Located near the world’s largest river, the Amazon River, is Amazonas region. This region offers many activities for all kinds of travelers. It has things for adventurers, for those who want to spend time with their partners or families, and for those who look for an intimate approach to nature.
The wildlife and the plant life in this region are unique, as we can hope from the Amazon Rainforest. Although this part is overlooked in Peru, is full of culture, traditions, and experiences yet to be discovered. Let's embark on this adventure and discover what Amazonas has to offer!
Chachapoyas Historic Center
The Amazonas region's capital is Chachapoyas. Its cobblestoned streets are both lovely and historically significant, they have stunning colonial architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The name of this settlement means in the Incas' ancient tongue "Men of the Clouds."
The city boasts an immaculate Plaza de Armas and colonial homes that are over 400 years old. In 1988, it was designated as a national cultural heritage site.
The city has historic buildings such as colonial churches, palaces, and tourism facilities that now include hotels and restaurants. The city has an appealing aura that makes all visitors fall in love, we are confident you will take a lot of pictures when you are there!
The city center is a National Cultural Heritage Site thanks to its square, which looks much more stunning at night. The surroundings are also excellent, with historical churches and beautiful colonial-style buildings.
Santa Ana Church
The first Church that Spaniards built after arriving in Chachapoyas is known as the Santa Ana Church. Beautiful colonial images are kept within, and it is today used as an ethnic-religious museum. It was the first for the local indigenous people. This church's principal purpose was to evangelize and civilize local communities.
Tourism websites describe it as an "architectural mix" as it combines Spanish and native techniques." The church is more than 400 years old. The city had continual earthquakes that have entirely damaged the church's original architecture.
In 2008, with help from many groups, the church's architecture was rebuilt, recovered, and enhanced. This made it a modern cultural complex for the Chachapoyas and the Amazonas region.
Leymebamba Museum
El Museo Leymebamba opened its doors in 2000, its goal is to offer a safe place for the preservation of artifacts from the Chachapoyas culture. Funeral bundles from the Laguna de los Cóndores archeological sites are the focus of this museum. The museum was built with community support and huge international sponsorships.
The discovery of archaeological ruins, mummy bundles buried in a fetal position, and other similar objects. The Chachapoyas covered the face of the deceased with cloths after placing the mummies in the coffin and covering the tomb with linens
Kuelap Fortress
The Chachapoyas culture built the Kuelap Fortress over 500 years ago. This walled city served as an administrative and military complex. Kuelap is considered an archaeological wonder of the Amazon. On the other hand, some researchers and individuals believe that Kuelap served as a solar observatory as well.
This citadel is regarded by many as one of the most significant pre-Columbian buildings in America. Up to 20 meters high, a towering limestone encircling wall protects it from attack. Researchers say around 3000 individuals lived in the 400 stony dwellings that had intriguing round roofs and little doors. The structures provided housing, administrative, defensive, and ceremonial purposes.
Revash Archaeological Site
Between the small settlements of Santo Tomás and San Bartolo, you’ll find a funerary Complex. This complex is at an elevation of about 2800 meters above sea level. We're talking about the Revash Mausoleums, situated at the top of steep walls and on the limestone cliff.
These "chullpas" are mausoleums or sarcophagi that look like miniature cottages made of rock and mud mortar. They have been plastered and painted red and cream.
Unfortunately, most had been plundered a long time ago, but a few still had bones and burial gifts that archaeologists could explore. Their niches are cross-shaped and quadrangular, the façade features different designs of people and animals. It also has projecting cornices.
Chipuric Archaeological Site
The Chipuric Archaeological Complex, also known as the Mausoleum of Luya. A funerary complex built between 900 and 1450 AD. This location is in Luya, Amazonas, in the area of Luya Viejo.
The Luya Mausoleum exemplifies the Chipuric architectural style, structures designed for this function are known to incorporate funerary figures. A more well-known example of this is the "Karajia Sarcophagi".
This archaeological complex is like Revash as it has a special display of the Chachapoyas culture's two distinct funerary styles. One style has statues surrounding the body. while the other looks like "chullpas" (Sarcophagus). These are rectangular houses with two or three stories and sealed niches for mummies.
Honorable Mentions:
The "Laguna de los Condores" complex features Chachapoyas mausoleums cut into the rock, the mausoleums date back more than 1200 years. The Chachapoyas had nearly 200 wonderfully preserved corpses in them. They also held religious services there.
"Yalape", like Kuelap in Amazonas, was an important location for the Chachapoyas. These sites date back approximately 900 years and are located in a remote place, as are many Chachapoya constructions. It is located atop Puma Urco Mountain, amid a deep chasm in the cloud forest.
Most Chachapoya buildings were circular, while Yalape had a fortified archeological complex design. There are at least 250 circular constructions, suggesting that it was once an urban center.
"Las Torres de Macro" (The Macro Towers) is another Chachapoya archaeological monument situated in the heart of the cloud forest. However, unlike other hard-to-reach sites, this one is easier as it only requires about an hour's walk.
The site dates from 1100 to 1300 AD. Rhomboid friezes and wall sculptures decorate stone platforms and building foundations. During the peak of Chachapoyas culture, the compound was home to an estimated 100 people.
Ollape is a town that dates back 700–900 years A.C. It covers 5 hectares and has approximately 120 structures. Although it is designated a village, some authors regard it as a ceremonial center. This construction originates from the Chachapoya civilization. So, its architecture and features are similar to those shown in other archeological sites.
The Yumbilla waterfall is located between lush and cloud forests in the Amazonas region. Yumbilla is considered one of the world's tallest waterfalls, standing almost 9000 meters.
Yumbilla Falls is located approximately 70 kilometers from the Amazonas region's capital. These waterfalls are located in rainforest areas, it rose to prominence in 2007. This was after Peru's National Geographic Institute researched it, and the waterfall has risen in popularity.
The Gocta waterfalls are one of Peru's most exciting tourist destinations. Located in the Amazonas area of northern Peru. The most popular natural attraction in the Peruvian Amazon is in the heart of the cloud forest.
The waterfall is believed to be 771 meters long. It goes from the top to the bottom of a river valley, Gocta is Peru's third-largest waterfall. According to the World Waterfall Database, Gocta is the world's 17th-highest waterfall. Since then, hundreds of local and foreign tourists have visited every year. Tourism contributes significantly to the local economy.
Do you realize when we say there’s too much to see and to do in Amazonas? We hope you can enjoy your time there when you come to Peru. Remember, Viagens Machu Picchu can make your dreams come true. They do this by visiting this region and its attractions. Let’s travel together on the quest to discover the Peruvian Jungle.
