CHACHAPOYAS CULTURE

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CHACHAPOYAS CULTURE, KUELAP FORTRESS, GOCTA WATERFALL 5D/4N

The Chachapoyas, also called the Warriors of the Clouds, were an Andean people living in the cloud forests of the Amazonas region of present-day Peru. The Incas conquered their civilization shortly before the arrival of the Spanish in Peru. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, the Chachapoyas were one of the many nations ruled by the Inca Empire. Their incorporation into the Inca Empire had not been easy, due to their constant resistance to the Inca troops.

Since the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors were the principal sources of information on the Chachapoyas, there is little first-hand or contrasting knowledge of the Chachapoyas. Writings by the major chroniclers of the time, such as El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, were based on fragmentary second-hand accounts. Much of what we do know about the Chachapoyas culture is based on archaeological evidence from ruins, pottery, tombs and other artifacts.

In the year of 1535, the first Spaniards arrived at the territory of the Chachapoyas, an enormous region located between the rivers Huallaga and Marañón, between 2,000 and 3,000 mts. of altitude and cover permanently by clouds. From century IX, the zone was populated by an important culture, until it was invaded by the Incas in century XV, and incorporated to the Inca Empire, during the times of Túpac Inca Yupanqui.

The Chachapoyas town or Sachapcollas (settler of wooded zones) was integrated by diverse compatible ethnic groups, that moved by the territory that extends from the North to the South (about 300 km), from the Marañón in the zone of Bagua and the river basin of the Abiseo by the South.

Some hypotheses assure, that the Chachapoyas descended culturally from Andean immigrants, who modified their ancestral culture in a new environment, taking some traditions from the settlers of amazonian origin. They transformed the jungle landscape into desert as they were depredating the forests, and as resulting from the annual burn which it was a common practice.

The central zone of the development of the Chachapoyas Culture was the river basin of the Utcubamba. There we can find the sets architectonic of "Olán", "Yalapé", "Purunllacta" or “Monte Peruvia”, "Congón" (renamed like "Great Vilaya"), "Vira Vira", "Pajatén" and others. Pero Kuélap is, without a doubt, the hugest monument, of almost 600 meters from length and walls that reach 20 meters of top.

The habitable constructions and monumentals are circular with high bases, great stone cornices and flat stones excelling on the surface of the bases. They have inclined ramps or stairs, directed towards the entrance.

The Chachapoyas developed a common symbolic language with geometric reasons in form of triangles, rhombuses, wound and square ornamentos, that appear in the frisos of stone of the circular houses. These symbols had an ethnic and social value, and served to demonstrate the force of local identity, maintained through Inca period.

Also the funeral architecture characterizes to the Chachapoyas Culture and includes two types of graves: sarcófago and the mausoleum. Sarcófago is a evolution of undertaker "fardo" that is expressed in "cordilleranos" and "costeños" spaces of the Tiahuanaco and Huari times.

