The North Coast and Northern Highlands
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The North Coast and Northern Highlands - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Gocta Waterfall
Body Of Water/WaterfallSurprisingly, Gocta, a 771-meter (2,529-foot) waterfall, believed to be the fourth tallest in South America, wasn't brought to the attention of the Peruvian government until 2006. The falls, about 50 km (31 miles) outside town, are strongest during the rainy season, from November to April, though during the dry season, the sun will likely be out, and you will be able to swim at their base. Occasionally, on the 2½-hour hike from Cocachimba (you can hire guides there if you are not coming on a tour from Chachapoyas), you may be able to spot toucans or the endemic yellow-tailed woolly monkey. The best way to appreciate the falls is by staying at the charming, 16-room Gocta Lodge, especially if you prefer the light of the morning or afternoon.
Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru -
2. Karajía
RuinsDiscovered in 1985, the six coffins that make up this uncanny funeral site 48 km (30 miles) northwest of Chachapoyas overlook a ruined village and are thought to contain the mummies of shamans and great warriors. The Chachapoyas people built the tombs into a sheer cliffside sometime around the year 1460, and today the eerie funeral masks—together with the bones scattered around the site—provide a haunting reminder of the great chieftains that once held sway over the surrounding country. The Karajía sarcophagi, or "ancient wise men" as the locals call them, originally included eight coffins, but two have collapsed due to earthquakes. This has allowed archaeologists to study the contents of the wood-and-clay structures, which were found to house a single individual in the fetal position, along with all the ceramics and other belongings the deceased carried with him into the afterlife. Visitors today can't get close to the sarcophagi due to their remote location, but the view of them watching over the ravine below is awe-inspiring.
Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru -
3. Iglesia Santa Ana
Religious Building/Site/ShrineThe town's oldest church was one of Peru's first "Indian churches," where indigenous people were forced to attend services. It was built in the 17th century and is on a small square of the same name.
Av. Santa Ana, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru -
4. Museo Leymebamba
Museum/GalleryOne of the most striking museums in all of Peru, the Museo Leymebamba, which opened in 2000, is situated in a small village 60 km (37 miles) south of Chachapoyas. Inside are more than 200 mummies, some dating back over 500 years, that were discovered high on a limestone cliff above the Laguna de los Condores in 1997, together with other artifacts from the Chachapoyas culture. Day-trips are available from downtown Chachapoyas; otherwise you can take a Cajamarca-bound bus (via Celendin) and ask to be let off at Leymebamba.
Av. Austria s/n, Leymebamba, Amazonas, Peru041-816–803Sight Details
Rate Includes: S/15 -
5. Pozo de Yanayacu
Hot SpringThis small, rocky natural hot spring a few blocks west of the Plaza de Armas isn't much but is nice to look at. It's said the spring magically appeared during a visit from Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo.
Jr. Salamanca, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Peru -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Purunllacta
RuinsAbout 35 km (22 miles) southeast of Chachapoyas are the ruins of Purunllacta, a good place for hiking. With pre-Inca agricultural terraces, dwellings, ceremonial platforms, and roads extending for more than 420 hectares (1,038 acres), but few tourists, this can be a peaceful spot, but somewhat boring as you have no explanation of what you're seeing. To get here, drive to the town of Cheto. From the town it's a one-hour walk uphill to the site. Few people know about this or go, so ask in Cheto for directions to the trailhead, and don't be alarmed if you have to ask more than one person.
Chachapoyas, Amazonas, PeruSight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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