Fundo Achamaqui
Fundo Achamaqui is less than half an hour from the city of Chachapoyas, on the Utcubamba River.
Some of my best sleep in Peru was at Achamaqui.
This is a beautiful old hacienda, now turned into a hotel with just 12 rooms. My room was in a corner with a view out one side of fields of flowers and on the other side I had a balcony with a few of the Utcubamba River. At night, I could hear the calming flow of the river and birds like the common paraque, which has a calming hoot a bit like an owl.
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My bed was comfortable, the pillows and sheets soft, and I had a great view on both sides.
The trapiche above was used to grind sugarcane back when this was a functioning fundo, kind of like a farm.
The breakfast buffet has eggs to order plus plenty of fruit, bread, local cheese and locally made fruit preserves.
Outdoor Dining
I had breakfast with a view of the river and trees full of hummingbirds.
Riverside Kiosk
This covered deck is the perfect place to spend the afternoon reading or just watching the birds that are constantly flying up and down the river.
River Access
The wall along the property is helpful for families with small children, but there are also a couple access points to get down to the river.
The flowers surrounding the hotel attract lots of birds, especially hummingbirds.
Orange Groves
Since it’s no longer a working farm, Achamaqui’s many orange trees are now full of birds. This is perfect for anybody who loves tanagers.
Both sides of the river belong to Achamaqui. You can see the buildings in the distance and the bridge at the bottom of the photo.
Archeological Sites
It’s hard to find a square meter of Peru that’s not an archeological site and Achamaqui is no exception. There are several ruins on the property.
The Achamaqui Sarcophagus
If you’ve never heard of the Sarcophagi of Karajía, look at this website before you keep going. They were a very unique part of the Chachapoya’s traditions for their dead. Each sarcophagus held the mummy of somebody very important, and offerings sent with them. The ones at Karajía are the most famous, so look at images of them to see what they look like. They do not remotely resemble the Egyptian sarcophagi that you read about in school.
Unfortunately, the sarcophagus at Achamaqui has already been looted. Thankfully, the looters didn’t completely destroy the clay figure on top when they stole the contents of the grave. It’s unpainted, so it blends in pretty well with the cliff behind.
Chachapoyan Sarcophagus
Karajía does not have the only sarcophagi in the Chachapoyas region. Can you see the one in the center of this photo?
The Achamaqui Sarcophagus
Seen from the side, the flat face with a wide jaw is easier to spot. It’s very similar to the ones at Karajía.
This Squirrel Cuckoo was only one of many beautiful birds I saw along the river and among the flowers and fruit trees at Achamaqui. If you’re going to northern Peru for the birds, this is the best place for you near the city of Chachapoyas.
