Things to do in Cajamarca Region

Explore the legacy left behind by an extinct civilization on this full-day excursion from Chachapoyas. Admire geometric friezes, mural iconography, and high relief carvings in the citadel and learn about this pre-Columbian culture from an expert, bilingual guide.  The adventure starts at 8:00 AM. Meet the group in central Chachapoyas or request hotel pick up and board the comfortable, air-conditioned van for the journey to Kuelap. Along the way, stop to admire the archaeological site of Macro, located near the river Utcubamba and on top of a hill surrounded by cactus and native flora.  Arrive at Nuevo Tingo and hop in a cable car, taking in the spectacular view over the valley as you go. Upon arrival in Malca, start the 30-minute hike to Kuelap. Finally, reach the huge walls of the fortress, built on the Barreta Mountain at 3,000 meters above sea level. Kuelap is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes and it is protected by colossal walls and cliffs on three of its four sides. Tour the complex with the local guide, exploring the 3 platforms surrounded by circular buildings decorated with rhomboidal and zigzag friezes, made hundreds of years ago by its first inhabitants, the Chachapoyas.  After exploring the fortress, return to Nuevo Tingo for lunch and arrive in Chachapoyas city at approximately 4:00 PM.

Day 1: Chachapoyas, Gocta Waterfall Your tour stars with pickup from your hotel or meeting point in Chachapoyas. From there, drive to the Utcubamba river valley and travel for 1 hour to the village of Cocachimbo. There your hike starts towards the waterfall. As you admire the thick greenery of the rainforest along the hike, you will be able to stop and break in clear areas with stunning views of the surrounding valley. Reach the base of the waterfalls and enjoy the pure beauty of Gocta face to face for some amazing once-in-a-lifetime pictures. Following your visit of the falls, you will hike down the mountain and return to Cocachimba to relax and have lunch in a local restaurant. Then you will be transferred back to Chachapoyas where you will arrive between 5:00PM and 5:30PM. Day 2: Kuelap Fortress, Chachapoyas Today’s exploration leads you to the majestic Kuelap Fortress. Start from Chachapoyas at 8:00AM in a comfortable vehicle, before stopping on the way to admire the archaeological site of Macro, situated at the right-side of the river Utcubamba and on top of a hill surrounded by cactus and native flora. Later, arrive to Nuevo Tingo, a place where you will embark in a cable car and enjoy a panoramic ride towards Malca. There, start an easy 30-minute hike until Kuelap. You will finally reach the spectacular walls of the Fortress of Kuelap. This place hides an incredible past, having been built on Barreta Mountain at 3,000 meters. It’s surrounded by impressive landscapes and breathtaking views, and inside it there are three platforms surrounded by circular buildings decorated with rhomboid shapes and zigzags. Following your incredible exploration, you will be transferred back to Chachapoyas.

The tour stars with a pickup at your hotel or from the meeting point in Chachapoyas to drive to the Utcubamba River valley. Travel for an hour to the village of Cocachimba from where the hike heads towards the waterfall. As you admire the thick greenery of the rainforest, you will be able to stop and take in stunning views of the surrounding valley and gain a perspective on how large the waterfall truly is. See local agricultural activities and encounter fauna species typical of the region such as Peru's national bird the Andean cock-of-the-rock, endemic trees, orchids, ferns, and bromeliads. Reach the base of the waterfalls and enjoy the pure beauty of Gocta up close for amazing once-in-a-lifetime pictures. The Gocta waterfall is 770 meters (2,530 feet) tall — the third highest in the world — and consists of two perennial drops that pour water into the Cocahuayco River. After the visit to the falls, hike down the mountain and return to Cocachimba to relax and have lunch in a local restaurant. You will then be transferred back to Chachapoyas and arrive between 5 and 5:30 PM.