Tarapoto & Gocta Itineraries
Highlights of Amazonas, including Kuelap Fortress & Gocta Falls.
Begins and ends in the high Amazon of Tarapoto.
Private transport, English-speaking guides & best accommodation in region.
Overview
Starting and ending in Tarapoto, we make the journey to and from Chachapoyas in private transportation, experiencing Amazonia and the Alto Mayo along the way.
Once in Amazonas, we include Kuelap and Gocta Falls as standard in the five-day tour; but we can easily extend your stay in the region, so that you have time to visit other highlights, such as Revash and Leymebamba.
Tarapoto - Gocta: Itinerary Outline:
Day 1: Transfer from Tarapoto Airport. Overnight at Pumarinri or Tucan Suites.
Day 2: Transfer to Cocachimba, via Alto Mayo. Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
Day 3: Gocta Falls. Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
Day 4: Kuelap. Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Tarapoto, via Huembo.
OPTIONAL Extra Day #1: Leymebamba & Revash. Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
OPTIONAL Extra Day #2: Karajia & Chachapoyas. Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
Prices
Below prices are per person, based on double occupancy & shared excursions, in standard rooms, with all meals.
| Itinerary | Length | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Days | £573 / $733 | |
Gocta, Kuelap & Amazonia | 6 Days | £711 / $910 |
Kingdom of Chachapoyas | 7 Days | £811 / $1038 |
Itineraries
detailed Itinerary:
NB. The order of excursions may vary, according to the days of operation.
Day 1 - Tarapoto: Arrival (D)
Reception at the airport and transfer to Pumarinri.
Dinner & overnight at Pumarinri Lodge, or similar.
Some rooms at Pumarinri have private pools.
Day 2 - Tarapoto - Alto Mayo - Abra Patricia - Gocta (B,L,D)
Breakfast and early departure towards the Andes.
The route from Tarapoto to Gocta is 340 km (211 miles), almost entirely on asphalted road.
It is one of the most spectacular in all of Peru, because it climbs from Amazonian jungle to the green Andes of Chachapoyas, passing through the cloud forests of the Alto Mayo, Pomacochas Lagoon and many other places of scenic and ecological interest.
First stop is at Moyobamba to visit the Waqanki orchid botanical garden.
Waqanki Botanical Garden also attracts numerous hummingbirds.
We then continue over the Abra Patricia mountain pass. We will enjoy a boxed lunch, along the way.
We hope to arrive at our accommodation in time to enjoy the sunset in front of Gocta Falls, one of the highest cascades in the world, in the heart of the Peruvian northern Andes.
Dinner & Overnight at Gocta Andes Lodge, or similar.
Day 3 - Hike to Gocta Waterfall (B,L,D)
Breakfast.
From Gocta Lodge, there's an amazing view of the falls, but the trail leading to them is even more breathtaking.
It is a two hour hike (each way), passing through Andean orchards and lush forest full of bromeliads and orchids.
NB. There is the option to do this trail on horseback (at a small extra cost).
Aerial view of Gocta Waterfall’s first drop during rainy season.
Lunch at the lodge, followed by a free afternoon to rest or explore the local village of Cocachimba.
Dinner & Overnight at Gocta Lodge, or similar.
Day 4 - Kuelap (B,L,D)
After breakfast we start driving along the Utcubamba valley, between bromeliads and cacti, towards Nuevo Tingo.
Here we take the newly-built cable car to Kuelap Fortress, located at an altitude of 3,000m (9,842ft).
The impressive citadel walls of Kuelap, with narrow, easily-defendable entrance.
Guided visit of Kuelap archaeological site, followed by lunch back in the village of Nuevo Tingo (or a picnic lunch).
In the afternoon, we make the scenic, two-hour return drive to our accommodation.
Dinner & Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
NB. The cable car does not operate on Mondays.
Day 5 - Gocta - Pomacochas - Tarapoto (B,L,D)
Breakfast and early departure towards the lowlands.
First stop at the Marvelous Spatuletail Visitors Centre, to watch this amazing hummingbird … amongst many other colourful species.
We then carry on along the road to Tarapoto, passing Pomacochas Lagoon and the Alto Mayo rainforest. Box lunch en route.
Arrival in Tarapoto and transfer to the airport.
NB. In the case of late flights, free use of Tucan Suites' swimming pool and facilities will be allowed.
End of tour.
If wanting to spend longer in the Chachapoyas region, here are the days that can be added:
Additional Day 1: Leymebamba: Mausoleums & Mummies (B,L,D)
Breakfast and departure towards the high Utcubamba valley.
On the road to Leymebamba, we stop to visit Revash Mausoleums, involving a two hour hike.
Back on the road again, we arrive at Leymebamba for lunch and an afternoon visit to the Mummies Museum.
Mummies at Leymebamba Museum, found at Laguna de los Condores.
Return to Gocta Lodge for dinner & overnight.
Additional Day 2: Karajia: Sarcophagi (B,L,D)
Breakfast and tour to Luya Valley.
Chachapoyas culture was the only one in the Americas to build sarcophagi for burials, which are located on massive cliffs, often carved and decorated. We visit the Karajia sarcophagi.
View of sarcophagi in mountainside at Karajia.
In the afternoon we visit the Colonial capital of the region, Chachapoyas.
Dinner & Overnight at Gocta Lodge.
Map
Reviews
“We spent a lovely week traveling from Lima to visit Tarapoto and Cocachimba.
We stayed at Toucan Suites in Tarapoto which was comfortable and allowed us to take mototaxis through the city and visit local shops.
Then we took private transportation to Cocachimba ... We stayed at Gocta Lodge which was incredibly beautiful.
... We spent 1 day on a group tour of Kuelap and 1 day on a group hike to Gocta Falls. Both places were extremely beautiful and our guides were very knowledgeable and chatty, which made it more interesting and fun.
The next day we returned to Tarapoto via private transportation, this time stopping at a bird sanctuary where we were able to see the spatula-tailed hummingbird. This was a quick and worthwhile stop with a beautiful view.
... Overall we really enjoyed our trip and would recommend it as a great option for seeing more of the endless beauty of Peru. ”
“Our trip to Peru was great. We enjoyed both of the stays and both of the places Tarapoto and Cocachimba.
... What we enjoyed a lot also was the travel between the two places. Our driver was friendly and the care he took was phenomenal. ”
“We really enjoyed both Pumarinri and Gocta Lodge - each was comfortable and matched its environment. It was a tropical retreat compared to a mountain top get-away (highly recommend both to everyone so they can taste the diversity of Peru).
As a vegan, I was very pleased with how accommodating both lodges were to my diet needs. I enjoyed all of the potato dishes & even on outings restaurants were able to serve rice beans & plantains which honestly is a simple favorite! Tim did the meat eating and he like everything he had. ”
“Overall, we had a great trip and saw some incredible things. We had a good mix of activities and I most enjoyed the pottery/chocolate/honey day as we got to talk with the artisans and see their passion.
[The guide] Ron was great and we came home with great memories and lots of recommendations for friends.”