Accomodation

Accommodation in selected hotel

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    MitchNice
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    We had a wonderful birdwatching tour yesterday, organized by Giardino Tour. Luis was an excellent guide, and Julio was an excellent driver. We drove from Arequipa to the Mejia Lagoons National Bird Sanctuary...
    BarbE
    BarbEIn Tripadvisor
    Giardino was recommended by a friend, and even though I had booked some hotels on my own, they managed to work around it, and provide us a wonderful experience from Paracas, Nazca, Ica, Huacachina to Puno. The guide Luis Angel was very knowledgeable, answered every question, and went over and beyond his duties to make the tour an unforgettable time in Perú.
    Decat08
    Decat08
    In Tripadvisor
    We had a fun and educational private Colca Valley tour and road trips with Ramiro (guide) and Herbert (driver) from Giardino Tours. They picked us up from the Arequipa airport, took us to our accommodations at Colca Lodge, took us on a beautiful hike to the isolated Chimpa Fortress... We are glad the agency we engaged to plan our Peru adventure chose Giardino Tours for this part of the trip!
    Stephen M
    Stephen MIn Tripadvisor
    We traveled in Peru with having all of our trip booked through the Giardino travel agency. Karla helped us with the planning and booked the trip, the individual tours and our flights. The price for the tour overall was very reasonable... The guides were fantastic and were the best part about doing these tours. They were knowledgeable and had some of the best recommendations for us to do
    Pavel N
    Pavel NIn Tripadvisor
    Best tour operator in Perú! We have been working with Giardino Tours for years and they have always been outstanding... They will always help us in the best possible way and their service and guides are impeccable. They will sometimes go out of their way just to accommodate our…
    Ritaana
    RitaanaIn Tripadvisor
    We went on a two-day tour with Luis and Julio and it was amazing! Luis speaks very good English and knows a lot about the history and culture of is own country. At every question, he could easily give you a good answer and explainating. Julio was a very good driver. We felt very safe and he stopt at the best spots for pictures. This was one of the best trips during our stay in Peru. We highly recommend this tour guide!