Visit Kuélap, a Peruvian Archaeological Site a Millennium Older Than Machu Picchu
The remote region north of Lima is also a paradise for lovers of mummies, wildlife, and orchids.
Although the pre-Incan fortress of Kuélap is almost a thousand years older than Machu Picchu, it gets only a fraction of the crowds. The Chachapoya people built the citadel in northern Peru around the year 500 A.D. on a narrow fin of limestone high above the Utcubamba River—not unlike Machu Picchu’s perch above the Vilcanota River. Visit in 2027 to see new exhibits in the Apu Chuillaxa visitors’ center and walk a new trail in Malcapampa, an active archaeological site that has been newly opened to the public.
(See all 25 of the destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2027.)
When to Go
The warm, rainy season arrives in the cloud forests of this part of Peru in November and lasts until April. More than a thousand orchid species are in bloom and the waterfalls thunder with extra volume. A cooler dry season from May through October offers better road conditions and drier trails, making it easier to visit archaeological sites around Kuélap.
What to Do
Wander Archaeological Sites:
A tram system that opened in 2017 cut the journey to Kuélap from the mountain village of Nuevo Tingo to just 20 minutes. In addition to the ancient citadel itself, there are many fascinating Chachapoya sites within a couple hours’ drive. The easiest to access are the cliffside mausoleums at Revash, a half-hour walk from the village of Santo Tomás, and the Sarcophogi of Karajia, a half-hour walk from San Miguel de Cruzpata. Visitors usually reach the Lake of the Condors, a stunning high-altitude lagoon, on a three-day horse-packing trip, camping next to the lake; the mummies that rested for centuries in nearby mausoleums can now be seen in the Leymebamba museum, in the village of Leymebamba, which opened in 2000 to display Chachapoya and Incan artifacts.
Look for Wildlife:
The region offers numerous places to spot endemic species. The marvelous spatuletail hummingbird is frequently seen around the village of Cocachimba, an hour north of Kuélap, and at Huembo Lodge, a conservation reserve an hour north of Huembo. If you’re lucky, you may see the endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey at Owlet Lodge, an eco-stay in the Abra Patricia Reserve about three hours north of Kuélap.
Visit a Waterfall:
The region’s many impressive falls are all accessible by day hikes. The best-known is Gocta Falls, reached via a three-mile hike from Cocachimba, which contains two separate drops measuring 2,530 feet in total. Yumbilla Falls emerges from the San Francisco Cave to tumble 2,938 feet over the course of four separate drops.
Getting Around
The closest airport to Kuélap is in the city of Chachapoyas, an hour north, which has daily flights from Lima. You can rent a car in Chachapoyas, though it’s often best to hire a local guide with their own transport—they can help you track down obscure archaeological sites that can be difficult to find on your own. Wildlife spotting is also best with a guide who knows where you’re most likely to see the animals.
If you’re looking for a longer trip, fly into the jungle city of Tarapoto and travel overland about eight hours to Chachapoyas, stopping in Moyobamba, known throughout Peru as the City of Orchids for the 3,500 species that grow in the nearby rainforest.
