Discover Chachapoyas Tour - 5 Days

We will collect you from your hotel bright and early, and head out on a scenic drive, you'll arrive at Cocachimba, a charming village where your trek to the awe-inspiring Gocta Waterfall begins. With a staggering drop of 771 meters, Gocta is one of the highest waterfalls in the world, ranking third only to Angel Falls in Venezuela and Tugela Falls in South Africa. The trek to the base of the waterfall takes you through the lush, verdant rainforest, offering glimpses of exotic wildlife and stunning flora. After approximately 2.5 hours, you'll reach the base of the waterfall, where you can marvel at its beauty and power. Return to your hotel (not included) in Chachapoyas, feeling exhilarated by the natural wonders you've witnessed.

 Today we will head out to see the sarcophagi of Karajia standing on ledges on the cliff face above you. These human-shaped figures represent one form of burial used by the Chachapoya culture, which ruled this part of Peru from around 900 to 1470. The figures are unusually large, the seven main sarcophagi standing up to 2.5 meters tall and constructed of clay, sticks, and grass. They stand looking out toward the rising sun. Their location on a largely inaccessible cliff has protected them from looters, something the ancient Chachapoya likely took into consideration when they put them there. Each sarcophagus contains a mummy, with various artifacts, some precious, accompanying them. They were likely elite members of the Chachapoya civilization.

We will enjoy a boxed lunch before visiting the Quiocta Caverns, home to stunning stalactites and stalagmites. We will then return to Chachapoyas, reflecting on the rich history and natural beauty you've encountered on your Peru adventure package.

In the morning we’ll drive to the village of Tingo where we’ll board the cable car for a fun ride across a canyon up to Kuelap Fortress. After a short walk, we’ll arrive at this hugely impressive archaeological site. 

While not nearly as famous as Machu Picchu, Kuelap is arguably just as impressive – that’s why it’s often called “The Machu Picchu of Northern Peru.” The comparison is perhaps a little unfair, as the two sites are very different in both their histories and their structure. 

Kuelap was built by the Chachapoyas culture in the 6th century AD, some 500 years before Machu Picchu. It sits at 3,000 meters (9,900 feet) above sea level on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley, a commanding presence watching over the surrounding area. As you approach the fortress, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed by the towering outer walls, which reach 20 meters tall in places. The entire oval-shaped complex is about 584 meters long and 110 meters wide at its widest part. It is believed that it took about 40 million cubic feet of stone to build the gargantuan fortress, making it possibly the largest known ancient stone structure in South America, and three times larger than the Great Pyramid of Egypt. 

As we walk around the near-impenetrable outer walls, we’ll eventually reach one of the three extremely narrow entrances into Kuelap. These provided excellent defense against potential invaders. As you walk up the narrow stairway, you can imagine how tough, and how brutal, it would have been for any attackers trying to force entry through these tight stone passages. 

At the top of the entranceway, you’ll step up onto a tranquil plateau inside the fortress walls. As you do so, you’ll understand why the term “fortress” doesn’t quite do Kuelap justice. It was more like a walled city or citadel, capable of supporting thousands of people. Inside the fortress are the remnants of more than 400 circular dwellings, some of which have been restored to how archaeologists believe they would have looked hundreds of years ago. These dwellings are decorated with strange zigzag motifs and rhomboid friezes, the symbols possibly representative of the families who lived within. Passing through a lightly wooded area inside the complex, where orchids grow and hummingbirds flitter about, we’ll explore the rest of the complex, including religious buildings, defensive towers, and a strange construction that might have been used as a solar observatory. 

There’s plenty to see at Kuelap, so we’ll make sure you have plenty of time to explore with your guide and then on your own. When you’re ready, we’ll return to our private transport and head back to Chachapoyas.

After an early breakfast, we will leave Chachapoyas and return to Jaén, from where you can fly back to Lima.  Reflect on the incredible experiences you've had during your time in northern Peru, knowing that the beauty and magic of this region will stay with you forever.