Cuispes

Northern Peru Archaeology & Low Amazon Lodge Testimonial

Northern Peru Archaeology & Low Amazon Lodge Testimonial

Roberto and Paola from Turin, Italy got in touch with PeruNorth in February 2023 looking for a 24-day itinerary to take in the archaeological and natural highlights of Northern Peru, along with some time in or around an Amazonian reserve, such as Pacaya-Samiria.

Here are their comments about the trip, along with a selection of photos they took:

Sam Watkins - Cuispes & Chachapoyas Review

Sam Watkins - Cuispes & Chachapoyas Review

Read the testimony of Sam Watkins, a UK national living in Malaga, Spain, who travelled solo to Northern Peru in July 2022.

He stayed in the little-visited village of Cuispes, from where he visited Yumbilla, Cristal, Medio Cerro and Gocta waterfall.

He did a day trip to El Tigre Sarcophagi; and finished by visiting the Chachapoya citadel of Yalape (in lieu of Kuelap that was closed owing to restoration work).

The last night was spent in Chachapoyas city; and much of the transport was by mototaxi, in order to keep costs down.

Alexander & Helen - Northern Peru Review

Alexander & Helen - Northern Peru Review

This thirty-something couple from London did an extensive & active tour of Northern Peru taking in:

  • Chiclayo

  • Chachapoyas

  • Leymebamba

  • Laguna de los Condores Trek

  • Treehouse Lodge in Amazon Rainforest

  • Beach time in Vichayito, Piura

Here are their thoughts on what they did and saw

Hike to Yumbilla Waterfall

Hike to Yumbilla Waterfall

One of PeruNorth's first forays into Northern Peru was in 2006, to see first-hand Catarata Gocta, which had just been claimed as the third-highest waterfall in the world. At that time, we learned that Gocta was just one of many drops from this one plateau in the Amazonas province.

In the subsequent years, another of these waterfalls, Yumbilla, had been surveyed by Peru's Geographical Institute (IGN), and found to have a total drop 125 m (407 ft) higher than Gocta. So, it went to top of our list of must-see natural attractions.

Chachapoyas: Peru's most unexplored region?

Chachapoyas: Peru's most unexplored region?

Gocta Falls is the second highest waterfall in Peru, yet was not scientifically measured until 2006, at which time they were declared the third highest in the world (an opinion since revised several times). They are barely 32 km (20 miles) north of Chachapoyas as the crow (or condor!) flies, and yet had escaped the attention of travellers and researchers.

Ten years later, just how remote and unexplored is Chachapoyas?