"Journey to Chachapoyas: Into the warriors of the clouds" from Adventure Associates named one of National Geographic traveler's "50 Tours of a lifetime" for 2012

Third year running on coveted ranking for Dallas-based, South American-inspired adventure travel operator  

There is so much culture and adventure to experience in Peru, why not direct your clients to the best? Adventure Associates, the Dallas-based, South American-inspired adventure travel operator, has just the thing: “Journey to Chachapoyas: Into the Warriors of the Clouds,” recently named one of “50 Tours of a Lifetime” for 2012 by National Geographic Traveler. It’s the third year running that an Adventure Associates tour has made one of the industry’s most-coveted rankings.

The Top 50 Tours list will be featured in the May/June 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveler, which hits newsstands in late April. The inclusion will also appear on the magazine’s award-winning website, National Geographic Traveler.

Running 6 days/5 nights, “Journey to Chachapoyas: Into the Warriors of the Clouds” explores northern Peru, where extraordinary pre-Inca cultures held sway. Chief among them were the Cachapoyas – a.k.a. “the Warriors of the Clouds” – an Andean people who dwelled in dense cloud forests through the Amazonas region and are believed to have developed their culture between AD 750-800. Accompanied by bilingual guides, travelers explore sites of beauty and wonder, including the pre-Incan Tucume Pyramids on the north side of Chiclayo, kingdom of the Chimus god Naylamp; the Sipan Archaeological Complex, site of the significant discovery of “The Lord of Sipan”; the great Utcumbamba Canyon, reached via the Pan-American Highway and Trans-Andean route across one of the earth’s driest deserts and into the Andes; the cliff tombs of Karajía, topped by skulls left undisturbed over the centuries by archaeologists and looters alike; the fortress of Kuelap, the ancient city of the Cloud People, which was discovered 60 years before Machu Picchu yet only recently captured the attention of archaeologists; the Gocta waterfall – at 771 meters, third highest in the world – believed protected by a white-haired, mermaid-like spirit whose mane can be seen flowing down massive walls at the bottom of the falls; and much more.

Cost: From $1,989 per person/double occupancy. Individual departures can be scheduled throughout 2012. For details: Adventure Associates

For more information or reservations, please contact Adventure Associates at 800-527-2500 or visit www.adventure-associates.com