Gocta Waterfall Guide (2025): Cocachimba’s Best Kept Secret

Located where the Amazon Rainforest meets the Andes is the beautiful town of Cocachimba. Though far from Peru’s traditional backpacking route, this hidden destination is becoming increasingly popular for having one of the world’s tallest free falling waterfalls, Catarata de Gocta. 

Gocta Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls we have ever seen (and we’ve seen a lot). It’s rare these days that a waterfall makes us go ‘WOW’, but this one surpassed all of our expectations. 

The falls, surrounded by dense jungle and sheer mountain sides, makes you feel like you’re walking through the real life Jurassic Park! 

Interestingly, even though these falls boast an impressive drop of 771 m, they weren’t discovered by the outside world until 2002, when German researcher Stefan Ziemendorff stumbled across them on an expedition. 

Prior to this, the local villagers kept it a secret due to superstition and fears regarding the curse of a white-haired mermaid that was rumoured to live in the waters.   

The interesting history, alongside the breathtaking beauty of this place is the reason that we believe Cocachimba and Gocta Falls should be on everyone’s Peru itinerary. 

Most people visit here from the region’s capital, Chachapoyas. However, to really absorb the magic of this place, we highly recommend staying in Cocachimba for at least a few nights.

In this travel guide, we’ll share everything, from how to get to Cocachimba, when to visit, the best hiking routes, where to stay and more. If you are looking to get off the beaten track in Peru and have a true adventure, look no further! 

How to get to Cocachimba  

From Chachapoyas

Chachapoyas is the closest major city to Cocachimba which makes it the most popular place to visit from.

The easiest way to get to Cocachimba is to take a colectivo (shared van) from Terminal Terrestre Chachapoyas in the direction of Pedro Ruiz. 

Along the way, ask the driver to drop you off in Cocahuayco at the beginning of the road to Cocachimba. 

From here, you can take a moto-taxi or tuk tuk to the village of Cocachimba.  

From Lima

If you are flying into Lima and wish to explore all that northern Peru has to offer, the most convenient way to get there is to fly from Lima to Chachapoyas. Once in Chachapoyas, you can follow the instructions above to get to Cocachimba. 

If you’d prefer not to fly or would like a cheaper alternative, you will need to take a night bus. However, this journey can take anywhere from 17 to 24 hours. Movilbus and Civa are two companies that offer this route. To check routes, prices and book tickets, we recommend BusBud.

From Ecuador

If you are backpacking from Ecuador into Peru, Cocachimba is a logical first stop. 

You’ll need to cross the border at La Balsa. This border crossing is closed on the weekends and is only open between 7:30am-8:30pm on weekdays. 

From Ecuador, take the local bus from Loja or Vilcabamba to the town of Zumba. From here, take a ‘ranchero’ bus directly to La Balsa. Alternatively, there is a 6:15am bus with Sur Oriente that goes from Vilcabamba directly to La Balsa. 

From the border take the ‘Expreso Nambija’ to Jaen and then a bus from Jaen heading towards Chachapoyas. En route, get dropped off at Cocahuayo and catch a moto-taxi or tuk tuk into Cocachimba. 

Best Time to Visit Gocta Waterfall

The best time to visit Gocta Waterfall is from March to June. This is the ‘shoulder season’ between the rainy season and dry season. 

As the rainy season comes to an end, the waterfall will still be powerful and impressive but trekking conditions will be better and there’ll be less chance of getting rained on. 

Having said this, there is no bad time to visit the waterfall as it continues to flow all year round.  

Hiking to Gocta Waterfall

From Cocachimba, you will get incredible views of the Gocta Waterfall. However, if you want to get up close and personal, we really recommend doing a hike. 

There are 2 main hiking routes, the full circuit from San Pablo to Cocachimba which allows you to see both the upper and lower falls, or the return hike to the lower falls from Cocachimba. 

Return route from Cocachimba

The route that begins and ends in Cocachimba is the most popular of the two routes. Starting in Cocachimba, you will need to pay an entrance fee of S/10 ($3) before you can begin the trail.

The walk to the lower falls was more challenging than expected as the path is constantly uphill and downhill the entire way. However, the surroundings make it worth it as you hike through lush green cloud forest where the trees open up now and again to give views of the spectacular Gocta Falls.

Eventually, you will reach the base of the lower falls. The falls descend from such a height that the water turns into almost a mist at the bottom. 

After you’ve spent some time admiring the waterfall, you’ll then need to follow the same route back to Cocachimba. This full return route is 10 km in total. 

As this is a more popular route, it can get busy, particularly in the high season between July and August. Due to this, we recommend beginning the hike early between 7-8am in the morning to beat the crowds.  

San Pablo to Cocachimba route

This 15 km hiking route can be done from San Pablo to Cocachimba or in reverse.

We recommend starting in San Pablo as there is a pretty steep descent from the upper to the lower falls which would be more challenging the other way around. The upper section of this hike is much less popular, making it quieter than the in and out route from Cocachimba.  

