North Peru: Enigmatic and Extraordinary. Step off the beaten path in Peru with Tanit Trails
In the heart of South America, where the echoes of ancient civilizations intertwine with the lush rhythms of rainforest and mountains, your guests can seek out a Peruvian odyssey that goes beyond the conventional.
Thanks to our expert friends at Tanit Trails DMC, we’ve got the ideal curated expedition for those with adventure in their souls - one which offers an escape into the high Amazon territories of Northern Peru, where authenticity, ancient communities and immersive encounters reign supreme.
This example itinerary is a blend of experiences sure to enhance any Peruvian exploration, whether as an add-on to touring the typical highlights of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu or as a foundation for returning guests looking to delve into Peru’s hidden treasures with greater depth and nuance.
Think ancient Amazonian communities warmly sharing their culture and cuisine. Remote and remarkable archaeological sites rising from mystic cloud forest mists. And simple-yet-perfectly-formed accommodations, locally owned and community-focused. Join us as we dive deeper into this iconic journey, where every stage unveils another of Northern Peru's treasured secrets.
Trip to Tarapoto
Your guests’ adventure starts in Tarapoto, which is just a short flight north of Lima. Here, a private transfer brings your guests to the stunning Pumarinri Amazon Lodge, a wonderfully comfortable High Amazon lodge hotel in a riverside setting amidst 62 hectares of private reserve. Here, surrounded by forests, rivers and streams, your guests can relax into their new reality, soaking up the sights and sounds of the Huallaga River ecosystems with its incredible diversity of flora and fauna.
Traditional Tarapoto - Local Markets, Local Produce and Excellent Food
In the company of Tanit Trails’ brilliant private guide, a visit to El Huequito market in Tarapoto is a fantastic way to ease into the colour and rhythms of local life as they explore the rich array of exotic local produce and ingredients on offer, all farmed and made in the region.
This is a place long dominated by the patriarchy, and so a trip to the cigar factory “Tabacalera del Oriente” is a really fascinating insight into how women are slowly building empowerment within this traditional society. This small business champions opportunities for women and employs a mostly female workforce, who spend their days skillfully taking the tobacco leaves through a slow, careful process from collection to fermentation and drying before painstakingly handcrafting each cigar.
Chocolate lovers (so everyone then :) will love a tour of Tesoro Amazonico chocolate factory, where guests can see how the delicious local cacao pods and seeds are transformed into chocolate bars of exceptional quality.
And no visit to Tarapoto would be complete without a traditional Amazonian meal in one of the best local restaurants. La Patarashca is renowned for its delicious regional dishes, all served in a beautifully authentic setting surrounded by local artworks - the perfect way to round off a day’s exploration of Tarapota town before returning to the forest sanctuary of Pumarinri!
Chasuta (or Chazuta) Community, Co-operatives and Cooking Class
Chasuta is a beautiful, humble and authentic Amazon village which suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism in the 1980s and early 1990s - but its recovery has been strong, sweet and complete. Instead of falling into despair and ruin, the people of this resilient community (a few very firm, determined women in particular!) organised themselves into small associations, each one tasked with developing initiatives that would support their families and improve their quality of life, from cacao production to artisanal ceramics and papermaking.
First stop here is the Misky chocolate factory, where a few amazing women are making truly innovative cacao products - and not just chocolate! Cacao also yields the versatile macambo fruit, which can be turned into nutritious snacks, spreads and oils, its rich flavour enhancing everything from savoury dishes to desserts. Visiting a local Cacao farm, guests can witness the entire process of extraction, fermentation and drying of the fruit’s seeds - seeds which then ultimately return to Tarapoto to be transformed into chocolate at factories like Tesoro Amazonico!
A cooking class with a group of women devoted to recapturing and sharing ancient Amazonian recipes is an incredible experience that will stay with guests for a lifetime as they learn about typical ingredients and traditional culinary traditions.
And, before returning to Pumarinri for one final night of forest tranquillity, guests have the chance to visit the village’s bustling ceramics workshop, learn about Chasuta’s ancient techniques and traditions - one of which was to bury their dead inside gigantic clay pots (some of which you can still see today in the workshop’s small museum!).
