A Guide To Leymebamba
Recreations of Chachapoya sarcophagi in the Museum.
Leymebamba (also spelled 'Leimebamba') is 74 km (46 miles) south of Chachapoyas, along the Utcubamba River, and is the most important town on the road to Celendin.
The altitude here is 1,800 m (5,900 ft), so it is warmer than Chachapoyas, and the vegetation is lusher.
It is very tranquil, with a pleasant main square.
However, the most compelling reason to visit is for the Museo Leymebamba, a superb, community-run rural museum 2.5 km (1.5 miles) outside the village, on the road to Cajamarca.
Two of the over 200 mummies on display at Leymebamba Museum.
Opened in the year 2000, the museum covers both the Chachapoya and subsequent Inca cultures.
Among its exhibits are over 200 mummies, and accompanying funerary offerings, recovered in 1997 from the Laguna de los Condores (Condor Lake) site.
The Chachapoya used to bury their dead in a crouched position, inside wooden sarcophagi, then wrap the sarcophagus in cloth and sew a human face on the front.
Despite the humidity of the area, and the activities of huaqueros, hundreds of mummies were discovered, with skin and even hair still intact. Seeing a room full of mummies is undoubtedly a highly-memorable museum experience.
The museum also has a unique exhibition of quipus (the famous 'talking knots' by which the Incas recorded facts and figures, in the absence of a written language). They are in an exceptional state of preservation.
The building was largely funded from overseas donations, but is constructed with local materials and influenced by regional architectural traditions.
The garden contains over 100 species of orchid.
Watching the humming birds, while drinking Inka Cola, at Kenticafe.
Currently there is no on-site café, but just across the road from the museum's entrance is the relaxing Kenticafe, where you can have a drink and watch some of the 17 species of hummingbirds found in the gardens flitting around the feeders.
To see the impressive, cliff-side buildings where the museum's mummies came from, involves a strenuous 10 to 12-hour uphill hike or horseback ride to Condor Lake.
This is usually done as part of a three or four-day trip, and is just the best-known of a number of wonderful treks to Chachapoya archaeological sites that can be undertaken from Leymebamba.
For less strenuous activities in Leymebamba, you can visit the outlet of the Asociacion de Mujeres Artesanas de Leymebamba (AMAL), located on the main square, near the church.
This group of local, female artisans makes hand-sewn handbags, bracelets, purses, and other wool garments and accessories, many of which are modelled on ancient Chachapoya designs.
View over Leymebamba, looking South.
The lovely Atuen River runs through town.
There is also a short path down to the Atuen River, if you head up a couple of blocks (southwards) from the square.
Heading in the opposite direction, there is a dirt, switchback road that climbs up above Leymebamba, giving great views of the town and the Utcubamba Valley.
What our clients say about Leymebamba:
“... the Leymebamba Museum with its mummies: if that museum were in Europe or in the U.S.A. I’m sure you could get in only with an online reservation made 6 months before!”
“Special attention to the incredible collection of the beautiful museum of Laymebamba ...
... make sure to have a cup of coffee with some local pastries at a small café just across the street [Kenticafe].”
“Our favorite cultural destination in the itinerary was pairing our hiking excursions with the Leymebamba Museum.
It was fascinating to experience these incredible places throughout the Chachapoyas area and then to get a detailed visit of the museum with the director! ”
“I thought the town was nice and I had a great lunch there.
The museum was exceptional.”
“I liked the fact that the Leymebamba Museum is built and run by the local community.”
“Leimebamba Museum was beautifully curated and inspiring, especially as it linked so well with our trek to Laguna de los Condores.”
“Leymebamba Museum was a gem, and more special because of [the guide] Ronald’s involvement when the mummies were recovered. ”
How to Visit Leymebamba:
Leymebamba and its superb Mummy Museum is another must-see of the Chachapoyas region, and so included on a number of PeruNorth overland itineraries to the area:
Hidden Chachapoyas 7D (includes hikes to little-known Chachapoya ruins)
If the museum is not included in your tour package, it can be reached in mototaxi, costing a couple of dollars from Leymebamba centre; or on foot, taking about an hour each way (NB. uphill on the way there; downhill on the way back).
The area in and around Leymebamba is great for spotting many bird species, such as the Torrent Duck, Band-winged Nightjar and Koepcke’s Screech Owl, so is also included in various PeruNorth birding itineraries: