Enigmatic Northern
Cultural Tour - 13 Days
Descriptions
Northern Peru’s wealth in Culture and history its so impressive, with Pre-Incas cultures along Peruvian coast, we will find the largest mud town in the world, as well as the tomb of the only women chieftains or “cacicas”, as well as the biggest pre-colombian Royal tomb “Lord of Sipan Tomb”, one of most important Pre-Incas Culture “Los Chachapoyas”, all of them are just a sample of what will be seen in this tour, besides of course lots of wonderful landscapes next to Peruvian cuisine.
Day 1: Trujillo.
We’ll be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to your comfortable hotel, Trujillo has lot to show us, city tour including a panoramic visit of the downtown, surrounded by colonial mansions now recovered to their full magnificence by local institutions: La Casa Urquiaga nowadays Banco de Reserva, La Casa Risco – Museum of Archaeology, are very good samples of XVII century mansions with iron balconies. City tour include Visiting The Cathedral, Monastery of El Carmen and Art Museum, we’ll have a very busy day.
Night: Trujillo. L:D.
Day 2: Sincicap – Chan Chan.
Early in the morning we’ll go to Sincicap to look for some endangered local Peruvian endemic species Russet-bellied Spinetail, Piura Chat-tyrant, Black-necked Woodpecker, Unicolor Tapaculo and other species after a morning birding we drive back to Trujillo after lunch we visit Chan Chan, the ancient Capital of the Chimu Kingdom, its considered the largest mud-brick city in the pre-Hispanic Latin America, Chimu Culture were excellent engineers and architects they designed this magnificent town.
Night: Trujillo. B:L:D.
Day 3: El Brujo – Magdalena de Cao Museum to Chiclayo.
After breakfast, departure to northern Trujillo, were its located the archaeological site “El Brujo complex” which belongs to the Mochica civilization. this Peruvian word means «The Sorcerer». This current name is due to the common practice of shamans, to hold some of their healing ceremonies at prominent hills or prehispanic ruins, which they consider to be places of power.
we visit Magdalena de Cao Museum, then we keep driving to Chiclayo were we spend a night. late in the day we do some birding in looking for Peruvian Plancutter, Cinereous finch, Rufous Flycatcher all to them Peruvian endemic species.
Night: Chiclayo. B:L:D.
Day 4: Lord of Sipan – Bosque Pomac.
Lord of Sipan located 33 Km southeast of the city on the middle sugar-cane plantation. its only tomb that was found intact with all his treasures: over 200 pieces of pottery and more than 100 pieces of gold, silver and copper jewelry. after in-situ visit we will continue our tour visiting «Tumbas Reales de Sipan» Museum build specially to host the marvelous founded at the Sipan’s site, with most complete collection of archaeological treasures from the northern coast, including samples from the Vicus civilization; then we will visit Tucume, a complex of pyramids surrounding by an imposing site and is considered as an important political and religious center, next to its Bosque Pomac, where we have a variety of tumbesian species like Tumbes tyrant, Tumbes Swallow and lots of birds restricted to Tumbesian area.
Night: Olmos. B:L:D.
Day 5: Abra Porculla – Dry forest around Jaen.
Almost a full day birding we have during this day, after breakfast we leave the hotel, to start driving toward the Andes just before to pass the highest point we’ll be birding looking for localized species like Henna-hooded and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaners, Black‐cowled Saltator, Chapman’s Antshrike, Elegant Crescentchest, and Bay‐crowned Brush‐Finch, Gray-and-gold Warbler, Ecuadorian Piculet and many more birds, then we drive to Jaen arriving for lunch, late in the day we visit the middle Marañon valley looking for many specialties, located just around this valley: Marañon Spinetail, Chinchipe Spinetail, Little Inca-finch, Red-crested Finch, Collared Antshrike «Shumbae race», Northern-slaty Antshrike (Marañon Race) Marañon Crescentchest, and many more find around in this valley.
Night: Jaen. B:L:D.
Day 6: To Huembo Ecolodge – Marvelous Spatuletail.
