Photo Essay #2 - Gocta Falls

We also had to make a stop at Gocta, the third largest more or less "free-falling" waterfall in the world. After our visit to Kuelap and a night cheap hostel in Chachapoyas, we hitched a ride to the village of San Pedro, about an hour's drive. From there we hiked to a lookout between the top and bottom sections of the falls, where we found a patch of sand just barely big enough to fit our tent for the night. 

By the looks of the vegetation you can see that we're getting close to the jungle, yet we're still at about 7,500ft. They call this zone, essentially a high altitude jungle, the "cloud forest." It remains hot and sweaty, even at night. And, yes, as the name implies, it was socked-in with clouds and warm mist most of the day.

The big drop to the lower falls!

A misty morning in camp

35 minute mototaxi ride down the mountain to the bus station. We had to wait almost three hours for any vehicle to pass us in San Pedro, but luckily the people were extremely hospitable and let us cook (and spill) ramen and soup in the visitor's office.

Waiting for a ride to Tarapoto (and on to the jungle...)

Photo Essay #1: Chachapoyas

En route to the jungle we decided to make a stop in Chachapoyas to visit Kuelap, an impressive set of pre-incan ruins that lives in the perpetual shadows of Macchu Picchu. The Incans conquered the Chachapoyans and then stole all the glory as well!

Town of Chachapoyas - Plaza de Armas

First views of Kuelap, a fortress surrounded by 40ft rock walls

As we approach the entrance we learn that the entire society lived not only on top of this mountain but on top of a platform they built out of stone. 

One of three entrances to the walled city

There was no water source inside the walled area so these entrances were most likely used to bring water and goods inside from the surrounding farms.

Ceremonial grounds

Crazy plant!

The remaining stone structures of traditional Kuelap homes. Oldest discovered structures were built in 6 AD. You can see the stone holes inside the houses in which they found mummified bodies. Supposedly one buried his family members inside his house.
According to our guide,  the DNA analysis of these bones suggested that the Spanish accounts that the Chachapoyans were a white-skinned tribe might be true. 

View of the fortified walls

Re-built model home from the Kuelap society. Nothing else at this site was restored, only preserved.

Distinctive circular houses are distinctly different from the Incan rectangular models. 

Back to modern society for some pizza! This is the main commercial street in downtown Chachapoyas.