Solo, female traveller, Melanie from Hamburg, enjoyed our 5-day kuelap & gocta itinerary, staying at Hacienda Achamaqui, near Chachapoyas. Here is her feedback:
“I have returned from my travels, and I still savour all these great moments I enjoyed in Peru!
To answer some of your questions:
As a cultural destination I really enjoyed Kuelap, amazing, impressive, so different from the other Inca or Pre-Inca buildings that I have seen in Peru.
I liked the fact that it was not perfectly maintained but in many parts overgrown by plants, flowers and trees. Even though you have to walk on the marked and prepared paths you still have the feeling you are exploring a long forgotten place. A relatively small number of tourists adds to it, of course.
As a natural destination the Gocta Falls were my favourite! Even driving up the mountain was a highlight. Stunning views, beautiful path through the cloud forest and a refreshing break into the mist of the down-crashing waters
The first drop of Gocta Falls, accessible from San Pablo.
I wasn't aware that it was planned for me to ride a pony to get to the falls. When I realized the caballero was already there with two saddled horses and I would've felt bad to send him away. But for the way back down I decided to walk rather than ride, to be able to enjoy more of the views, surroundings and nature.
My guide was Jhon and I can absolutely recommend him! He did a great job not only organizing everything perfectly and explaining every detail of the sights, flora and fauna (he really is an expert in birds), but he as well taught me tons about the culture, customs, people, daily life, food, music etc in Peru that probably is not part of the regular tour-guide-package.
I am very grateful to have had such a good guide and I think it is very special for a tourist to learn so many insights on life in Peru in such a short time.
In my itinerary with PeruNorth I had only one accommodation, the Hacienda Achamaqui, a good hotel in a lovely setting with super-friendly and helpful staff and very good food. The chocolate cake was extraordinary!
On my itinerary a little hiking was involved, technically easy, and Jhon paid well attention to adapt to my speed.
We did talk about the development of northern Peru in terms of tourism and the efforts to keep it sensitive to the resources (eg the discussions about reconstructions ruins at Kuelap or leaving them in the authentic, current condition). And you could see the development (eg new cable car, many very well maintained roads etc).
I liked the fact that the Leymebamba Museum is built and run by the local community.
Overall my travels in Peru were amazing, I loved everyday in this beautiful country and with its friendly people.
I enjoyed the north a lot for it is less traveled and crowded, less touristy and more authentic than the classical destinations in the South, but just as impressive and beautiful! I now fully understand the claim I had once read in a campaign by the tourist authority: "Peru - the richest country".
On this happy note: thank you very much for all your efforts in organizing my trip to the north! It was lovely!”