Kuelap Travel Guide
Travel to Kuelap - Fortress in the clouds
- Ratings:
- 4 out of 5 (1 votes)
-
Reviews:
-
Be the first to write a review
One of over 500 archaeological sites left by the mysterious Cloud People of Chachapoyas, this is by far the largest and most impressive. A huge fort and city of 400 buildings surrounded by a huge 20 metre high defensive wall, it would have been a daunting site for any invaders.
Using more stone in its construction than even the Great Pyramid at Giza, this staggeringly large complex is a must see.
Hidden in the cloud forests of Amazonas and San Martín, the Cloud People known to the Incas as the Chachapoyas ruled their kingdom. Developing during the age of the Huari, Peru's first major empire, it is thought that the huge fortress and city of Kuelap with its 400 buildings surrounded by a huge 20 metre high wall, was built to defend against them. Little is known about the Chachpoyas people and what we do know comes from second-hand accounts from the Incas and the Spanish. It is said that they had fairer skin than most Andean people and had many of their cultural roots, as demonstrated by their artwork, is the Amazon.
Kuelap is an impressive construction by any standards and one of the most important discoveries Peru has seen. Located on the top of a ridge, shrouded in clouds a little over 3000 metres above sea level, it was discovered completely covered in vegetation be Juan Crisostomo Nieto in 1967. Its size suggests to experts that it took about 200 years to build and employed more stone blocks than any other construction in Peru when it was constructed in 800AD. Its high walls alone are built with over 100,000 stones weighing thousands of tonnes.
More than a fortress, it was also home to as many as 2000 people when the Incas arrived to begin their conquest. As any visitor to this amazing ruin will see, the Incas had their work cut out.
Attractions in Kuelap
El Tintero cone building – Defying gravity, this inverted cone building that is thinner at its base and much wider at its top is a intriguing sight, and located at in the southern area of Kuelap.
La Atalaya – One of Kuélap's turret-shaped circular buildings, La Atalaya is one of the most intact and is located at the northern end of the complex.
Main Gate – Flanked by high walls, the main gate into Kuélap on the complex's south side has a curious shape. Leading through the thick wall like an alleyway its narrowing top gives the entrance the appearance of a female's volva.
Activities in Kuelap
Skip the 4x4 road journey and travel as the ancients did. Hike to the mysterious ruins of Kuélap through the stunning cloud forests of Peru's Amazonas region.
Getting Around
The remains of Kuélap are 72km from the city of Chachapoyas. It takes 3.5 hrs to arrive by private car.
Kuelap Reviews
Why not be the first and add your review below?
