Amazon

CULTURE

Chachapoyas City: Culture and Museums

Discover the historical center of Chachapoyas, declared a Cultural Heritage The main square is surrounded by large houses with patios, gardens and churches that reflect the “chachapoyano” architectural style, with white facades, red roofs and wooden balconies. Its main church, of colonial origin, dominates the urban landscape. Visit the Santa Ana Ethnic Religious Museum and the Museum of Chachapoya Culture and discover unique pieces, millenary traditions that connect you with the living legacy of the ancestral culture.

Chachapoya Culture: Great pre-Hispanic civilizations

Kuelap is a monumental pre-Inca citadel built by the Chachapoya culture in the Amazon region. Older than Machu Picchu and recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Peru, it stands out for its impressive stone walls up to 20 meters high and for being the largest archaeological stone complex of pre-Columbian times. Its interior preserves residential, religious and administrative structures. Access by cable car offers a unique experience overlooking the Utcubamba valley.
The Sarcophagi of Karajía are one of the most unique funerary expressions of the Chachapoya culture. Located in almost inaccessible cliffs, these anthropomorphic sculptures of up to 2.5 meters high were built to protect elite characters. They are made of mud, stone and cane, and decorated with details that are still preserved despite the passage of time. The 30-minute walk to the site crosses Andean landscapes with unique views.
The Revash Mausoleums will surprise you with their spectacular location and unique architecture. Built by the Chachapoya culture on top of a cliff, these tombs in the shape of small houses, with walls decorated with symbols in red ochre, seem suspended between the mountains. Reaching them is part of the adventure through a hike through Andean landscapes that connects you with centuries of history.
The Leymebamba Museum is an unmissable stop for those seeking an impressive cultural experience in Amazonas. Its rooms exhibit more than 200 mummies and objects recovered from the enigmatic Laguna de los Cóndores, revealing the ritual world of the Chachapoya culture. Its architecture harmonizes with the surrounding Andean landscape, creating a unique atmosphere. To visit it is to travel back in time and discover one of the most amazing legacies of Peru.

Huancas Village: Art and ceramics

The village of Huancas awaits you just minutes from Chachapoyas with its ancestral pottery art and breathtaking views. Renowned for its handmade pottery, here artisans mold unique pieces with traditional techniques passed down through generations. Vases, vases and decorative plates come to life with designs inspired by nature. To visit Huancas is to get up close and personal with a living expression of identity and to take with you an authentic souvenir of the Amazon.

NATURE

Waterfalls and lagoons: Water that creates and connects

The highest waterfalls in the world, Gocta and Yumbilla, await you in Amazonas. Gocta, at 771 meters, is accessible from the towns of Cocachimba and San Pablo, via hiking trails through cloud forests and spectacular scenery. Yumbilla, even higher at 896 meters, offers a quieter and less explored experience, ideal for those seeking a connection to the nature. Nearby, live the magic of Lake Pomacochas, its blue-green waters invite you to boat rides, sport fishing, bird watching and refreshing swims in a unique environment.

Quiocta Cavern

The Quiocta Cavern, in Luya, is one of the most exciting experiences in the Amazon. With more than 500 meters deep, it allows you to explore galleries full of stalactites, stalagmites and pre-Inca archaeological remains. Equipped with a helmet, you will travel through a subway world full of mystery and adventure. Ideal for those looking for nature out of the ordinary, the visit to Quiocta combines excitement, history and breathtaking landscapes underground.

Viewpoints: Cañón del Sonche and Luya Urco

Amazonas offers spectacular viewpoints that offer unforgettable views of its diverse geography. The Sonche Canyon Viewpoint, very close to Huancas, stands out, with a natural viewpoint from where you can appreciate deep formations and a landscape that changes with the light of the day. The Luya Urco viewpoint in Chachapoyas is also outstanding, ideal for seeing the city surrounded by mountains and mist.

ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND RURALITY

The Chachapoya culture, known as the “warriors of the clouds”, flourished in the mountains of northern Peru before the arrival of the Incas. It was noted for its architecture in stone, funerary complexes in cliffs and a deep respect for their ancestors. Their constructions such as Kuélap, Karajía and Revash reflect their advanced organization and spirituality. To explore their legacy is to discover a unique civilization, surrounded by mystery and impressive landscapes.

Holidays:

In June, the Raymillacta of the Chachapoyas pays homage to the Chachapoya culture, highlighting its ancestral legacy through dances, music and parades that bring together delegations from all the provinces of the department. In August, the Fiesta Patronal de la Virgen Asunta celebrates the assumption of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of Chachapoyas, with processions, masses, fairs and cultural expressions that fill the city with religious fervor and tradition.

GASTRONOMY

Traditional Andean cuisine

Prepare yourself for an Amazonian feast with the more authentic flavors of Amazonas. Try the traditional juane de chachapoyas, prepared with yucca dough, stuffed with chicken, wrapped in achira leaves and steamed, ideal for celebrating the tradition of San Juan.

Enjoy the tacacho with jerky, fried crushed green plantain accompanied by smoked pork, a contrast of textures and smoked aromas. Don't leave without trying the regional locro, a nutritious ancestral stew prepared with white corn, beans, beef or pork, don't leave without trying the regional locro, a nutritious ancestral stew prepared with white corn, beans, beef or pork.

Amazonas is a high altitude coffee growing area where you can discover specialty coffee shops in Chachapoyas and visit family farms to experience the cultivation, processing and tasting of the best exclusive coffee.

CRAFTS

Amazonas dazzles with handicrafts that fuse ancestral tradition. Highlights include local clay pottery with geometric motifs; wool textiles woven on traditional looms with designs inspired by nature; and wood carvings that turn logs into utilitarian and decorative objects. Visiting local workshops reveals talent and regional identity.

The pottery of the Awajún people: Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO

The values, knowledge and practices of the Awajún people associated with ceramics are Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, an ancestral art of the Amazon rainforest. Each piece, hand-modeled with local red clay and fired in traditional kilns, stands out for its organic shapes and engravings inspired by the regional flora and fauna. Vessels, bowls and pots come alive with natural pigments and colors that highlight unique and authentic details. By purchasing or visiting workshops, you immerse yourself in the history and cosmovision of this indigenous community.