Claire Dean
Claire Dean

Claire Dean

Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!

How to get to Kuelap

How to get to Kuelap

3MINREAD

Written by:Claire Dean

Published: 2023-02-05

The Citadel of Kuelap is becoming a dream destination, characterized by its impressive enclosures and buildings that are witnesses of a pre-Inca culture little known worldwide. Kuelap is an important pre-Inca archaeological site located on the outskirts of Chachapoyas, characterized by green mountains of the high jungle of Peru. The monumental complex of Kelap has an area of 582 meters long, and its tallest wall reaches 20 meters. This impressive citadel is composed of about 420 circular, 4 rectangular, and occasional, square constructions. At the time it could have about 3,000 inhabitants.
 

Visitors to Keulap on Chachapoyas tours will literally have their heads in the clouds! This walled fortress in the northern highlands of Peru is considered the gateway to the Amazonas region of Peru. Overlooking the verdant Utcubamba Valley, this remote pre-Inca site is spread over 15 acres, making it one of the largest stone-built archaeological sites in the Americas.

Kuelap Building

Just a few years ago it was a little difficult to reach Kuelap, but slowly, this archaeological site has been gaining ground and is currently a destination requested by many Peruvians, and foreigners when traveling to Peru.

 

Kuelap is nicknamed "Machu Picchu of the North," but it has yet to become a major tourist attraction due to it being off-the-beaten-path.(Thats did,nt stop Machu Picchu by the way!) The fascinating history and views over the cloud forest are the perfect reasons to go there on your Peru adventures and sign up for Kuelap Peru tours.

Kuelap Valley

Air Travel Options and Road Adventures

The only airline that has direct flights from Lima to Chachapoyas is the ATSA company. The flight according to the web has a duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Latam flies in an hour and 30 minutes from Lima to Jaén, a nearby city located in Cajamarca. The journey from Jaén to Chachapoyas takes about 4 hours by car or car.

Fly to Chiclayo with the airlines Latam and LC Peru. From the capital of Lambayeque it is about 8 hours by road.
 

A flight to Piura with Latam, Peruvian, or Viva Air Peru, from there it's about 9 hours by road.


Flying to Trujillo with Latam, Avianca, or LC Peru, from the capital of La Libertad takes about 14 hours by road.

A unique alternative is to fly to Tarapoto with Latam, Viva Air Peru, Peruvian, or Star Peru, and then about 7 hours by car. 

 

Kuelap was built by the Chachapoyas people in the 7th century. it took another 400 years to complete the construction. The final site is a stone complex divided into three different sections, protected by high walls and with only three entrances. The purpose of this incredible site was more than likely a fortress, refuge, or strategic outpost. A must-see if you are heading north on your Peru vacation packages.

Exploring Kuelap 


There are several ways to get to Kuelap, but first, you have to travel to the city of Chachapoyas. The nearest major town to Kuelap is Chachapoyas where most people stay and base themselves when they are visiting the area.

 

Bus

You can either get the bus from Chachapoyas to the Kuelap cable car (Teleferico Kuelap) or arrange to do a tour to Kuelap with a guide from Chacapoyas Peru.  A tour is a great idea as this way you can actually find out the history of the site while you are walking around.  Kuelap tours are available in both English and Spanish.

 

Cable Car

The cable car at Kuelap was actually the first to be built in Peru and was finished in 2017 giving easy access to the site. It now only takes 20 mins by cable car, whereas before it was 2 hours by car or over 4 hours hiking.   The number of visitors doubled in the first year of the cable car being opened and more are expected each year.

 

Only a third of Kuelap has actually been excavated, however what is visible is some sight to see! The round constructions make the Chachapoya culture unique, as most ancient Andean Peruvian cultures used straight lines in their designs.One of the best ways to see the amplitude of the site is use the cable car. Built in 2017, the cable car is one of the strategies to make Kuelap more appealing and accessible to travelers on their peru tour packages.

Kuelap Cable Car


Hiking

If you want to hike to Kuelap, from Tingo Viejo, embark on a 9km (5.6miles) hike through the cloud forest along the Camino Herradura. It takes about 3-4 hours to ascend the craggy mountainside and, though trails are well-marked, local guides can be hired in Chachapoyas city.

 

Tour

Valencia Travel offers the  Discover Chachapoyas Tour for those who want the stress taken out of organizing a tour to the incredible Kuelap Find out more here.

 

Kuelap was eventually abandoned by The Chachapoya people and local fauna took over. The dense cloud forest kept it hidden from intrepid explorers in the region. In the 1840s a local judge who was visiting the area came across the stone complex, which brought Kuelap back into the minds of the Peruvian people. It was in 1979 that the Ministry of Culture took notice and implemented plans to protect and conserve a piece of its history in the North of Peru. Find out more about Kuelap's history on Kuelap Peru tours here!

Kuelap

 

General Information about Kuelap

Opening hours: It is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm

Entrance Fee: s/. 12 soles for adults

Cable Car Fee: s/. 20 Soles return trip

 

The main temple at Kuelap served for ancient ceremonies. Archaeologists uncovered an underground chamber with the remains of animal sacrifices, as well as graves and llama skeletons. The height of 5.5m (18ft) has led others to speculate it was used as a solar observatory by the Chachapoya. Learn more about Kuelap on Chachapoya tours in the north of Peru.

Kuelap

 

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