Explore Peru on Horseback

Lost World Adventures itineraries can be tailor-made according to your plans and preferences: budget, hotel selections, travel dates, optional excursions, length of trip, etc.

Day 1: Leymebamba – Tajopampa

Leaving Leymebamba we ride to the south and enter the Atuen Valley – also known as the Valley of the Condors.

We ride along a rough modern road, through a beautiful forested valley with limestone cliffs on either side.   As you ride, you may be able to spot toucans, quetzals and condors.  A picnic lunch will be served by the river. After lunch, we carry on riding further up the valley as far as the Tambillo bridge.

Then leaving the road we take a side valley up to Tajopampa, crossing the river twice before a final ascent to Tajopampa itself.  Overlooking Tajopampa is the massive cliff of La Petaca. Overnight at a local farmstead (up to 4 people) or camping (4+ people).

Lunch and dinner included today.

*Early morning transfer from Chachapoyas (approx. 3 hours) or spend the previous night in Leymebamba. Transfer or hotel not included.

Day 2: Tajopampa – Atuen

Option 1 – Long Route:

Ride out from Tajopampa and up to the ridge and carry on to the Chachapoyan remains of Boveda.  Traversing around the hillside on a good path we then descend to the San Miguel stream and then up to Mal Paso.

From Mal Paso we head into the neighboring Timbambo Valley – dotted with ancient earth terraces.  A lunch stop will be made close to the remains of Papamarca – once a very large Chachapoyan settlement.

After lunch we make a steep climb on the eastern side of the Timbambo Valley and on to El Plomo Pass from where the trail descends to the Atuen village. Overnight in Atuen.

Option 2 – Short Route:

Ride out from Tajopampa and up to the ridge. Traverse around to the cliff tombs of Diablo Huasi. Then we ride up to the site of Boveda for a look at this small impressive remains of Chachapoyan round houses.

Return to Tajopampa for lunch. After lunch, ride to the Tambillo bridge.  Rejoining the dirt road we ride up the main Atuen valley (in places taking the old trail where possible).  Overnight in Atuen.

All meals included today.

Day 3: Atuen – Quinuas

Today there will be a mixed adventure of stunning mountain landscapes.

We follow the remains of the Inca road out of Atuen which leads to the Ullila Pass (4,100m).  Here we dismount and walk down the far side to the Quinuas Valley.

Once we get past the steep ground we will mount up and ride to the bottom of this perfect U-shaped valley.  Following it around we will ride past herds of alpacas and eventually arrive at the hamlet of Quinuas, where we spend the night.

All meals included today.

Day 4: Quinuas – Uchucmarca – Cajamarca

We have an early start to ride down the magnificent Quinuas Valley.

The trail hugs the steep mountain side and and the forest and grasslands give way to agricultural land.  We round the spur and enter the Uchucmarca Valley which we enter before a the last steep 200 meter section that leads us to the transport vehicle.

Saying adios to the support staff we then drive down to the Marañon Valley which we follow as far as Balsas/Chacanto. Then we drive up 2,400 meters on the western side of the valley to the ridge before descending to the market town of Celendin.  Another two hours of driving along rolling hills and pastureland to the city of Cajamarca.

Breakfast and lunch included today.