Gocta Waterfall and The Chachapoya Civilization

Gocta Waterfall is located in the North of Peru and is the third tallest waterfall in the world. Others will tell you it is actually the 15th tallest waterfall in the world.  The is a reason for this discrepancy when it comes to this magnificent waterfall.

Gocta- Up close

The World's Third Highest Waterfall

To say this is one of the world’s tallest waterfalls, it’s hard to imagine that Gocta Waterfall was only ‘discovered’ in 2002. It is hard to believe that such an immense amount of water, cascading hundreds of metres down a cliff was hidden to the outside world for so long. As is the case with most discoveries in South America, a westerner came along and told everyone about his incredible “discovery”. The local people of course were well aware of the waterfall of course, but this natural glory was still to be exposed to the outside world as such.  There is a somewhat supernatural explanation as to why the indigenous people chose not to expose the waterfall, with legends of a mermaid who lived in Gocta Waterfall. If her location was revealed, they would all be doomed.

Gocta Waterfall

When a German explorer called Stefan Ziemendorff visited the area of the Chachapoyas region of northern Peru, he was taken there by locals. He mapped his findings to the falls, but this is where the stats get confusing. Gocta Waterfall has 2 sections, an upper section and a lower section. Waterfall purists will argue that this counts as two separate falls. Others say it is one complete waterfall.

On his return home, Ziemendorff eagerly announced to the world that Gocta Waterfall is 771 metres tall. Many disputed his claim and the debate began and does so to this day. This explains why some say it is the third tallest waterfall in the world, but others say it’s the 15th largest.

Gocta in all it glory

Gocta Waterfall Hike

Whatever it’s official size, this does not take away from the fact that this waterfall is absolutely mid-blowing, when seen in person. You can take a hike to the Gocta waterfall, which requires a decent element of fitness and a healthy spirit of adventure. The trail is steep in parts and relatively slippery. You can be hiking along flat rocky cliff edges in the sunshine, which rapidly turn into steep muddy forests. And it is this ever-changing scenery, that makes it an awesome experience.

Gocta trail

Getting closer

You will then hike deep in to the rain forest, where the air is thick and humid, but with a refreshing mist blowing over from Gocta Waterfall itself. There are a number of places to stop and admire the views along the way, the main challenge however, is trying to fit both sections of the Gocta Waterfall in to the photo!
As you approach the fall, the pinnacle is when you reach the base of the magnificent Gocta Waterfall. Whilst in many countries health and safety has a huge influence on any experience, there are few restrictions at Gocta.  You can walk right up to where the water hits the rocks below. There was a Gocta Waterfall death some years back so you may not want to get too close no matter how inviting the waterfall appears! 

Gocta trail

To return to the village of Gocta, you must trek back the same way. The hike is tougher on the return journey as you’re faced with a lot mor steeper ascents. Make sure you’ve packed some snacks and water to get you through the trek. Chachapoyas is the most convenient place to base yourself when visiting Gocta Waterfalls. 
If you prefer not to hike for four hours, you can access the village of Gocta from Chachapoyas in a vehicle or motor taxi. A guided tour will take the stress out of the waterfall visit and also take care of the transportation logistics.

Gocta two tiered waterfall

The Chachapoyas Civilization

The region around Gocta is named after the Chachapoya civilization, a people known as the Cloud Warriors of Peru, native to cloud forest of the northern Peruvian Andes.

Land of the cloud warriors

Chachapoyas region

Evidence excavated from the funeral sites on the limestone cliffs of Peru’s cloud forests, offers vital clues to the way of life of the Chachapoya people. These burial sites characterised by sarcophagi with humanoid faces, that were built into the rockface, still look down imposingly from isolated hillsides, lead us to believe that a vigorous independent culture, different from its Andean neighbours, once lived here.

Burial site

Today, the best remaining evidence left behind by the Chachapoya people, can be found at Kuelap. Kuelap predates Machu Picchu by at least 700 years and exhibits remarkable stone masonry skills, as impressive as the Incas. However, rather than construct the rectangular dwellings the Chachapoya built circular limestone structures that would have been covered with conical thatched roofs.

Kuelap

First view of Gocta