DISCOVER CHACHAPOYAS

Kuelap and Gocta in Northern  Peru

Chachapoyas Tour, Trek and Travel Specialists in Northern Peru

Vilaya Tours have been operating since 1998. We run private and customized tours to Kuelap, the sarcophagi of Karajia and the Mummy Museum of Leymebamba. The mountain scenery is stunning, with deep canyons, cloud forest and waterfalls including Gocta Waterfall, the third highest in the world. These habitats are home to many different birds including some endemic species. The rich plant life and a lush greeness is a feature of the Chachapoyas area.

Further afield along our trekking routes you can explore the magnificent tomb sites at Tajopampa, including La Petaca and Diablo Hausi or Lake of the Condors. Follow pre-inca trails to Vira Vira, one of the magical Cloud Warrior cities. 

The area has featured on a BBC Documentary “Lost Kingdoms of South America: People of the Clouds”,  National Geographic's "Lost Cities Revaled with Albert Lin" and Sir David Attenborough’s 2009 “Life: Birds” where the BBC filmed the the Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird which is unique to the Chachapoyas area and considered one of the most beautiful birds on the planet.

Chachapoyas Tours

Our Chachapoyas tours are of various lengths and focuses. All our tours include a visit to Kuelap. Vilaya Tours is used to organizing custom made tours and all the tours can be adapted to suit your interests and time frame. Tours can be Chachapoyas only or include other cities such as Chiclayo, Tarapoto or Cajamarca. We can also organize tours for those who want to arrive in Chachapoyas on their own.

Chachapoyas Tours
North end of Kuelap from the air
Trekking south of Leymebamba

Chachapoyas Treks

Trekking in the Chachapoyas area is very special: you will hike or horse ride through stunning varied scenery; be away from the crowds and experience places comparatively few people have seen. Vilaya Tours has organized trekking tours since 1998. Our standard tours go to Laguna de los Condores (Lake of the Condors) and Tajopampa. Whether you want to hike or horse ride Vilaya Tours can make your adventure comfortable.

Chachapoyas Treks

Client Testimonials

"I would recommend anyone visiting Peru to avoid the tourist traps of the southern gringo trail in favour of a trip with Vilaya Tours."

G. Thompson, 1999

Cities of the Condors Trek

"Rob, thanks again for a truly inspirational week. What made it really special was the personal service I received."

P. Helps, 2006

5 Day Chachapoyas Tour

"Thank you for a great tour, including for introducing us to people and aspects of the Chachapoyas area beyond the normal tour spots"

S. Miller, 2009

Custom Tour

"I think your tour was first class. I wish we could have spent more time there."

Mark and Rae, 2010

Custom Tour

"The seven day trek was a great adventure, with a caring and attentive support crew, great food and amazing scenery."

M and D Parker, 2011

Northern Peru Special Adventure

"Thanks very much. We had a wonderful time. It was an amazing week. The archaeological sites were excellent."

S. McFadyen, 2015

Amazon to Andes Custom Tour

"I want to thank you for a most rewarding trip. I am left with a much better feeling for the Chachapoya architecture and the cliff tombs, to say nothing of the design of the old churches."

J. Ingham, 2015

Custom Tour

"We are always telling people about our amazing trip to Chachapoyas we can't thank you enough for everything you did for us it was really an unforgettable trip."

O. Gustafason, 2016

8 Day Birding/Nature and Archaeology

"Thank you for an extremely professional operation that allowed us to bring our children and elderly parents!"

J. Thomas, 2018

5 Day Chachapoyas Discoverer

"We had a wonderful time with the trip to Northern Peru you put together for us. We were truly impressed with the archaeology and the birding was great."

P. Bradshaw, 2019

Custom Tour including Chiclayo

"I first want to thank you for a wonderful few days. It was beyond all my expectations and hopefully one day I will be back."

B. Gozzi, 2023

5 Day Custom Chachapoyas Tour

"We gave an outline of what we wanted to do, the things we liked to do and the Vilaya team did the rest. What they delivered with was an extraordinary guided experience"

A and M Kirk, 2024

6 Day Gocta and Chachapoyas Tour

Read more Testmonials
Gocta Waterfall Panorama

Information

South end of Kuelap from the air

Built on a ridge at 3000m, Kuelap is the largest ancient stone structure in South America. It is enigmatic.

Kuelap
Karajia sarcophagi

Karajia, funeral sculptures built from mud, cane and straw have stood for centuries on a cliff ledge.

Karajia
Gocta Waterfall from the air

Gocta Waterfall at 771m in two leaps is surrounded by cloud forest. A lovely day out and  place to visit.

Gocta Waterfall
Mummies in Leymebamba Museum

Leymebamba Museum houses over 200 mummies and other artefacts recovered from tombs discovered in 1997.

Leymebamba Museum