Peru Vira Vira trek
Northern Peru is an explorer’s paradise.
Compared to the southern circuit the north is off the beaten track, yet there are so many jewels to be discovered. The trip starts on the coastal plain and we will see remains of Sican, Lambayeque and Moche cultures, the latter of which has been described as the Andean Greeks, due to the level of art they achieved in their metalwork and ceramics.
Then we drive to the Chachapoyas region of the Andes, a rugged terrain of deep canyons and the richest archaeological area in the world. After a couple of days acclimatization we start our trek in to the mountains, seeing various archeological sites on route to the magical site of Vira Vira – a Chachapoya site overlooking a round lake. At the end of the trek we drive to the city of Cajamarca.
Day 1: Chiclayo / Tucume / Museum of Sican / Royal Tombs Museum
You are met at Chiclayo airport and taken to the hotel. Then we drive out to the Pyramids of Tucume built by the Lambayeque culture and used by subsequent cultures.
Afterwards we drive through the network of roads that connect the sugarcane fields and arrive at the town of Ferrenafe and we will visit the Museum of Sican.
After lunch in Chiclayo we head to Lambayeque and the Royal Tombs Museum, which houses the stunning finds from Sipan – a site that has featured in National Geographic Magazine. The artefacts we see include, ceramics and exquisite copper, gold and silver work. Overnight in Casa de la Luna. (B, L)
Day 2: Drive to Chachapoyas
Today we drive from the coast in to the Andes and the small city of Chachapoyas. We start by crossing the coastal strip to arrive at the foot hills of the Andes passing by irrigated and arid areas. We climb to a pass that marks the Continental Divide at 2137m and enter a dry valley that leads down to the Marañon River, a major tributary of the Amazon.
Crossing the Marañon we enter the department of Amazonas and this is where we start heading south via the River Utcubamba Canyon. The stunning canyon leads us to Chachapoyas, a city at 2335m and we spend the night at Casa Vieja.(B, L, D)
Day 3: Gocta Waterfall Excursion
Leaving early from the hotel we drive 1.5 hours to the village of Cocachimba where we start out trek to the waterfall of Gocta. The waterfall though known about for many years was only recently measured in 2006 and found to be the third highest in the world.
The trek goes along the side of a valley through sugar cane fields and into forest that is home to the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, mountain sloth and the magnificent cock-of-the-rock. With glimpses of the waterfall along the way we arrive at the base of the highest fall after 3 hours. Those brave enough may want a dip a in the pool at the base.
Return to Chachapoyas for the night Casa Vieja. (B, L)
Day 4: Kuelap
To get the best opportunity for photography we leave the lodge early and drive for 1½ hours to Kuelap. The towering walls and hundreds of roundhouses capped by the cloud forest at 3,000 meters (9,900 feet) above sea level always amaze first time visitors.
We'll explore the many ceremonial constructions, and brilliant layout as a group with plenty of opportunities to wander on you own. We then return private transport and drive to El Chillo for the night. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Leymebamba-Tajopampa
Driving further south up the Utucbamba valley we arrive at the village of Leymebamba. This is where are horses and support crew come from and we will leave our bags with them to load up while we visit the Mummy Museum of Leymebamba. This museum houses and displays 219 mummies and thousands of other artifacts found at a nearby tomb site in 1997 at Lake of the Condors.
After the visit we will drive further south into a forested gorge, with chances of seeing condor and golden-headed quetzals on the way. We will lunch on route and carry on by foot to Tajopampa where we camp for the night at 3100m. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Cliff tombs of La Petaca, Diablo Huasi
Towering over our campsite is the cliff of La Petaca. There are scores of cliff tombs jutting out from tiny ledges and under large overhangs. Also a prominent pictograph of Chachapoya warrior standing beside his victim. We get a good look at the site after breakfast and carry on up to another site called Diablo Huasi. This is another cliff tomb site and we get excellent views of the tombs.
A steep climb leads us to the Chachapoya site of Boveda, where we eat lunch. After lunch we pass by many old earthen terraces and reach an altitude of 3640m. A grassy slope leads down to the San Miguel river and a climb gets us to our high campsite of Mal Paso at 3660m. The camp is 20minutes below a pass and can be quite cold at night.(B, L, D)
Day 7: Papamarca, El Plomo Pass and Cabildo Pata
Gaining the pass (3730m) we enjoy a gentle descent skirting a hillside covered in ancient earth terraces, which are part of the complex of Papamarca “Potato Town”.
