Destination 09 · Amazonas region, northern Peru
Kuélap — The Great Fortress of the Cloud Forest
Massive walls and hundreds of round houses on a ridge above the Utcubamba valley.
Where it is
PracticalKuélap crowns a ridge at about 3,000 metres above the Utcubamba valley in the Amazonas region, in the cloud forest of northern Peru.
What is established
Archaeological evidenceKuélap was built and occupied by the Chachapoya, a culture of the northern cloud forest, over several centuries before the Inca conquest of the region. Massive perimeter walls enclose platforms and several hundred circular stone buildings, some decorated with friezes in zigzag and rhomboid patterns.
The wider Chachapoya world
Kuélap is part of a landscape of Chachapoya sites, including cliff tombs and sarcophagi in the surrounding valleys.
Conservation and access
PracticalParts of the walls have suffered collapses in recent years, and access has been restricted at times. Practical details on this page are an early draft. Check opening hours, entry tickets, road conditions and local guidance before you travel.