Immediately after breakfast we start birding looking for some missing species of day before, leaving this valley just before to get so hot weather, we drive toward east along Marañon Valley, we’ll visit Huembo Ecolodge center our main target its to see the unique and extraordinary «Marvelous Spatuletail», like his name mention its an incomparable hummingbird, here fortunately there are hummingbird feeders, so chance to see the fabulous creature its very high, we have the full afternoon to visit and enjoy this area with many other species.
Night: Huembo. B:L:D.
Day 7: Utcubamba Valley – Kuelap.
We leave Huembo after breakfast, we drive along the Utcubamba Valley, on the way to Kuelap, we’ll enjoy wonderderful landscapes, Torrent duck are possible to see from the vehicle.
Kuelap – Preincas archaeological site, part of Chachapoyas culture is compare with Machupicchu, this Pre incas site is impressive, his location in top of the mountains in Utcubamba Valley, makes more amazing, actually there is Cable-way, this give us another perspective to enjoy nice scenery, our day we’ll be with lots of emotions combining nature,culture and History.
Birding of course Present, there are many birds to find on the way, some of them are Peruvian Pigeon, Specke-chested Piculet and Black-necked Woodpecker, those Peruvian Endemic Species.
Night: Chachapoyas. B:L:D.
Day 8: Karajia and Revash.
Northern Peru has enigmatic Cultural places to Visit many of them are not popular but they have lot to show us, in this cultural tour we include this fascinating areas: The Revash funerary complex and Karajia an archaeological site in Utcubamba Valley, where eight Chachapoyan mummies were discovered on the cliff side, referred to by local residents as the “ancient wise men”. Birding always present, because these place are surrounded by natural habitat.
Night: Leymebamba. B:L:D.
Day 9: Laguna de los Condores – Leymebamba Museum.
After an early breakfast we drive to «Laguna de los Condores»canyon,where if we are lucky we’ll see these amazing huge birds flying close by, the zone its perfect for many birds like Quetzals and Andean toucan and rare Red-hooded Tanager, mix flock its present in this kind of habitat, with couple hours birding, we visit Leymebamba museum or well know Casa Mallki, this museum was built to provide a place for the preservation of the mummies and archaeological materials recovered from Laguna de los Cóndores in 1997.
we leave Leymebamba to cross Marañon Valley, driest valley in Peru, in this area there are several endemic species restricted to this habitat, Buff-bridled and Gray-winged Inca-finches, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Marañon Thrush….. etc.
Night: Celendin. B:L:D.
Day 10: Marañon Valley – Cajamarca.
On the day before probably we didn’t have enough time to find all our targets that why this day we have a second chance, mid morning birding would be OK, them we drive to Cajamarca on the way some other species are waiting for us like Rufous Antpitta (Cajamarcae), Rare and local Rufous‐eared Brush‐Finch, Black‐crested Tit‐Tyrant, Jelski’s Chat‐Tyrant, Baron’s Spinetail, Shining sunbeam, Yellow-breasted Brush-finch, we keep driving to Cruz Conga looking for rare White‐tailed Shrike‐Tyrant, which is very similar to Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (they overlap), andean Hillstar, and many others.
Night: Cajamarca. B:L:D.
Day 11: Gray-bellied comet – Ventanillas de Otuzco.
Cajamarca its a similar town in appearance to Cusco, we look for the rare, local and Critically endangered Peruvian endemic species Gray-bellied Comet, them we visit to Ventanillas de Otuzco, then we will continue to Tres Molinos Ranch, well known due to its milk cattle, and Horse of passage; Llacanora village, its Colonial Church, the Caves of Callacpuma, and finally the Inca baths.
Night: Cajamarca. B:L:D.
Day 12: Great Spinetail – City Tour Cajamarca.
We have to visit San Marcos area where Great Spinetail is located and more birds, on the way Rufous-backed Inca-finch its possible, with more Peruvian endemic species, we drive back to Cajamarca for a typical lunch and after midday we have a city tour visiting The Cathedral, Main square, San Francisco church, Religious Art Museum, the Monumental Complex Bethlehem, Colonial Hospitals, and the Rescue Room, where Atahualpa the last Inca offered to filled with pieces of gold and silver to obtain his freedom form the Spanish conquerors.
