12 Best Things to do in Chachapoyas, Peru

Chachapoyas is the capital of the Amazonas region in Northern Peru. It sits in a picturesque location right between the Amazon and the Andes, 2335 m above sea level. 

We happened upon Chachapoyas as it was a logical stop on our journey from Ecuador into Peru. We didn’t expect too much of this city and its surroundings but we were pleasantly surprised with how much there was to explore here. In the end it was actually one of our favourite stops in Peru. 

Whether you are looking to immerse yourself in ancient history and culture or get out into nature, there are endless things to do in Chachapoyas. 

In Quechua language, Chachapoya translates to ‘cloud forest’, and the people living here were known as ‘warriors of the clouds’ which tells you all you need to know about the surrounding landscapes.

You can hike to some of the tallest waterfalls in the world, Gocta and Yumbilla, or even visit impressive archaeological sites such as Kuelap which has been named ‘the Machu Picchu of the North’.

Most international tourists overlook this region in favour of more popular destinations such as Cusco and Machu Picchu. However, we hope to convince you in this guide that Chachapoyas is more than worthy of a spot on your Peru itinerary.

What to do in and around Chachapoyas: 12 things you can’t miss

1. Kuelap

Located within a cloud forest overlooking Utcubamba Valley, you will find the ancient ruins of Kuelap. Built in the 6th century by Chachapoya civilisation, Kuelap Fortress is home to one of the largest ancient stone structures in the Americas.

This archeological site is often called ‘the Machu Picchu of the North’. But, Kuelap was actually built centuries before Machu Picchu and has its own distinct architecture consisting of round houses and a 20 m high defensive wall.

Kuelap has become increasingly popular since a cable car was built in 2017 that connects the site to the town of Nuevo Tingo. This has made it much more accessible as prior to this the only way up was by car or by hiking. Both of these options take substantially longer as Kuelap sits at 3000m above sea level. 

The return cable car to Kuelap costs just over S/20 ($6) and the entrance fee to the site is S/45 ($12) for an adult ticket. 

We recommend hiring a guide at the entrance of Kuelap to take you around the ruins, that can teach you about the history and provide some context to what you’re seeing. This makes the experience much more enjoyable. 

How to get to Kuelap

If you choose to visit Kuelap independently, you can take a bus from Terminal Terrestre in Chachapoyas to Nueva Tingo. This takes around 1 hour. 

From here, take the 20-minute cable car to the entrance of Kuelap, enjoying the stunning valley views along the way. The cable car operates between 8am – 4:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday.  

If you decide to visit on a Monday, you will need to take a taxi from Nueva Tingo to the entrance as the cable car will be closed. 

Alternatively you can take a tour from Chachapoyas. Tours don’t cost too much more than visiting yourself, especially if you decide to hire a guide. Tours typically include the entrance fee, lunch, transport, return cable car ride and a knowledgeable guide.

If you are someone who likes to prebook, check out this ‘Full-Day Tour to Kuelap Fortress‘. However, if you are spending some time in Chachapoyas, you can always shop around for the best deal. 

2. Gocta Waterfall 

Gocta Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, falling 771 m. Visiting this natural wonder is the reason that we chose this particular route instead of the more popular coastal route from Ecuador into Peru. And we weren’t disappointed!

These two tall cascades surrounded by dense jungle and sheer mountain sides made us feel like we had walked straight into Jurassic Park. 

Gocta Waterfall is located 42 km from Chachapoyas, with its closest town being Cocachimba. 

Visiting the waterfall for the day from Chachapoyas is a popular option, but if you have the time we really recommend staying for a few nights in Cocachimba. There are many amazing accommodation options such as Gocta Miradors Deluxe which offer breathtaking views of Gocta Falls and its surroundings. 

Though the waterfall is clearly visible from Cocachimba, it was interestingly only discovered in 2002 by German researcher Stefan Ziemendorff. 

You may wonder how no one had spotted it before as of course the locals must have seen it? In fact they had, but they vowed to keep it a secret due to superstition and fears regarding the curse of a white-haired mermaid that was rumoured to live in the waters.  

There are multiple options for your visit to Gocta Waterfall. You can relax in Cocachimba and view it from afar, or get up close by hiking to the falls. 

To visit the base of the lower falls, you can do a 10 km return hike from Cocachimba. The trek there and back can be challenging as the path is constantly uphill and downhill the entire way. However, it’s a stunning hike through cloud forest and the views at the end are more than worth it. 