Ancient Archaeology, Orchids and Waterfalls
Today, we continue our journey, crossing through some incredibly bio-diverse areas of Northern Peru. On a bluff overlooking the Moyo river, Mollobamba (or Moyobamba) is the oldest town in Peru’s Amazon basin, established as an Inca outpost as far back as the 15th century.
The town charms visitors with its tranquil ambience and warm Quechua traditions - but it’s possibly best known for its vibrant orchids. Bringing a burst of colour to this verdant landscape, the town is home to thousands of orchid species, many of which have been replanted at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Your guests’ final destination for the day is the spectacular Gocta Andes Lodge at Cocachimba - and if they want to really bask in Northern Peru’s incredible scenery, this is the spot. Set high amongst lush cloud forest, all 18 rooms - and the pool! - gaze out across verdant valley surroundings onto the majestic Gocta waterfall, which, with a breathtaking drop of 771 metres, is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in the world.
As well as being an unbeatable base to explore the ancient archaeological highlights of Chachapoyas (more on that shortly), hikes from Gocta Lodge allow guests to immerse themselves in the forest with its vibrant and varied birdlife - not to mention hiking to the Gocta falls themselves to take in the thunderous roar and ethereal mists.
The hiking trail begins just next to Gocta Lodge and moves through an otherworldly forest landscape with a huge variety of flora and fauna, from monkeys and toucans to orchids and giant ferns - and much more. After a night of relaxation, recuperation and great food back at the Lodge, the ancient sights of Chachapoyas beckon.
Perched on a mountain ridge and reached by cable car, Kuélap Fortress is a true archaeological marvel - a monumental 6th-century stone stronghold whose massive walls hit heights of up to 20 metres in some places. Sometimes known as the "Machu Picchu of the North” - but nowhere near as touristy - this is the largest and best-known pre-Hispanic site in the region and a perfect testament to the advanced engineering and cultural significance of the Chachapoya civilization.
Once home to around 3,000 people, here guests can explore intricate stone carvings, 500 structures within the complex and more than 400 fascinating circular buildings outside, all set amongst fabulous panoramic views of the surrounding cloud forest and Utcubamba Valley.
The evening is spent at Kentitambo, “The Hummingbird Inn”. Overlooking the Museo Leymebamba, this gem of a B&B sits in the most beautiful, peaceful forest setting imaginable, where lush greenery buzzes with hummingbirds. The accommodation here is intimate, secluded and spacious, with guests each having their own comfortable garden cabana in the well-tended gardens.
And Kentitambo are no slouch on the food front either; growing their own organic produce, raising their own pigs and making their own bread, yoghurt and cheese, dishes are a mix of Peruvian and international influence, all made with fresh and mainly local ingredients.
Museums, Mummies and Mausoleums
After a delicious breakfast - and maybe a freshly brewed coffee and cake at Kentitambo’s Kentikafe! - a visit to the Museum of Leymebamba is a must for all, but especially those fascinated by Peru’s pre-Hispanic legacy. In 1997, local farmers stumbled upon an ancient burial site in the high-altitude cliffs of Laguna de los Cóndores (the Condor’s Lake) while chasing runaway animals.
The discovery led to a collaborative effort between the community and archaeologists to salvage and preserve 220 mummies and around 2,000 associated artefacts, carefully removing the remains from the precarious cliff locations. To respectfully display this incredible and unique collection, and to safeguard it from the ravages of nature and the attention of looters, the Museum of Leymebamba was established.
Packed with artefacts, textiles and ceramics which vividly portray the ancient rituals and daily life of the Chachapoya people, this is an unmissable, immersive experience - a true archaeological treasure packed with valuable insights into a lost civilisation.
The next morning sees your guests drive to the village of San Bartolo, south of Chachapoyas city, for an hour’s scenic trek into the cloud forest to the Revash Mausoleums and archeological complex. Dating back to between 1100-1300 AD, this stunning complex of Chachapoya burial sites is built high into limestone cliffs, its ornate pink and cream mausoleums - known as chullpas - resembling miniature houses. Their distinctive design, with elaborate friezes and anthropomorphic figures, reflects the Chachapoya people's intricate burial customs.
