Lake of the Condors Trek: 3D/2N
Three or four-day trekking & horse riding with multiple landscapes, wildlife, & unique archaeology.
Begins & ends in Chachapoyas (or Leymebamba).
Full day exploring the Lake of the Condors & its tombs.
Optional extra day for further exploration.
Includes visit to ‘Mummy Museum’ of Leymebamba.
Amazing way to experience the pristine beauty of northern Peru!
Overview
La Laguna de los Condores (Lake of the Condors), is a watery mirror 3 km (1.9 miles) long by 1 km (0.6 miles) wide, located at 2,600m (8,500 ft) above sea level in a stunning and remote cloud forest environment.
The lakes and forest are full of wildlife, including foxes, Spectacled bears, and birds native to the area.
It was at this place, in the cliff face overlooking the lake, that the Chachapoya people built chullpas (tombs), to be the eternal resting place for their deceased loved ones.
Centuries later, archaeologists have found over 200 mummies, 31 quipus (knotted string accounting devices), and other artefacts, including artwork, musical instruments, pottery and textiles, at the site.
The Laguna de los Condores tombs, as found by archaeologists.
This find, much of which is displayed at the excellent Leymebamba Museum, opened an important window on our understanding of the Chachapoya.
To combine a viewing of the mummies, with a visit to the location of their tombs, is truly a special experience, incorporating adventure, nature and archaeology.
The journey to reach Lake of the Condors begins in Leymebamba and is strenuous, and largely uphill, for which reason we provide horses that can be ridden some or all of the way.
The reward is a day - or two - to explore this beautiful, atmospheric area that few visitors have ever seen, before making the trip back to Leymebamba.
Cliffside mausoleums built by the Chachapoya, overlooking Lake of the Condors.
Laguna de los Condores: 3-Day Itinerary Outline:
Day 1: Chachapoyas - Leymebamba - Laguna de los Condores. Overnight in basic cabin.
Day 2: Laguna de los Condores. Overnight in basic cabin.
Day 3: Laguna de los Condores - Leymebamba - Chachapoyas
Laguna de los Condores: 4-Day Itinerary Outline:
Day 1: Chachapoyas - Leymebamba - Laguna de los Condores. Overnight in basic cabin.
Day 2: Laguna de los Condores. Overnight in basic cabin.
Day 3: Chilchos Valley Lakes. Overnight in basic cabin.
Day 4: Laguna de los Condores - Leymebamba - Chachapoyas
Prices
Below prices are per person, based on two trekkers
| Itinerary | Length | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Days | £201 / $255 |
INCLUDED in 3-Day Laguna de los Condores Trek:
All transfers and excursions mentioned in itinerary
Entrance fees
2 nights accommodation in basic cabin.
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 2 dinners
Baggage-carrying mules and mule-handler
Boat across Lake of the Condors
Official English-speaking Tour Guide
First Aid Kit
INCLUDED in 4-Day Laguna de los Condores Trek:
All transfers and excursions mentioned in itinerary
Entrance fees
3 nights accommodation in basic cabin.
3 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners
Baggage-carrying mules and mule-handler
Boat across Lake of the Condors
Official English-speaking Tour Guide
First Aid Kit
NOT INCLUDED in either Laguna de los Condores Trek:
Services not specified in the programme
Extras and tips
Local and International airport taxes (where applicable)
3D Itinerary
Laguna de los Condores 3-Day Trek: Day-by-day Itinerary:
Day 1: Chachapoyas - Leymebamba - Lake of the Condors (L,D)
We start the day early in order to make the two-hour drive, in a private car, from Chachapoyas to the town of Leymebamba.
NB. You may choose to stay in Leymebamba the night before the trek, so as not to have to make such an early start.
Once in Leymebamba, we have breakfast in a local restaurant (not included) and then begin the day’s trekking, which will take approximately 10 hours, as the climbs are steep.
NB. We provide horses which you should use to take you some or all of the way; and we make periodic stops to rest and enjoy beautiful views.
Cloud forest scenery around Laguna de los Condores.
After a break for lunch at the La Fila, the highest point of the trek at 3,800 m (12,467 ft), we continue on our journey and eventually arrive at a small cabin, near the Lake of the Condors, where we have dinner and spend the night.
Altitude: 2,600m / 8,520 ft a.s.l
Day 2: Condor Lake (B,L,D)
We wake up early and have breakfast at the cabin.
We then hike for an hour to get to the beautiful Lake of the Condors, where we have time to relax and take photos.
The lake is a geological formation located at the head of the Chilchos Valley, at the watersheds of the Marañon and Huallaga rivers.
We then take a small boat across the lake, in order to begin a one-hour hike up to the mausoleums of the Chachapoya culture.
Mummies at Laguna de los Condores, as they were discovered.
It was only in 1997 that a group of local farmers uncovered this spectacular burial site on a cliff overlooking the Lake, consisting of six burial towers, hundreds of mummies, and thousands of artefacts.
The guide will show us around the site, explaining the interesting aspects of the mausoleums - which are decorated with zigzag friezes painted in white or red and yellow ochre - and the people who built them.
After the tour, we hike back down to our boat and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, birdwatching and fishing.
