Chachapoyas is a city in northern Peru at 7,661 ft (2,335 mt), surrounded by high-altitude cloud forests. It is the starting point to a visit to the famous archaeological ruins of Kuelap. Private Lima Tours with Sara tells you here how to arrive from Lima to Chachapoyas and Kuelap:
BY AIR
There is no direct flight from Lima to Chachapoyas. The options are as following:
Take a flight from Lima to Jaén and from there a local car will take you to Chachapoyas in 4 hours. LATAM AIRLINES has direct flights every day from Lima to Chachapoyas. (1 hour and 40 minutes)
Take a flight from Lima to Chiclayo. From there a car to Chachapoyas takes 8 hours. LATAM and LC PERU have 2 directs flights each per day. (1 hour and 35 minutes)
Take a flight from Lima to Tarapoto. From there the easiest way is to fly from Tarapoto airport via SAETA in a small airplane with capacity for 9 passengers. Note that from December to April is the rainy season and departure of flights are subject to weather conditions.
BY LAND
CIVA has daily departures leaving at 4:10 pm. from Paseo de la República 595, La Victoria. It takes 24 hours. Round trip ticket is about US$ 80 at the exchange.
MOVIL TOURS has 2 daily departures leaving at 2:00 and at 4:00 pm. from Av. Javier Prado Este 1093, La Victoria. It takes 22 hours. Round trip tickets from US$ 56 to US$ 96 at the exchange.
Private Lima Tours tells you her how to arrive from Chachapoyas to Kuélap:
KUELAP
This is an ancient fortress set on top of a mountain at 9,843 ft (3,000 m). It was built by the Chachapoyas culture in the 6th century AD. The walls are up to 2 m high with stones weighing up to 3 tons ea. Many of the stones are decorated with high relieves with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic designs. The place was abandoned in the 16th century upon the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. The site and the scenic around are impressive.
How to arrive
Once in Chachapoyas, go to the bus station and take a car to Nuevo Tingo (around 1 hour). Price is S/ 7 (approx. US$ 2). At Nuevo Tingo take the cable-car which will take you to the fortress in twenty minutes. Price is S/. 20. Getting down of the cable car you still have to walk about 20 minutes to reach Kuelap. Cost of the entrance to the fortress is S/. 20.
Recommendations
Try to arrive a day before to Chachapoyas in order to acclimatize and avoid altitude sickness.
Carry rain gear since weather can change in any moment.
Wear good shoes. Before you enter the fortress you have to climb steep up and steps may be slippery.
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Finally, for your stay in Lima don´t forget to check our Full Day Private Lima Tours.