THE OTHER MACHU PICCHU, KUELAP

During the tour to the Kuelap fortress you will learn how it was socially constituted and the use of each area and the meaning of each stone carving and the function of the most important buildings in the area.

Peru is recognized worldwide for having a world wonder known to the whole world, Machu Picchu, but there was a culture that existed 1000 years before the Incas called Chachapoyas and built an impressive fortress on the top of Cerro Barreta at 3000 meters above sea level. from the Utcubamba River, approximately 35 km south of the modern city of Chachapoyas, this fortress is known as Kuelap.

This complex, declared a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO, is estimated to have been built and inhabited by the Chachapoyas between 1000 and 1400 AD and is considered one of the largest stone constructions in America. It has 505 structures considered as houses distributed in different areas and levels, most of them are circular constructions, some 198 more houses were built outside the city, totaling more than 700 buildings. There is also the Templo Mayor with 5 meter high walls and a 13.5 meter platform where it is believed that they performed rituals, since offerings made of llama bones, ceramics and human bones were found.

It is considered that on January 31, 1843, the day of its discovery by Juan Crisóstomo Nieto, a judge in the city of Chachapoyas, who arrived to resolve some land disputes. However, there is information that with the arrival of the Spanish the town of Kuélap was devastated.

How to get to Kuélap?
To get to this magnificent construction you must take a flight from Lima to the city of Jaén via LATAM Airlines and then transfer by car for approximately 4 hours to Chachapoyas or fly to Chachapoyas directly with ATSA Airlines. It is in the city of Chachapoyas where our transport will pick you up at your hotel, normally the pick up is in the range of 6:30 – 7:30 AM and we will leave for Kuelap, the section between Chachapoyas and Kuelap is approximately 1 hour until Nuevo Tingo, where you can take the cable car to the Kuelap fortress and you can marvel at the spectacular panoramic view of its beautiful landscapes, reaching the starting point of the fortress tour where we will walk approximately 1 km to the top of Kuelap, for adventurers there is also the option of arriving on foot in a walk that lasts approximately 4 hours until reaching 3000 meters above sea level, it is a 9 km route where you can enjoy dazzling local fauna and flora.

During the tour to the Kuelap fortress you will learn how it was socially constituted and the use of each area and the meaning of each stone carving and the function of the most important buildings in the area.

What dates do we recommend traveling and what should we bring?
The best time of the year to go to Kuélap is between April and October since it does not usually rain much, but it must be taken into account that rains are common in this area so we must be prepared.

To carry out this tour we recommend bringing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect yourself from mosquitoes. Remember to pack a good repellent against insects and have your camera or cell phone charged so that your visit is recorded forever.

As you can see, it is a destination with much to offer and amaze its visitors, but not only will you get to know Kuelap, we also have the wonderful Revash mausoleums, which are burial places in the wall of the mountain, the famous Gocta waterfall that It is surrounded by nature and an enviable view, the impressive sarcophagi of Karajía, which are sarcophagi approximately 3 meters high that we can see on the walls of the mountains. In addition, Chachapoyas has a delicious gastronomy, both from the mountains and the jungle and the treatment of its people is very warm with visitors.

Visit this wonderful destination, do not stay with the desire!

We wait for you soon

Peruvian Shades