PeruNorth's musings on events & destinations in Northern Peru, Amazonia ... and beyond. Detailed tour reviews.
In November, 2023, PeruNorth received the following enquiry from Thomas, in Portland, Maine: “I have been interested in the Moche/Chimu ever since reading an article in The New Scientist about their engineers who were priests because they knew how to bring the water to the desert (as I remember). My wife and I are interested in finding out more about your coastal civilization itineraries and how they work.”
Read the testimony of Sam Watkins, a UK national living in Malaga, Spain, who travelled solo to Northern Peru in July 2022.
He stayed in the little-visited village of Cuispes, from where he visited Yumbilla, Cristal, Medio Cerro and Gocta waterfall.
He did a day trip to El Tigre Sarcophagi; and finished by visiting the Chachapoya citadel of Yalape (in lieu of Kuelap that was closed owing to restoration work).
The last night was spent in Chachapoyas city; and much of the transport was by mototaxi, in order to keep costs down.
Read thoughts of Dutch-Peruvian couple who visited Northern Peru over New Year.
Their itinerary was expanded version of Tarapoto & Gocta trip, with additional nights at Pumarinri Amazon Lodge.
Included a short visit to Gotas de Agua, a private dry forest reserve, near Jaen.
“Our trip to Peru was great we enjoyed both of the stays and both of the places, Tarapoto and Cocachimba.
Here are their thoughts:
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!
Here are the comments from California couple, the O’Donnells, on their itinerary to Northern Peru that included:
2 nights at Pumarinri Amazon Lodge with a boat trip on Huallaga River & hike to Pucayaquillo Waterfall.
Drive via Moyobamba & Abra Patricia to Cocachimba
4 nights at Gocta Andes Lodge, with visits to archeological sites of Kuelap & Revash, Leymebamba Museum, and hike to Gocta Waterfall.
Read in her own words Elizabeth Harrold’s odyssey to Northern Peru, sampling various types of Amazon rainforest:
4 days at an eco-lodge in cloud forest (Gocta).
2 days at a lodge in high rainforest (Pumarinri).
Finally, a 4-day cruise on the Amazon River itself (M/V Zafiro).
This is a review of a nine-day itinerary, starting at Jaen Airport, spending five nights in the Chachapoyas region, visiting various ruins and Gocta Waterfall, before driving to Tarapoto for three nights at Pumarinri Amazon Lodge in the montane rainforest:
“Overall, we had a great trip and saw some incredible things …
