An impressive fortress that dates back to the 11th century -approximately- and is located at 3000 meters above sea level. n. m. Surprising, right? This is the Kuelap archaeological complex, an architectural jewel built by the inhabitants of ancient Peru and which stands out for the perfection of its finishes, the monumental size of its buildings and how complex it was (yes, past tense) to access it.
Kuelap is located in the province of Luya, one of the seven that make up the Amazonas region. The northeastern Andes were the location chosen by the members of the Chachapoyas culture, those responsible for the construction of this enigmatic city, which has administrative, religious, ceremonial spaces and even homes. It could be said that it was a city, strategically located and guarded by large walls, but at the same time surrounded by dense nature and beautiful landscapes, worthy of photographs.
Yes, the Chachapoyas culture is even longer than the Inca Empire. Its six hectares of extension were discovered during an expedition made in 1843 by the judge of Chachapoyas, Juan Crisóstomo Nieto. However, this city would have been inhabited from the 11th to the 16th century, approximately. This is the estimate of the time in which Kúelap would have functioned, since it was during the height of the Chachapoyas civilization (which was made up of various indigenous communities, each led by its own curaca), which is highly considered for being masters of construction, engineering and anti-riot strategists.
The perfect finishes of the city of Kuélap, with its narrow streets, and the 420 circular-shaped homes, do nothing more than prove right those who point them out as privileged when it comes to designing and building. This, in addition to its walls up to 20 meters high, for which more than 100 thousand blocks and their weight in mud were needed. By having these imposing walls only on one flank of their fortress, they made the work of the soldiers in charge of protecting the safety of the inhabitants from attacks by strangers and wild animals easier – and more effective.
Located at 3000 m above sea level. n. m., on the top of a mountain that dominates the narrow valley of the Utcubamba River, this imposing fortress, measuring six hectares, is one of the largest in America. It was discovered in 1843 by Juan Crisóstomo Nieto, then judge of Chachapoyas, during an expedition in the area. After three hours of exploration, Crisóstomo Nieto saw the walls of the great complex in the distance, covered with vegetation and practically intact.
The complex is made up of 420 circular homes with sloping thatched roofs. The outer walls, made of stone and mud, are of different heights and the highest walls measure up to 20 meters. Its special location was intended to facilitate the work of its defenders, who practically only had to worry about taking care of one side of the building, in addition to having a panoramic view of the entire valley.
The defensive setup is complemented by two towers located to the north and south of the complex, and narrow corridors designed so that eventual invaders could only advance in single file. Remains of stone axes and slingshot projectiles have been found nearby, which show the combats that took place in this place.
The interior spaces do not have windows and on their facades, decorative friezes with anthropomorphic figures can be seen. El Tintero draws attention, a finely carved stone building, more than five meters high, and an underground room six meters deep.
The Chachapoyas culture was made up of various indigenous communities, each one administered by its own curaca. They settled in various areas of the mountains and high jungle between the basins of the Marañón and Huallaga rivers. In the steep and wild territory they occupied, the Chachapoyas dedicated themselves to the cultivation of corn, potatoes, olluco and mashua. They were great artists of construction and architecture, as can be seen in the archaeological complexes of Kuélap and Gran Pajatén.
The construction of Kuelap was a great challenge for the Chachapoyas due to the difficult location and the amount of material that was required to erect the fortress. The walls are made of limestone, worked with yellow clay mortar. It is estimated that just to build the two main walls, more than 100 thousand blocks of carved rocks were required, weighing more than 10 thousand tons.
Another problem they had to solve was the water supply. For decades, this was a mystery to researchers. It was not until 1965 that underground water was discovered in the vicinity of the fortress, confirming the existence of a spring near the site.
It is one of the main tourist attractions in northern Peru. It is the essential place for nature lovers, tourists interested in outdoor sports and enthusiasts of history and ancient culture. A single place meets a series of requirements to be the favorite of different types of travelers.
Do they want to amaze you with landscapes that you only think can be seen in books? Kuelap is the place for you. Are you a lover of outdoor sports like trekking? There is still a route to reach this fortress on foot. Are you not so much into physical activity, but are you interested in the ancient culture of the Chachapoyas? Don't worry, accessing the Kuelap Fortress via its cable cars is quite simple. You will need 20 to 25 minutes to reach this place full of history and tradition!
To get to Kuelap you must travel by plane from Lima to Chachapoyas, with an hour and 45 minute flight. You can also go to other nearby cities, such as Tarapoto, Jaén or Chiclayo, and then continue the tour by land. Another alternative is to go directly by bus: from the Peruvian capital it is between 22 and 24 hours of travel through the mountain range.
Once in Chachapoyas, you must travel to the town of Nuevo Tingo. The buses leave from the land terminal and take an hour to arrive. Then, you will have two options to go to Kuelap: by cable car or on foot.
If you like trekking, consider bringing plenty of water and comfortable shoes to endure the arduous walk of more than 3 hours. The recommendation is to arrive a day early so that you can acclimatize your body and thus avoid soroche. If you choose to go by cable car, the travel time to the La Malca tourist stop is 20 minutes. Next, you will only have to start a 30-minute walking route to the archaeological zone. To enter the fortress you must pay an entrance fee that varies depending on whether you are a national resident, foreigner or student. Come visit this architectural treasure!
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