To get to the San Pablo trailhead, take a tuk tuk to the Cocahuayo junction, and then another tuk tuk to San Pablo. 

When you arrive in San Pablo, you will first need to pay the entrance fee which costs S/20. However, be aware that you may be asked to pay another S/10 when you reach the entrance to the lower falls.

Once past the entrance, you’ll follow a well-marked trail that takes you through a small village, before taking a left turn to begin the ascent. As you make your way up, there are viewing platforms where you can take in the breathtaking views of the valley. 

After approximately 4km, you’ll reach an intersection. To visit the upper falls first, carry on straight for another 1.8km. Then return back to the intersection and take the left turn to begin descending down to the lower falls. 

Spend some time enjoying the views from the base of the waterfall and then join the main trail from the lower falls back to Cocachimba. 

Reaching Gocta Falls by horse

If hiking is not your thing, you can also reach the waterfall by horse.

If you plan to do the return route to Cocachimba, you can hire a horse to take you both ways. For the full circuit, you will need to take a horse from San Pablo to the upper falls, walk to the lower falls, and then take a different horse from the lower falls to Cocachimba. This is because the section between the upper and lower falls is too steep for horses.

The price is typically S/40-S/50 ($11-$14) per horse.

What to Pack for the Gocta Waterfall Hike

Hiking the waterfall can take several hours depending on your pace, especially if you do the full circuit. Therefore, you need to make sure you are prepared. Below are some essentials that we recommend to bring:

• A good pair of hiking boots: This is not an easy hike and it can get very muddy, particularly if you visit in or just after the rainy season. Make sure to play it safe and wear hiking boots. 

• A comfortable hiking bag: Take a bag that you’ll be comfortable hiking with for a long period of time. 

• Water and snacks: You’ll need to bring plenty of water to get you through the hike. To reduce the weight and bring more water, we recommend using a water bladder. Also, don’t forget to pack some snacks or some lunch to keep you energised.  

• Waterproof jacket: Even if it is unlikely to rain on your hike, a waterproof jacket is still a good idea as you can easily get sprayed when close to the waterfall.  

• Sunscreen and bug repellent: The Peruvian sun can be very strong so sunscreen is an essential. As well as this, you are hiking through the jungle so it’s important not to forget bug spray.

• Dry Bag: If you plan to bring any valuables or camera gear, it is best to bring a dry bag to keep them safe. It is not uncommon for it to rain in the Amazonas region and you can get very wet from the waterfall.  

For a full Peru packing list, read more here.

Gocta Waterfall Tours

As the trails are very well marked, a tour or a guide is not really necessary. It’s also much cheaper to visit independently. However, if you prefer to take a tour for your convenience, you can join one from Chachapoyas. 

A good tour to book is ‘From Chachapoyas: Gocta Waterfall Full-Day Hiking Tour’ with Get Your Guide. This costs $63 per person. Alternatively you can shop around in Chachapoyas for the best deal. 

Where to stay in Cocachimba

Though Gocta Waterfall is becoming increasingly popular, many people opt to stay in Chachapoyas rather than its closest town Cocachimba. 

However, Cocachimba is a stunning town that offers breathtaking views of Gocta Falls and some amazing accommodation options. This was one of our favourite places that we stayed in Northern Peru, so we really recommend staying for a few nights to absorb all that it has to offer.   

Below are some accommodation options in Cocachimba depending on budget:

• Low Budget: La Riviera de Gocta – This beautiful stay offers mountain views, a garden, restaurant, bar and free wifi, all for S/80 ($21) per night. 

• Low-Mid Range Budget: Gocta Miradors Deluxe – For a slightly higher price of S/130 ($34) per night, this hotel offers free breakfast, amazing views, a garden and terrace. 

• Mid-High Range Budget: Goctamarca Lodge – This is a peaceful, luxurious stay with incredible views. It offers free breakfast, a garden, terrace, free wifi and river view patios. This costs S/340 ($90) per night. 

• High Budget: Gocta Andes Lodge – This luxury hotel looks directly onto Gocta Waterfall and this view can be enjoyed from their beautiful pool. This stay offers a free buffet breakfast, luxury rooms and amazing balcony views. The cost is S/586 ($154) per night. 

Other Things to do in Cocachimba

• Relax: Cocachimba is the perfect place to relax surrounded by nature and breathtaking views. If you don’t have the budget to stay at Gocta Andes Lodge, you can visit their restaurant for drinks and some food or pay a small fee to chill in their pool. 

• Bird Watching: Cocachimba is a bird lover’s heaven. It is possible to spot many beautiful birds including the iconic Cock-of-the-Rock.

Final Thoughts

If you are visiting Northern Peru, you can’t miss this hidden gem. It’s a perfect mixture of mountains and jungle that act as a backdrop to one of the most impressive and tallest waterfalls in the world.

Though you have to stay in Chachapoyas as a base to visit many of the other amazing attractions in this region, if you have the time, make sure to stay in Cocachimba to really experience the magic.

As always if you have any questions that we haven’t answered in this guide, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

FAQs

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