Weekend in Chachapoyas

Main square with an iron bandstand, palm trees and colonial arcades. Free to wander, best for people-watching.

Tip: Visit around 6pm when locals gather; the cathedral chimes mark the hour. No entry fee but bring coins for the nearby street vendors' fresh mango slices.

Houses the 219 mummies and funerary offerings recovered from Laguna de los Cóndores, with excellent English translations.

Tip: Combine with a visit to the Laguna itself—micros from Leymebamba town run irregularly; hire a mototaxi for the round trip.

Massive walled citadel built by the Chachapoyas culture, perched on a limestone ridge. Reachable by road or cable car (fee).

Tip: Skip the cable car and take the colectivo from the terminal to Nuevo Tingo, then a short hike; cheaper and less crowded by 8am.

One of the world's tallest waterfalls (771m), two-tiered drop off a cliff in cloud forest. Requires a guided walk or self-guided hike.

Tip: The entrance fee is low but the compulsory guide adds cost; skip the guided package by arriving early and paying the park directly—guides are required but you can ask a local farmer for directions for a small tip.

Mud-and-stick sarcophagi of Chachapoya elite, standing 2m tall on a cliff face. Accessible via a 1-hour walk from the village of Cruzpata.

Tip: Bring binoculars—the statues are best viewed from the opposite riverbank. The entry fee is collected by the community; no guide needed, just follow the trail markers.