Alternatively you can do a longer 15 km trek to the upper and lower falls. For this option you need to start at San Pablo to hike to the upper falls first before descending to the lower falls and joining the main path back to Cocachimba.

Whichever option you choose, the entrance fee to the trailhead costs S/20 ($5.50).

If hiking isn’t for you, there is also the option of taking a horse. Hiring a horse usually costs S/40-S/50 ($11-$14). 

How to get to Gocta Waterfall

To visit Gocta Waterfall from Chachapoyas, take a colectivo (shared van) from Terminal Terrestre 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.

If you are planning to go straight to San Pablo to hike from there, you can also get dropped in Cocahuayco but ask the tuk tuk to take you to the San Pablo trailhead instead. 

3. Yumbilla Waterfall 

Yumbilla Waterfall is less visited than Gocta but it’s actually even taller, measuring a height of 895 m! The World Waterfall Database ranks it the 5th tallest waterfall in the world, though this is disputed by many as it has three distinct tiers rather than one drop.

An important thing to note about this waterfall is that, unlike Gocta Falls, it doesn’t flow all year round. It’s likely that you’ll only witness this waterfall in the wet season or after a spell of torrential rain. Make sure to check with the locals that it’s flowing before you decide to visit. 

To get to Yumbilla Falls, you need to embark on a 6 km hike from Cuispes which is located just over an hour from Chachapoyas.

At the information centre in the main plaza of Cuispes, you’ll be asked to pay an entrance fee of S/10 ($3). A guide will be offered but this is not compulsory as it’s possible to hike the trail independently. 

The trail takes you through lush cloud forest and passes some smaller falls named Medio Cerro and Cristal. To return back to Cuispes, you can take the same path back or choose the alternative route which loops around and allows you to walk the above and below Cristal Waterfall. 

How to get to Yumbilla Falls

To get to the trailhead of Yumbilla Falls, you will need to take a colectivo from Terminal Terrestre in Chachapoyas to Pedro Ruiz. This takes just over an hour. 

From here, take a tuk tuk ot moto-taxi to Cuispes which is just 8 km away.  

If you’d rather take a tour, you can join one from Chachapoyas. They generally include transport and a guide, but some also offer canyoning if you are looking for more of an adventure. 

4. The Sonche Canyon 

Sonche Canyon is a 900 m deep canyon accessible from the small town of Huancas, just a short drive from Chachapoyas. We weren’t sure what to expect when visiting but we were actually super impressed. 

You can observe the canyon from two viewpoints, Mirador de Huancas and Mirador de Huanca Urco. 

Mirador de Huancas is the most easily accessible as it’s only a short walk from Huancas. To enter the viewing platform there is a small entrance fee of just S/5 ($1.50).

You can either spend some time taking in the view before heading back, or walk 4.5 km along the edge of the canyon to the second viewpoint, Mirador de Huanca Urco. 

How to get to Sonche Canyon

To get to Sonche Canyon, you need to take a colectivo to Huancas from an unmarked small terminal on Avenida Evitamiento in Chachapoyas. This takes around 25 minutes and costs S/3 each way. Alternatively you can take a taxi which typically start at around S/7 each way.  

5. Sarcophagi of Karajia

Perched on a cliff edge within a ravine is a unique burial site made up of 6 Sarcophagi. 

The Sarcophagi are uniquely decorated clay coffins that stand as a remnant of Chachapoya culture. Archeologists believe that those buried here will have been very important members of the upper class and most likely fierce warriors. 

These 2.5 m tall Sarcophagi were put so high up to allow their inhabitants to be closer to the sky and therefore the gods. However, their positioning has been beneficial for other reasons in the modern day, as it allowed them to escape any looting or damage from humans, keeping them very well preserved.  

Having said this, there were originally 8 Sarcophagi, but now there are only 6 remaining after 2 collapsed, revealing the mummies and artefacts inside.

To visit, you will need to pay an entrance fee of S/5 ($1.50) and then walk around 20-30 minutes to the bottom of the cliff where you can admire the Sarcophagi from a distance. If you have a good camera and telephoto lens, make sure not to forget it for this excursion.

How to get to Sarcophagi

The most popular way to visit these ancient relics is by tour from Chacapoyas. Most tours combine the Sarcophagi of Karajia with the nearby Quiocta Cave (which you can learn about just below). 

To visit independently, take a colectivo from Chachapoyas to Luya and then change here and take onward transport to Cruz Pata. 

6. Quiocta Caves

While visiting Sarcophagi, it’s worth making a stop at Quiocta Caves. 

