Chachapoyas

Chachapoyas is the capital of Peru's Amazonas region and the main gateway to the cloud-forest archaeology of the ancient Chachapoya people. The city sits in the northern highlands at about 2,335 metres, with a compact colonial centre of whitewashed walls, red-tiled roofs and wooden balconies.

Founded in 1538 as San Juan de la Frontera de los Chachapoyas, the city grew from a Spanish colonial outpost into the administrative and commercial hub of the region. Around it, the Chachapoya culture left some of Peru's most dramatic pre-Inca sites, most famously the walled citadel of Kuélap.

Kuélap stands at roughly 3,000 metres and is reached by cable car from Nuevo Tingo, offering views over the Utcubamba valley. Nearby, the Gocta waterfall drops about 771 metres, while the Karajía sarcophagi overlook a cliff near Luya and the Leymebamba Museum preserves Chachapoya mummies and artefacts.

The city's Plaza de Armas anchors a walkable historic centre with the cathedral, markets, cafés and tour agencies. Rural villages such as Cocachimba, Nuevo Tingo and Leymebamba serve as bases for hiking, horse riding and visits to coffee and cacao farms across the surrounding valleys.

As the regional capital, Chachapoyas also functions as a centre for government, agriculture and growing tourism. It attracts travellers interested in archaeology, trekking and highland culture, while business visitors come for regional trade, coffee production and tourism-related projects.