Kuelap Fortress Tours and Tickets

Nicknamed ‘Machu Picchu of the North,’ Kuelap Fortress is worth visiting—even if it’s just to soak up views of the lush Utcubamba Valley from its perch 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above sea level. Built by the Indigenous Chachapoyas, the former fortified city is one of the largest ancient monuments in the Americas.

Yes, there are plenty of tours of the Kuelap Fortress. They typically depart from Chachapoyas and take care of the many moving parts associated with reaching the citadel. Multi-day tours usually combine the fortress with the Gocta Waterfall, one of the highest in the world.

Other must-see attractions close to Kuelap Fortress include the Sarcofagi of Carajia, famous for its vast size and mountainside location; the otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites of the Caverns of Quiocta; and the towering Gocta Waterfall, which is 2,529 feet (771 meters) high and one of the world’s tallest.

Kuelap Fortress is Peru’s northern highlands—the high altitude of this region means that rain and chilly temperatures are a year-round phenomenon. However, the so-called dry season is from April to October. This is when you can expect the least rain and the sunniest skies, ideal for exploring the fully exposed Kuelap Fortress.

You can visit independently, but your admission ticket to the archeological site includes a guided tour. Exploring Kuelap Fortress with an expert illuminates the 400-plus stone buildings and provides rich detail about the Chachapoyas empire, guaranteed to enhance your experience.

The small town of Nuevo Tingo is the gateway to Kuelap Fortress. From there, you can take a bus, walk, or travel by horseback to the cable car station, from which a gondola takes you up the mountainside. The journey takes around 20 minutes, but remember that the cable car is closed on Mondays, even though the site is open daily.