Chachapoyas - Another pretty town in Peru

 


Chachapoyas is quite remote, but the trip there is stunningly beautiful. Not too many foreigners visit it; some of those who do, they do it as a stopover en route to or from the Amazonas or Ecuador. The main attraction near Chachapoyas is Kuélap, but it is closed indefinitely. Some still visit it as the setting is spectacular and you can take a cable car to the outer wall of the ancient complex. There are many other unique and interesting archaeological sites and wonderful natural sites in the area, many which can be visited independently. Attractions covered in this blog are: Kuélap, the mausoleums of Revash, the Museum of Leymebamba and the Sarcophagi of Karajía. And Chachapoyas itself is very attractive and laid-back, easy to spend there several days.

Getting to Chachapoyas from Cajamarca

The options are overnight bus or day-time colectivo with change in Celendín. The trip is stunningly beautiful, descending from around 3000 metres to a river valley of around 1000 metres then climbing back up again to 3000 metres, so I recommend the day-time trip. The change in Celendín is straight forward, transport to Chachapoyas is right where you are dropped off. Furthermore, if you want to see any of these sites, Kuélap, the mausoleums of Revash, the Museum of Leymebamba , I recommend getting off before Chachapoyas. You can find accommodation either in Leymebamba or at Tingo (Kuélap) - more practical info in the relevant blog posts. 

Map of the Cajamarca-Chachapoyas route


1. Museum of mummies; 2. Mausoleums of Revash; 3. Kuélap; 4. Sarcophagi of Karajía.

Attractions around Chachapoyas










Chachapoyas






Popular posts from this blog

Countries

Image
     The world is yours. Where do you want to go next? Featured: Those countries are featured where posts with useful information are available—such as maps, practical details, guides, instructions, etc.—in addition to the many accompanying photos. 
More »

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Day 1: Yuanjiajie & Golden Whip Stream

Image
  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...
More »

Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map

Image
  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 
More »

Leshan Giant Buddha - Walking tour and boat ride

Image
  Located near Chengdu, Leshan is home to the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of a cliff face, the 71 meters tall statue overlooks the junction of the Min and Dadu Rivers. You can walk up to the statue’s head and look down, walk down to its feet and look up, and view it from a boat. The area also offers distant but nice city views. You could do the walk and the boat ride easily in a short day, along with a visit to the Mahao Cliff Tombs and Wuyou Temple, both located between the Giant Buddha and the cruise port. In a longer day's program you can also include a visit to the Oriental Buddha Park, a separate and fairly large attraction (separate ticket required) that is well worth seeing — see the post about the Oriental Buddha Park . 
More »