Day 13: Final Morning.
Transfer service we’ll be ready for you according your flight schedule, where we finish our tour.
Night: Lima/ or maybe you have a connection flight to go back home. B.
What to Bring:
- Please do not bring too much luggage. For domestic flights you can hold 23 kg. ( 50.7063 lbs.) and 8 kg. (17.637 lbs.) in hand luggage. Extra costs run by yourselves.
- Lightweight comfortable clothing is recommended, i.e. standard field pants and shirts for the
entire trip, some jackets, gloves, for cold places is enough, at least for Cajamarca area. - Sunblock and hat or cap.
- An umbrella and rain poncho, remember even if you have a good weather forecast, this can change suddenly.
- Please using camouflaged clothing would be OK, not really any military clothing avoid the second.
- Shower thongs / rubber flip flops will be useful.
Recommendation:
- Camera.
- Binoculars.
- Extra Batteries.
- Telescope (Optional).
General:
- We’ll visit protected National Archaeological sites and birding will primarily be on forested roads and some trails – difficulty is totally easy level.
- We will be moving between 3400 – 2400 meters, asl (11154.86 – 7874.016 feet), this just on one day). Mostly between 2400 meters.
- We will experience all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is necessary.
- We will have electric power at all our destinations. There are sockets inside all rooms with 220 volt
electricity. - Wifi service is provide in your hotel.
- Please note be sure and bring extra batteries sometimes one single battery is not enough for one day
- additional memory card would be OK, please remember to download your previous day photos.
Medical and Health Information:
High altitude information you may find useful. Arriving in Trujillo is not a problem because we are at sea level, our Cultural is relaxing, highest point during the tour is 3100 meters, but we will gradually acclimate, adjusting to higher altitude is a very individual thing.
Some may feel no effects at all, some may have minor effects, and others may experience great difficulty.
You may feel the lack of oxygen, and will easily get “out of breath” You may feel a little nauseous, have a headache, or tire easily.. You will acclimatize to it by producing more red blood cells, so you should make sure you stay well hydrated, avoid physical effort as the extra cells thicken your blood. and Coca Tea its very helpful.
Drink lots of water, while avoiding alcohol or caffeine. Dehydration can make any effects of altitude worse. Try to avoid overeating the first day.
Your safety and well-being is of first importance above all else.
Therefore, I will be making frequent checks to make sure everyone is feeling well.
If someone in the group isn’t feeling well easily we can visit and small hospital to be sure that you are OK at the same time we can ask for some medicine at the drugstore after doctor diagnostic.
There are medications available for altitude sickness. Please check with your doctor. For the headache, you can take an over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
Travel insurance
Our suggestion is that you use travel insurance service. The normal price of this tour not cover travel insurance.
Books:
Birds of Peru is the best field Guide.
If you consider you can bring some other field guide are welcome.
+ Prices Include:
- Private transport in all the way.
- All accommodations in all the tour (Trujillo/ Cajamarca).
- Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch/ picnic or box lunch depending where we are, dinner, snacks, water available all the time).
- Bird guide specialist.
- Bird checklist per person.
- Entrances to all Archaeological sites and Birding spots.
- Transfers in Trujillo and Cajamarca.
- Basically full board in a private tour.
– Not included:
- Laundry, calls, medical costs or hospitalization, excess baggage charges, insurance, or other items of personal nature.
What I (guide) will have with me
- Recording stuff Roland R-05/Microphone SENNHEISER ME66/K6.
- Two iPods- speakers.
- A Swarovski ATX 80 scope 20-60 zoom
- Green laser pointer
- Owling light.
- GPS.
- Personal Swarovski Binoculars.
- I will be carrying the new field guide Birds of Peru this can be found on www.amazon.com.
Tour Calendar 2023:
- 6th & 18th May 2023
- 1st – 12th – 23th June 2023
- 5th & 17th July 2023
- 2nd & 16th August 2023
- 8th & 21th September 2023
- 3th & 15th Ocotober 2023
- 5th & 17th November 2023
If you need private or customized tour please contact us for more information:
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- info@tanagertours.com
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