Unraveling The Mysteries Of Kuelap: An Epic Journey To Peru’s Mighty Stone Citadel

kuelap

1.- OVERVIEW OF KUELAP PERU

Visiting Kuelap Peru represents one of the most important archaeological centers of the country, the Kuelap ruins Peru are located in the valley of the Utcubamba River, in the north of the Amazon of Peru, specifically in Amazonas department, Luya province, at about 3000 meters above sea level.

2.- KUELAP’S RICH LEGACY: MARVELING AT THE COLOSSAL STRUCTURES

More than just a citadel, Kuelap Peru is a fortress because it contains an incredible wall more than 600 meters long which at first sight will surprise you. Its shape is rectangular covering a territory of about 60 thousand square meters, surrounded by nature and was built with limestone in a strategic way because their entrances are becoming narrower as you enter allowing only one person at a time. The Kuelap ruins Peru shows you inside a citadel consisting of round houses and pointed roofs, near Kuelap Peru could find a funerary space known as La Montaña de la Petaca where more than 100 mummies were found on a mountainside.

Mummies Found At Petaca Mountain

With all this it is hard to understand how such an incredible civilization that possessed such an incredible fortress as Kuelap Peru has been dominated. According to history, only the Incas knew how to counter and finally dominate this culture, they cut off the water and food supply, so they avoided the fight in a strategic way, however it took them several months to do it.

3.- HOW TO GET TO KUELAP PERU, THE “MACHU PICCHU OF THE NORTH”

Getting here will be easy, the first thing is that from Lima you can take a flight (The schedules are in the afternoon or evening, we recommend using LATAM as a reliable company) that lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes to the city of Jaen, upon arrival at the airport a transport can take you to the city of Chachapoyas where you can spend the night and the second day more calmly visit the Kuelap ruins Peru through the cable car that exists or walking.

4.- SEASONS TO VISIT KUELAP PERU

When planning your trip to Kuelap Peru you must take into account that there are 2 seasons during the year in which the weather and the influx of people can vary. These seasons are:

• Dry season: Between the months of May to October you can enjoy a much more stable climate but the temperature is colder (Temperature may vary between 9°C and 18°C.). But be careful because it is the time when most visitors come to the fortress of Kuelap Peru so the photos could leave with travelers on the side.

dry season kuelap

• Rainy season: It occurs between the months of November to April, when the weather is more changeable than the rest of the year. The rains are more frequent and make the temperature warmer (Temperature may vary between 11°C and 21°C.), adding a layer of fog to the visibility of the fortress of Kuelap Peru.

rainny season

As a recommendation of Auri Peru, the best time to visit the Kuelap ruins Peru is the dry season. You will get the best photos and moments of the whole fortress of Kuelap Peru. On the other hand, if your trip to Kuelap Peru is scheduled for months that are part of the rainy season, you can take the opportunity to visit the Gocta waterfalls, which are very close and in this season their visibility is much more incredible.

5.- WAYS TO VISIT KUELAP PERU

To get to visit the fortress of Kuelap Peru you can opt for a traditional tour contracted with a travel agency, remember that Auri Peru can help you in your planning process, contact us now and find out more, take into account that the experience of visiting the Kuelap ruins Peru takes up to 1 day.

• First Option: It will be the traditional way with the use of the cable car that is already installed, this transport has facilitated the access of visitors who want to know the great fortress of Kuelap Peru, so the day begins with the transport taking you to the Muster station located in the town of Mingo (It takes 40 minutes to get here from Chachapoyas), after leaving the transport you board a tourist bus that will take you to the boarding point of the cable car capsules, the trip for each section lasts approximately 20 minutes (it covers a total of 4 kilometers), consider the following schedule to plan your trip properly.

cable ride to kuelap Peru

• Second Option: Designed for hikers who want to know the great fortress of Kuelap Peru, travelers looking for adventure, the trip has a total of 8 km in total (for each section), this trip is uphill to reach the fortress of Kuelap Peru and lasts about 4 hours and 30 minutes, along the way there are about 5 rest points where you can recover energy (Remember to bring water and snack).

hiking

• Third Option: It will be the is the option of driving, it is also possible but it is more exhausting, there is already a road that connects Kuelap ruins Peru with Chachapoyas so the trip takes almost 2 hours (67 km distance) however it is always good to go with someone who knows the way because there are several detours along the way.

drive to kuelap

6.- TRADITION AND HISTORY, ON A SINGLE PLATE

Travel back in time….Perched high in Peru’s clouded peaks, Kuelap fortress awes with huge stone walls built a long time ago. Not far away, carved stone coffins called Sarcophagi of Karajía hold the bones of ancestors from times lost to history. Delight yourself exploring these unique sites!

Click here to learn more

7.- NATURAL PARADISE IN KUELAP’S SURROUNDINGS

Visiting the Kuelap ruins Peru is not only its fortress, there are also many other places you can enjoy during your stay, some of the natural and cultural places you can visit are:

• Yumbilla waterfall: It is an impressive waterfall of 895 meters high (it is the 3rd largest in the world), is freely accessible to all travelers and to get here from Chachapoyas you must take a transport to Pedro Ruiz (lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes the trip). Then you continue by mototaxi to Cuispes and on the way you will find the path to the waterfall of Yumbilla, take into consideration that the road is challenging and each section lasts about 3 hours, this experience is for lovers of hiking and adventure.

yumbilla waterfalls

• Gocta Waterfall: It is a magical place of dreams without a doubt, an impressive waterfall with 771 meters high and considered the 4th highest in the world (Although smaller than the previous one is more popular among travelers seeking natural destinations), its location is somewhat more complicated as it is literally in the middle of a cloud forest with vegetation everywhere and layers of mist that makes the road much more challenging. To get here you must also take a transport that will take you to Pedro Ruiz and then to Cocachimba, also on the way you will find a trail that has a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes per section.

gocta waterfall

• Sarcophagi of Karajia and Quiocta Cave: More than just the environment is also important to know the interior and that is precisely what gives you the Quiocta cave, is a cave in the mountain that allows you to know this culture in a unique way, near here you can also locate the famous sarcophagi of Karajia that stand out for the immensity in its size (2.5 meters high) in addition to its location on the wall of a cliff.

Sarcophagi of Karajia

• Mausoleum of Revash: They are small colorful houses that give an appearance of unique importance, but what makes them stand out is undoubtedly its location, they are located in a ravine, it is a complete glimpse of the necropolis that belonged to the Chachapoyas culture. To be able to visit it you must use a transport to San Bartolo and when arriving you must make a walk to be able to arrive at the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of revash

Whether to visit the fortress of Kuelap Peru or another destination in the surroundings it is always best to do it with a travel company, Auri Peru would be a good choice, contact us now to discover the surprises we have for you, we will always be happy to be part of your next adventure!.

“Travel is in youth a part of education and in old age a part of experience.”