Kuelap Cable Car: An Honest Review of Chachapoyas’ Ancient City

Kuelap, sometime it’s called the “Machu Picchu of the North,” is truly an ancient, walled city built by the Chachapoyas culture way up in the mountains of northern Peru. To get there, very, very few options once existed for reaching the fortress, which meant hours and hours on a winding road, plus a rather long hike. However, as of late, getting there has actually gotten much easier, which is partially because of the Kuelap Cable Car. Here’s what it is really like to go see Kuelap using this cable car, and a few things you might wanna keep in mind.

What is the Kuelap Cable Car?

The Kuelap Cable Car, also often called the Teleférico de Kuelap, is a cable car system built in 2017 to make it so a bunch of people, people who want to get to the archaeological site of Kuelap faster and much more comfortably. It’s really about a 20-minute ride each way, and actually cuts out a lot of the old travel time, that way, allowing people like your friend to spend a lot more time exploring the ruins instead of just traveling. In other words, it’s now super easy to get to Kuelap and maybe grab lunch back in town, something that was more or less out of the question before.

Getting to the Cable Car Station

Now, before you get carried away, keep in mind, it’s still kind of tricky to get to the cable car, alright, so you do need to get yourself to Nuevo Tingo first. Most travelers end up doing this from Chachapoyas, which is pretty the regional capital. From Chachapoyas, you can actually grab a colectivo (it’s, like, a shared van) or a taxi to Nuevo Tingo. The colectivos, at least, are more or less cheaper, yet taxis will definitely offer a much faster, more direct option. Very likely, the ride is somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half, because the roads twist a lot. Don’t forget, you know, you should ask your hotel or host in Chachapoyas for basically the most current pricing. As a matter of fact, things may have changed a bit since your buddy last visited.

Buying Tickets

Once you’re actually at Nuevo Tingo, you need a ticket, of course! You can actually purchase these right at the cable car station. Very, very often, you’ll run into folks also trying to sell tickets in Chachapoyas. Typically, it’s kinda best to get them right at the source just in case, especially in the busy season. When you actually buy your ticket, there might be a choice about a tour guide too, which, is that not the ultimate convenience? Seriously, consider whether you’d actually appreciate having somebody who really knows a whole lot tell you about the ancient culture. You’re probably gonna need your passport for the purchase as well, so don’t leave that at your hotel, friend!

The Cable Car Ride

Alright, once you’re set to ride, here comes the cable car itself. It’s actually about a 20-minute ride from the station up to near Kuelap. Now, that cable car will actually carry you way, way up over the mountainside. Because you gain so much altitude, be ready for some just amazing views that are good enough for postcards! Look to your left, and you might just get to see the valley that runs all the way down toward Gocta Falls! If you are actually a bit scared of heights, as a matter of fact, this could be something of a challenge, but it’s likely a very, very short-lived challenge because you will be so memorized by what surrounds you. I mean, seriously, the views can actually be breathtaking!

The Hike After the Cable Car

Okay, once the cable car leaves you, don’t get confused and think you are right at Kuelap! The truth is that there’s still, as a matter of fact, a bit of a walk, so, it is about 20 to 30 minutes, maybe even just a bit more, depending on your pace. This is on a trail that climbs gently upward, it kind of meanders its way to the entrance of Kuelap. Actually, even this short walk gives you really amazing views and it gives you, very much needed, time to start guessing how these walls and structures were actually made centuries ago. Because it’s high altitude, slow and steady wins the race! Drink lots of water before you come!

Exploring Kuelap

And that’s it. You finally got to Kuelap! Start taking photos, the memories and that sweet air is there to grab! The walls, oh my goodness the walls! They rise sharply up all around you! Those walls protected those ancient people from attack. This site will actually spread out before you and the structures and buildings will seemingly sit undisturbed like they’ve sat a million years. How did they move those stones up here, to such heights? Think about who once walked these paths, so many years back, yet so close in some way. Kuelap truly feels almost untouched, and you will very probably see what the ancients saw. If you decided to pay for a guide, right now’s a really good time to really let that person help you imagine this remote mountaintop site’s rich history!

Is the Kuelap Cable Car Worth It?

Here’s, more or less, the million-dollar question! If time really is something you value a lot and you do not mind spending a little bit more for comfort, then using the Kuelap Cable Car is something you’re gonna do. Very possibly it will let you get in a comfortable day trip from Chachapoyas. Also, it’s extremely likely it’ll save you from basically hours on super bumpy roads and exhausting hikes, too it’s almost unfair! If you are traveling with people like young kids, old folks, or those people that aren’t actually able to hike for long distances, this cable car is going to be especially advantageous and a smart thing to do, just right!

Tips for Visiting Kuelap

Wear layers: It will more or less be chilly up there and the weather may turn quickly. So many weather possibilities!
Bring water and snacks: You need to keep hydrated and powered for the walk and exploration. Just perfect, you see.
Wear appropriate footwear: Sturdy shoes are probably what you want for walking and hiking. Right?
Check the weather ahead: Bad weather might just actually close the cable car. Seriously!
Arrive early: It usually gets more crowded as the day moves along, after all. It’s something you’ve come so far to see!

What Else Can I Do in the Chachapoyas Area?

So, Kuelap’s, honestly, just the start, friend! You may, you just may, already be in one of the most appealing parts of Peru, anyway. Not too far away are actually some other sites, actually awesome in their own rights: the Gocta Waterfall, for example. Also, there are caves to explore at Quiocta, so you can hike up to the Sarcophagi of Karajia. Chachapoyas is really an area where you probably need to give yourself a good amount of time, if you have time.

Final Thoughts

So, the Kuelap Cable Car really did actually change the traveling and tourism situation. No more will hours be killed just getting there. It offers views that you are going to remember for life, a very comfortable ride, and super simple accessibility for anybody. So, if a trip to Kuelap is, honestly, something that’s on your bucket list, go make it happen!

Key Takeaways:

The Kuelap Cable Car makes Kuelap really easy to get to from Chachapoyas.
Tickets may be available in Chachapoyas but should be purchased directly at the cable car station to make certain they’re actually good.
It’s still kind of a hike once the cable car drops you at the top, and make sure to wear super sturdy footwear.

#Kuelap #Chachapoyas #Peru #TravelReview #AdventureTravel