Just before the sun sets, we head back to the cabin, for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Lake of the Condors - Leymebamba Museum - Chachapoyas (B,L)
After breakfast at the cabin, we will make the 10-hour hike back to the town of Leymebamba.
Once here, we visit the remarkable Leymebamba Museum, which was constructed to preserve the 219 mummies and 2,400 other artefacts recovered from the Lake of the Condors in 1997.
After the museum visit, we return to Chachapoyas by private car.
Our services end in Chachapoyas.
NB. If wishing to stay in Leymebamba at the end of the hike, we can arrange accommodation.
Leymebamba Museum, home to the mummies & artefacts from Laguna de los Condores.
4D Itinerary
Laguna de los Condores 4-Day Trek: Day-by-day Itinerary:
Day 1: Chachapoyas - Leymebamba - Lake of the Condors (L,D)
We start the day early in order to make the two-hour drive, in a private car, from Chachapoyas to the town of Leymebamba.
NB. You may choose to stay in Leymebamba the night before the trek, so as not to have to make such an early start.
Once in Leymebamba, we have breakfast in a local restaurant (not included) and then begin the day’s trekking, which will take approximately 10 hours, as the climbs are steep.
Typical scenery en route to Laguna de los Condores.
We provide horses which you should use to take you some or all of the way; and we make periodic stops to rest and enjoy beautiful views.
After a break for lunch at the La Fila, the highest point of the trek at 3,800 m (12,467 ft), we continue on our journey and eventually arrive at a small cabin, near the Lake of the Condors, where we have dinner and spend the night.
Altitude: 2,600m / 8,520 ft a.s.l
Day 2: Condor Lake (B,L,D)
We wake up early and have breakfast at the cabin. We then hike for an hour to get to the beautiful Lake of the Condors, where we have time to relax and take photos.
The lake is a geological formation located at the head of the Chilchos Valley, at the watersheds of the Marañon and Huallaga rivers.
Mummified bodies overlooking Laguna de los Condores.
We then take a small boat across the lake, in order to begin a one-hour hike up to the mausoleums of the Chachapoya culture.
It was only in 1997 that a group of local farmers uncovered this spectacular burial site on a cliff overlooking the Lake, consisting of six burial towers, hundreds of mummies, and thousands of artefacts.
The guide will show us around the site, explaining the interesting aspects of the mausoleums - which are decorated with zigzag friezes painted in white or red and yellow ochre - and the people who built them.
After the tour, we hike back down to our boat and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, birdwatching and fishing.
Just before the sun sets, we head back to the cabin, for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chilchos Valley Lakes & Archaeology (B,L,D)
Within the Chilchos Valley Conservation Area, there are two other, more isolated lakes, that are well worth a visit.
View of Lake of the Condors from lookout point on way to Lake Quindecocha.
The hike to Lake Quindecocha affords magnificent views of Laguna de los Condores and the surrounding countryside, from two viewpoints. Along the way, we need to keep our eyes peeled for various cloud forest bird species, such as:
Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea)
Rufous-browed Hemispingus (Hemispingus rufosuperciliaris)
Russet-mantled Softtail (Thripophaga berlepschi)
Yellow-browed toucanet (Aulacorhynchus huallagae)
There are also a number of Chachapoya mausoleums around the lake, that still contain some burial artefacts, including pottery and textiles.
Overnight and dinner back at the cabin.
Day 4: Lake of the Condors - Leymebamba Museum - Chachapoyas (B,L)
After breakfast at the cabin, we will make the 10-hour hike back to the town of Leymebamba.
If there is time, we visit the remarkable Leymebamba Museum, which was constructed to preserve the 219 mummies and 2,400 other artefacts recovered from the Lake of the Condors in 1997.
After the museum visit, we return to Chachapoyas by private car.
Our services end in Chachapoyas.
NB. If wishing to stay in Leymebamba at the end of the hike, we can arrange accommodation.
Map
Reviews
“Just a quick note to say thanks for this trip, it certainly was awesome, and the staff you used were all fabulous.”
“It went very well. Hard. But very good. It is definitely not for everyone, it’s serious trekking
Guide was amazing ... Hard-working, strong, Peruvian man.
The trek accommodation was very very basic. But real. Candle and fire light. Bunk beds. With 3 layers of cloths and sleeping bag, slept good.
Very good reset. Far away from civilization and computers ... Amazing experience. I loved all of it. ”
“[4-day] Trek was awesome!
We liked the fishing.
The guides were amazing. Very skilled”
“Laguna de los Condores was a horse trek not a hike but still enjoyed it for the experience of untouched nature and forest.
Rodbare, horse guide [was] incredibly hard walking and sweet guy. Went above and beyond.”
“ We really enjoyed our trip to Laguna de los Condores even though it was quite different from what we expected.
We were surprised at how much horseback riding was involved. We thought that we could hike a lot and only ride on the horse when we were tired. However, it would not have been possible to walk all the way.
If you are scared of horses or do not have any experience with horses, it is not a trek you should consider doing.
Anyway, Laguna de los Condores was one of the highlights of our trip and we are very happy that we decided to do it.
Thank you very much for your assistance and we can definitely recommend this destination!”