Sadly, many were ransacked long ago, though a few have yielded bones and even funerary offerings for archaeologists to examine and deduce that Revash's tombs were not used individually - instead, it’s thought that they were collective residences, destined to bury the prestigious and powerful.
Colonial Cajamarca and the Stone Forest of Cumbemayo
One last night at Kentitambo and it’s time for the drive to Cajamarca, one of the most impressive, immersive one-day road trips in Peru. Winding its scenic way through the breathtaking mountainscapes of the Andes, guests are treated to panoramic views of lush valleys, towering peaks and picturesque rural villages. This drive passes through a number of changing altitudes, each revealing a facet of Peru’s diverse ecosystems and natural beauty - from mystical cloud forests to traditional farming terraces where alpacas graze and vibrant wildflowers grow. And it’s also possible to glimpse ancient archaeological sites, further enriching the experience with historical and cultural significance.
Arriving in Cajamarca in the afternoon, guests check in to the fabulous Hotel & Spa Laguna Seca with its excellent accommodations, fabulous restaurant and thermal waters. A former hacienda, Laguna Seca sits on the site of hot springs, its therapeutic waters channelled to fill 3 outdoor pools, rejuvenating spa pools and - uniquely - guest’s own private bathtubs alike.
Perfectly placed close to the city, yet far enough away to be peaceful and tranquil, this is an ideal base for guests to unwind, relax and enjoy this final stage of their Northern Peru adventure. The following morning brings the chance for a city tour of Cajamarca, a beautiful colonial city built on what was once an Incan stronghold.
To the Incas, Cajamarca held huge historical significance as the place where the last Incan emperor, Atahualpa, encountered the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro in 1532 - and was captured by 200 conquistadors, despite having a force of 50,000 of his own men at his side. Ultimately leading to the downfall of the Inca Empire, Atahualpa’s shocking capture in what is now the Plaza de Armas triggered a capitulation of the Incan army, and a series of events that would reshape the course of South American history.
Now, Cajamarca preserves this historical legacy with sites like the Ransom Room (Cuarto del Rescate), where the legendary exchange between Atahualpa and Pizarro is believed to have occurred and which was filled with gold and silver to pay for the Incan emperor’s rescue - though no rescue was ever made.
The city stands as a tangible link to the complex and transformative period of the Inca-Spanish encounter and also boasts key colonial buildings like its intricate 17th-century Cathedral, the baroque-style San Francisco Church and a fascinating medical museum that provides insight into the evolution of medical science in this part of Peru.
Heading out of the city, guests have time to explore the amazing stone forest at Cumbemayo, a geological wonder etched by pre-Incan civilisations of more than 3,000 years ago. Here, carved limestone formations look like a petrified forest, creating an otherworldly landscape. Decorated with intricate patterns and ancient petroglyphs (including the famous "Frog Stone”), visitors can also see one of the most interesting examples of pre-Columbian hydraulic engineering, an ancient aqueduct that stands as an incredible testament to ingenuity of the ancients.
What next?
That, of course, is up to your clients! Depending on their requirements, this could be the time to return to Lima and head home - or it could just be the beginning of another leg of exploration.
Head even further North, and they’ll find more ancient archaeological wonders in El Brujo, Tucume, Chan Chan and Huaca Rajada, the colonial city of Trujillo, the sun-soaked surf beaches of Máncora, the seaside tranquillity of Zorritos and the famous "Caballitos de totora" ancient, traditional reed/straw fishing boats in the fishing village of Huanchaco.
Thanks to Tanit Trails’ vast expertise in handcrafting epic, slow travel tours around Peru, your clients can work with you and Tanit Trails can pick and choose from any of their diverse options - adding or removing experiences, selecting alternative accommodations and swapping destinations in or out for the perfect bespoke trip.
Whatever your guests’ travel goals, Tanit Trails are on hand to help you tailor an epic expedition that far exceeds their expectations. For more information and/or an introduction to the Tanit Trails team, get in touch today and connect with them on the www.squirrel-fish.com platform.