Chachapoyas Culture

CHACHAPOYAS CULTURE, GOCTA WATERFALL & KUELAP FORTRESS TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 01: LIMA /CHICLAYO (SIPAN)
Transfer Inn Airport to Hotel in Chiclayo , Private tour Sipan Lambayeque.
Our trip to the Huaca necropolis is an impressive funeral site from the Mochica culture, which was recently uncovered. It has several impressive tombs, such as the Lord of Sipan (3rd and 5th Centuries). These archeological ruins are well-known for their elaborate gold pieces, which include semi-precious stones. This site was discovered by a Peruvian archeological team directed by Dr. Walter Alva in the 1980s. During our trip to Chiclayo you will also get acquainted with the medicinal herbs used by local Shamans. We will spend the night at Grand Hotel Chiclayo ****. (B+L)
DAY 02: CHICLAYO - CHACHAPOYAS
In the morning you will depart from Chiclayo by Private van or minibus. You will cross 4 different Peruvian regions: Lambayeque, south Piura, the North of Cajamarca and end in Amazonas, starting in the coast and arriving in the late afternoon in the cloud forest of Chachapoyas. The trip is spectacular going through different ecological landscapes . Overnight Chillo lodge at Tingo. (B+L+D)
DAY 03: KUELAP FORTRESS- CHACHAPOYAS
After breakfast you will visit Kuelap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city hidden atop a precipitous mountain. Although Kuelap was discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu, it is not as well-known to the outside world. Nevertheless recent amazing discoveries in nearby areas that relate to Kuelap and to its history have captured the attention of archaeologists, international magazines and film companies. Following your visit to Kuelap we drive back to spend a night at Chillo Lodge. (B+L+D)
DAY 04: CHACHAPOYAS – GOCTA
Morning trip to Cocachimba a sleepy town at the end of the road ,where we start a 2.5 hour hike to the Gocta Waterfall . Gocta is the third highest waterfall in the world and is surrounded by high tropical cloud forest, there are good chances to run into monkeys and the Peruvian bird cock of the rock.
Now strangely it is Gocta which has caught the imagination of travellers and we are seeing an increase in tourism due to Gocta and not Kuelap - which is unique in every possible way. When you walk close to the tallest drop it is an awesome experience - the spray blasts you as so much air is pummelled down in bottom of the amphitheater, which encloses the fall. Add to that there is a great section of forest along the way with chances of seeing the endemic yellow-tailed woolly monkey, which only exists in northern-eastern Peru and you have a great day out. Drive to Chachapoyas, overnight at the Hotel Casa Vieja . (B+L)
DAY 05: CHACHAPOYAS/ CHICLAYO/LIMA : Private transportation from Chachapoyas to Chiclayo , about a 7 hour drive ,then an evening flight from Chiclayo to Lima , transfer to your hotel o to a connecting flight back home. (B+L)

INCLUDES :

All the transfers in Chiclayo
1 nights at a 4 star hotel in Chiclayo
1 night at a 3 star hotel in Chachapoyas
2 night at Chillo Lodge in cahachapoyas
Professional English speaking guide
Private Transportations Chiclayo/Chachapoyas/Chiclayo
Tours in Kuelap, Gocta Box Lunch
Tour Señor de Sipan
Entrance ticket to all the touristic Places

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

International or Local Airfare
Meals while in the cities
Personal equipment

**B= Breakfast L= Lunch , D= Dinner

PRICES:

From 2 to 3 participants          U.S.$ 947.00 each
From 4 to 7 participants         U.S.$ 867.00 each
From 8 to 16 participants       U.S.$ 777.00 each

FOR MAKE YOUR RESERVATION ONLINE

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OUR PACKAGES

INCA TRAIL
SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
MACHU PICCHU TOURS
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 8D/7N
TRADITIONAL INKA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4D/3N
BRIEF INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2D/1N
CHOQUEQUIRAO TO MACHU PICCHU TREK 8D/7N
CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 4D/3N
SALKANTAY/ INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU TREK 6D/5N
SALKANTAY GLACIER TREK 5D/4N
HIGHLANDS OF PERU, AUSANGATE TREK 6D/5N
NATIVE COMMUNITIES, LARES VALLEY TREK 4D/3N
LAST STRONGHOLD OF THE INCAS, VILCABAMBA TREK 8D/7N
CHACHAPOYAS CULTURE
KUELAP FORTRESS
GOCTA WATERFALL TREK 5D/4N
AREQUIPA, COLCA CANYON 3D/2N
LIMA CITY TOUR, NAZCA LINES
PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE
BALLESTAS ISLANDS (LITTLE GALAPAGOS)
PUNO AND TITICACA LAKE 3D/2N
MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE 8D/7N
PERU RAFTING
URUBAMBA ONE DAY RAFTING
URUBAMBA TWO DAYS RAFTING
WHITEWATER RAFTING APURIMAC RIVER 3D/2N
TAMBOPATA RIVER, JUNGLE RAFTING 9D/8N