Discovering Peru Mummies in the Leymebamba Museum
Visiting the Laguana de los Cóndores
It’s actually possible to trek to Laguana de los Cóndores and see the site where the mummies were discovered. However, it will take nine to ten hours one way, so requires an overnight stay, i.e. you’ll need to camp. Sitting and staring out over the top of the lake, imagining how the Incas lived would be an incredible experience. Sadly I was unable to do this, but if you’re interested to do it, ask around the town for a guide.How much does the Leymebamba Museum and Peru Mummies cost?
The entrance fee is 15 Sol ($4.25 USD). Rarely busy, the Leymebamba Museum is so off the beaten track you might need to ring a bell at the gate for someone to come and let you in.How to get to Leymebamba Museum?
You’ll need to get to the small town of Leymebamba. Buses leave regularly from Chachapoyas in the morning and cost 10 Sol ($2.85 USD). The journey is approximately 95km and takes two to three hours. It’s a bumpy ride through the Andes mountains, so be aware of this if you get motion sickness. If travelling from the historical city of Cajamarca, the journey is seven to eight hours and costs 35 Sol ($10 USD). The buses usually leave early in the morning. From the town of Leymebamba you will need to get a taxi or mototaxi (tuk tuk) to the museum. This costs 5 Sol ($1.50 USD) and takes 10 minutes. You may wish to pay a little extra for the driver to wait for you, or you can try and flag a ride down for the return journey. Do be aware that the museum is quite remote, so you may have to wait a while. You can walk there from the town centre, but it’s a very steep along a 4km winding road out of the village. How long does it take to see the Peru Mummies at Leymebamba Museum? You can see the museum in one hour at a leisurely pace.What else is there to see besides Peru Mummies?
Kentiafe Hummingbird Cafe is opposite the museum. Here you can get reasonably priced food and drinks. It’s worth coming here to see the dozens of hummingbirds at feeders in their garden.Where to stay in Leymebamba?
The town itself is very small, with a population of 1,000 people. There’s limited accommodation in Leymebamba and not every hotel has online booking facilities. You can try to book in advance, or show up in the town and ask around. We easily got a room at La Paca Hostal for 40 Sol ($11.50 USD). Being a quiet town, there isn’t always someone on reception. You might need to knock loudly on the door or shout for someone to come down to you. La Paca Hostal is great value and right on the town square. There’s great views from the balcony too. You can look out over the mountains and people going about their business in the square below.Essential Items for Your Trip to Peru
It’s always useful to have a guide that helps you plan your travels. The Lonely Planet Guide to Peru is ideal. Also available as Kindle.
The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget is also an exceptional travel planner. It will help if you are travelling further on through the continent. Also available as Kindle.
I have taken one of these across the world. This power strip is essential for international travel. It charges multiple items at once and takes any kind of international plug. Perfect if you’re in a hostel dorm with limited plug sockets or have a lot of tech to charge.
Save the environment and stay hydrated with a bottle that filters your water. This is ideal for travelling overseas where people don’t have the luxury of potable tap water. It will mean you don’t get sick or use a lot of non-recyclable plastic.
Get the best value accommodation in Peru here:
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