Kuelap and other Chachapoyas, Peru Things to Do Tips

Being here will make you understand why the took the name of Chachapoyas, cloud people.
Not really a fortress but a city, Kuelap is thought to have nested around 4000 people in its more than 400 individual constructions. Chachapoyas was not a culture per say but more a fusion of different tribes fighting against a single enemy, the Incas, and it is in Kuelap where you see the fusion. We can see different types of constructions, different ornaments & motives (see pictures), etc. On its different levels, 3 of them total, a distinct social status can be observed. Some people, however, think that Kuelap wasn't home to the Chachapoyas, but more of a place where people could look for refuge in case of a war and that most of its buildings were dedicated as warehouses for food. Some points to look here are the needlepoint entrance, which makes it easier to defend the entrance to the fortress with just a few people and the placement of the fortress against a (practically) cliff, with its towers as sentinels.
Your admission fee (around US$ 4 in 2006) gets you a guide.

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Address: Overlooks the city of Tingo
Directions: Get here from Chachapoyas by combi (take it at the Chachapoyas main square) to the town of Tingo and then walk up the mountain (2.5 - 3 hour easy walk) or take a taxi straight to Kuelap

The waterfalls at Pedro Ruiz. The Gocta is thought to get its name from "gota", water drop, but nobody really knows the origen. The Gocta is the third tallest waterfall in the world, 770 something meters above sea level, and with its two tier fall allows you to see the entire waterfall from the very bottom, take a bath in the second tier, or see it from the very top. Each walk takes about 1.5 - 2 hours and you have to pay a small fee to the city that hosts the walk which will provide you with a guide. Really easy trail and quite nice. If you go early enough you might be able to see some rainforest fauna, such as the gallito de las rocas y el mono cola amarilla.

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Directions: There is no regular combi that comes to Pedro Ruiz, you might have to wait a bit. Taxis are alwys an option, but it will be around US$30, best to get a group of 4 and hire a taxi for the day.

The entrance to Chachapoyas and your departure point to Laguna de los Condores. Unfortunately because of time I couldnt visit it (requires 3 days there and back) but ill pdate you on it when i do it.

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