On the other side of the Andes Mountains, down the abrupt slopes that overlook the east of Peru in the steamy Amazon plain, lies the high jungle.
A land of impenetrable forests, it is considered the last haven of unique plants and rare endangered animals like the spectacular bear, the dwarf deer and the yellow-tailed woolly monkey.
One route in this area leads to the wondrous Kuelap, the Amazon jungle enclave of the Sachapuya people, renowned for the spectacular clay rock fortified walls they built around this citadel, built at 3,000 m.a.s.l. on top of an imposing rocky ridge.
Kuelap is the most important archaeological attraction in Peru's northeast and consists of a beautifully engineered citadel sitting on top of two huge superimposed platforms. For its sheer size (584 by 110 m) and characteristics, the site is comparable to Cusco's Sacsayhuaman.
To reach Kuelap, travelers must head for Chachapoyas, after a 50-minute flight from Chiclayo on the coast (750 km north of Lima). From Chachapoyas, they head by road to Tinco in the Utcubamba Valley and then up a 7-kilometer gravel road to the fortress.
Click on the following links to find information and maps of the most popular trekking and climbing circuits and rafting options:
Trekking and Climbing
River Rafting