What draws people to this cave is not the cave itself as there are others that are much more impressive. Instead, it’s the eerie experience that you get from exploring a cave that was once used as a cemetery for the Chachapoya people. 

Within the cave you can observe skulls, bones and paintings that date back hundreds of years. 

The walk into the cave system is only around 1 km there and back but a guide is needed to direct you through and share their knowledge about points of interest. This mandatory guide costs S/30 ($8). 

The trail is also pretty muddy and slippery but you can collect some knee-high rubber boots to keep you clean and dry for S/7 ($2) at the tourist office.  

How to get to the Quiocta Caves 

If you want to visit this site, I recommend taking a full day tour from Chachapoyas that couples it with a visit to Sarcophagi of Karajia. 

7. The Mausoleums of Revash

If you aren’t done with burial sites yet and are still intrigued to see more, another site to visit is Revash Mausoleum which is located close to the village of San Bartolo. 

The Chachapoya people definitely kept things interesting for their dead. This is another unique site made up of small houses carved high into limestone cliffs and decorated with red symbols. However, unlike the Sarcophagi, the mummies no longer remain inside. 

Some archaeologists believe that these mausoleums are replicas of the houses inhabited by Chachapoya people.

To visit the Mausoleums of Revash, you have to walk from the town of San Bartolo along a stone path for 1.5 km until you reach the cliff face. The entrance fee costs S/10 ($3).

It’s possible to get a closer look via some paths on the cliffs but we wouldn’t recommend this unless you have a good balance and strong fitness level. 

How to get to the Mausoleums of Revash

To visit from Chachapoyas, you can take a direct bus to San Bartolo town. However, as it is around 80 km away from Chachapoyas, visiting independently can be very time consuming.

Instead we’d recommend taking a tour from Chachapoyas that combines this site with the Leymebamba Museum which you can read about directly below. 

8. Leymebamba Museum

Leymebamba Museum is home to many important artefacts from the Chachapoya civilisation. If you want to delve deep into the culture and history of this civilization, this is the perfect stop for you. 

The majority of the artefacts found in this museum came from the excavation of the Lagoon of the Condors in 1996. Here they discovered 219 mummies, many of them well-preserved which are now on display. Some still have expressions on their faces which is interesting yet somewhat unpleasant to see. 

The entrance fee into the museum costs S/30 ($8). 

How to get to the Museo de Leymebamba

As we mentioned above, the best way to visit is to combine the museum with the Mausoleums of Revash and take a tour from Chachapoyas. 

If you’d prefer to visit independently, you can take a colectivo directly to Leymebamba. However, most colectivos don’t leave until later in the day and the journey takes 2-3 hours. Therefore, to have enough time in the museum, you may have to spend the night in Leymebamba. 

9. Lagoon of the Condors (Laguna de los Momias)

If you are up for a challenge and a bit more of an adventure, Leymebamba is also a trailhead for the 3 day Laguna de los Condores trek.

This 40 km trek can be done on foot, or you can ride a horse for part of the journey. It’s possible that you’ll see no other tourists along the way as you discover the spectacular landscapes of Northern Peru, leading to the Lagoon of Condors. 

You’ll also get to see the mausoleums where they discovered the mummies that are now found in the museum of Leymebamba. 

If you are planning to take on the challenge of this difficult hike, make sure to visit in the dry season between May to September as conditions are too bad to trek in the rainy season. 

Make sure to go with a certified local guide and don’t forget a good pair of hiking boots.

10. Gran Vilaya Trek

Gran Vilaya is a 3 or 4 day trek that includes a stop at Sarcophagi and some lesser-known ruins that make up Gran Vilaya. The multi-day hike then ends with a visit to Kuelap. 

This is perfect for anyone who wants to explore the Amazonas region and its many archeological sites in more depth.

11. Chachapoyas City Centre

Although there is so much to do and see outside of Chachapoyas, make sure to keep a few hours spare to explore the city itself. 

Chachapoyas is a charming city with beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and welcoming locals. Some parts of the city that are worth visiting include the Plaza de Armas, St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Calle Amazonas. 

One block from the main square, you will also find a local farmers market. It’s open daily so it’s worth stopping by to treat yourself to a freshly squeezed juice or try one of the regional dishes sold here.  

12. Mirador de Luya Urco

Another thing to do in Chachapoyas itself is to walk 15-20 minutes to Mirador de Luya Urco. This will give you amazing views over the city and its surrounding mountains. We recommend heading up here for sunset.

How long should you spend in Chachapoyas?

