Leymebamba Overview

By Lorraine Caputo

Called "The Land of the Millenium Gods," Leymebamba is a friendly, relaxed town on the banks of the Río Utcubamba. It is a convenient stopping point between Chachapoyas and Celendín, providing many opportunities to explore the ruins and villages of southern Amazonas department. Mornings here dawn over misty mountains ringing with the cries of green parrots. Upon those ridges lie numerous archaeological sites, including La Congona, La Joya and Torre Puco. Centro Mallqui, the "mummy museum," houses finds from the chullpas (burial tombs) of Laguna de los Cóndores.

The Plaza de Armas is stone-paved with Chachapoyan designs. In one corner is a fountain replica of Laguna de los Cóndores. The rough-stone church with twin stout towers is reputed to be the second oldest in the region (open nightly). Leymebamba is known as a center for Yaraví music. Evenings musicians play near the Plaza. The patron saint is the Virgen del Carmen. Her feast days are July 11-16, and feature traditional dances and the Festival de la Canción. Market day is Saturday.