We will go and get a closer look of this very large complex that occupies land on both sides of the Timbambo river. A steep climb takes us up to a rocky ridge (3750m) overlooking the main valley and we get to appreciate the size of Papamarca. From there we make a gentle ascent to the top of El Plomo Pass (3790m) and short distance below is where we stop for lunch.
In the afternoon we have a leisurely 1½hour walk to our campsite at Cabildo Pata. This campsite is named after the Chachapoya site close by situated on the same grassy moraine overlooking the village of Atuen and the Laguna Sierpe. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Cabildo Pata, Ulila Pass and Las Quinuas Valley
We start by hiking down to Atuen, where we can see the remains of two Inka baths. Heading further south and up the Inka trail we pass by the Laguna Sierpe and see from a distance a pictograph.
We have lunch just above a section called Los Balcones and carry on along the obvious Inka trail to the Ulila Pass (4100m). The descent into the Quinuas Valley is along the trail which in places is paved, sometimes rocky and other parts muddy. Our camp is at the start of a large pampa at 3470m.(B, L, D)
Day 9: Las Quinuas Valley to Lake Huayabamba
We head down the Quinuas Valley where a herd of alpacas live. The valley is U shaped with dramatic cliffs and mountains either side. Crossing over the Quinuas Stream we then head up towards the pass that leads over to the Huaybamba valley.
We eat lunch somewhere close to the pass and then start to the decent to our campsite. On the way down we see the small Lake Totora (Reed Lake) and a waterfall and beyond we see the lowest roundhouses of Vira Vira. Our camp is in a paddock at 3340m and the Lake Huayabamba is 10minutes beyond.(B, L, D)
Day 10: Vira Vira
Today we explore the ruins of Vira Vira and with luck we may spot giant King condors as we absorb the magic of this forgotten settlement. The area was lifted from obscurity and introduced to explorers by Keith Muscutt, author of Chachapoyas: Warriors of the Clouds.
There is a fine map of Vira Vira that we take along that helps bring the site alive as we work our way to the summit platform. We make a circuit out of the ruin arriving at the lake. In the afternoon rest or go fishing with the support staff. We spend a second night at our Huayabamba camp. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Lake Huayabamba to Uchucmarca
We climb over the pass (3740m) by which we arrived and descend via the beautiful mountain lake of Las Quinuas where we eat lunch.
A little further down from the lake we rejoin the Inca road at Quinuas village. The trail is wide as it skirts its way along the side of the valley. We pass by The Five Sisters a buttress formation and a little beyond we enter another valley and see our destination of Uchucmarca. Dropping down to the stream we cross via a bridge and then a steep climb to get to the village itself.
Camp is on a football pitch in the village at 3050m. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Uchucmarca to Cajamarca
Today a long drive through magnificent and varied scenery. We climb up to 3900m then descend to the Marañon River, crossing it at Balsas at 850m. The road climbs out on the western bank of the canyon to a height of 3200m and we eat lunch with a super view of the canyon.
Beyond is the market town of Celendin. The drive from Celendin to Cajamarca takes 3 hours, passing over high rolling hills. Our hotel is the Laguna Seca where every room has geothermic heated water ideal. (B, L)
Day 13: Cajamarca
We do a half day city tour of Cajamarca with plenty of time to enjoy the city on your own afterwards or the hotel. In the evening we have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)
Day 14: Drive to airport, fly to Lima
Morning flight to Lima, end of services (B)
You could extend your trip by trekking the Inca Trail or visiting the Amazon.
Check out our Peru group trips, or our many tailor made Peru options. You can always contact the office for more information on tailor made and group options.
What’s included
1 night in Casa de la Luna, Chiclayo, 2 nights in La Casa Vieja, Chachapoyas, 1 night in El Chillo, 2 nights in Laguna Seca, Cajamarca, 7 nights camping, Private transport for all tranfers and excursions, 7 days trekking, Trek staff, horses for carrying gear etc, Meals as per itinerary, English-speaking guides, entrances fees to Tucume, Royal Tombs Museum, Sican Museum, Kuelap, Gocta, Vira Vira and Tajopampa
Not included
Any flights (we can look for these for you), tips, alcoholic drinks with meals not listed, sleeping bag, internal airfares, airport taxes, personal expenses.
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