How long you should spend in Chachapoyas really depends on what you are interested in seeing. There is so much to do around Chachapoyas, but for some, seeing just one archeological or burial site might be enough. 

We’d recommend a minimum of 2 days to at least see Gocta Waterfall and visit Kuelap. If you are limited on time, these are the main highlights that you shouldn’t miss.

The ideal amount of time in our opinion would be 5 days. After spending 2 days seeing the highlights of Gocta and Kuelap, you could then spend the day exploring the city itself and visiting the nearby Sonche Canyon. 

In the final 2 days, you could do two day tours, one that combines the Sarcophagi of Karajia and Quiocta Caves, and the other that visits the Mausoleums of Revash and Leymebamba museum. If nature is more your thing, you could swap one of these day trips out and replace it with a hike to Yumbilla Falls. 

If you have more time to spend in Chachapoyas, you could easily spend over a week here, especially if you want to challenge yourself to one of the multi day hikes. If you do have the extra time, we’d recommend staying in some of the smaller villages such as Cocachimba and Leymebamba to really get a feel for the Amazonas region.  

Where to stay in Chachapoyas

Low-Budget: Casa Hospedaje Teresita – This is a simple but comfortable accommodation, conveniently located on the beautiful main street of Calle Amazonas. Prices start from S/88 ($23) per night.   

Mid-range: Chachapoyas Backpackers Hostal Boutique – This is where we stayed and we really recommend it. Most rooms have a beautiful balcony view over the city or garden and include breakfast. It’s called a hostel but it is more like a hotel. The price per night starts at S/120 ($32).

High-Budget: Duplex with unsurpassed view in Chachapoyas – This airbnb has beautiful views across the city and the surrounding mountains and is perfect if you want your own private space or are visiting with a small group. This costs S/267 ($70) per night. 

Where to eat in Chachapoyas

Cafe Fusiones – This is one of the best restaurants in Chachapoyas, it serves delicious fresh, organic food from breakfast to dinner. It’s a great choice for lunch with its selection of sandwiches and lunch box options. They also cater for vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten free. You may also want to try their fair trade local coffee or craft beer. 

El Batán Del Tayta – If you are looking for somewhere with a bit of ambiance on the higher end of the budget, this Peruvian restaurant is a great choice. It serves exceptional local food and delicious Pisco Sours.

El Eden – This is a small and affordable vegan/vegetarian restaurant and it serves delicious meat-free alternatives of the local dishes. We ate here a few times and fully recommend it. Another recommendation similar to this for our fellow veggies is Restaurant Vegetariano El Maná. 

Best time to visit Chachapoyas

The best time to visit Chachapoyas is between April and June. This is the ‘shoulder season’ between the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. 

Visiting during this time of year will allow you to experience the waterfalls at their most impressive but miss the worst of the rain, meaning better trekking conditions and good weather for visiting the archaeological sites. You will also escape the high season which means there will be less crowds at the attractions. 

That being said, Chachapoyas is an all year round destination so you can visit whenever you plan to come to Peru. 

How to get to Chachapoyas

From Lima

If you are visiting from Lima, the most convenient way to get to Chachapoyas is to fly domestically into Aeropuerto de Chachapoyas. 

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.

From the Coast 

If you are travelling from the coast of Northern Peru from either Chiclayo or Trujillo, it is possible to take an overnight bus to Chachapoyas. Movilbus is one of the companies that offer these routes. 

From Ecuador

If you are backpacking from Ecuador into Peru, Chachapoyas 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. 

We recommend using BusBud to research bus routes, prices and book tickets.

Final Thoughts: Is Chachapoyas worth visiting? 

The short answer is absolutely! Chachapoyas is an amazing base to explore so much of the Amazonas region. 

The landscape here, where the Andes meet the Amazon, is so different to the rest of Peru. Being able to experience some of the tallest waterfalls in the world is reason enough to visit.

If you love your history you could spend weeks or even months here visiting all the interesting sites of the Chachapoya civilization.   

However, if you only have 1-2 weeks in Peru, we don’t recommend trying to squeeze it in as it‘s too far away from the main tourist attractions, including Cusco and Machu Picchu. 

You need at least 5 days to fully appreciate all that this region has to offer. As Peru is such a big country, we recommend spending time in just one or two regions if you are only visiting on a short holiday. 

We hope that this guide has covered everything you need to know so that you can plan your perfect trip to Chachapoyas. As always, if you have any questions that we haven’t answered, feel free to drop us an email, we’re always happy to help!

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