Kuelap

Kuélap is an archaeological site in Luya Province in the Amazonas Department of northern Peru, perched on a narrow mountain ridge overlooking the valley of the Utcubamba River. The outer walls of pale limestone enclose a wide area where the remains of numerous round stone dwellings are scattered, many overgrown with low vegetation.

The Chachapoyas built the complex between the 6th and 12th centuries and used it as a fortified center on this mountain summit. The Inca conquered the fortress in the 15th century, before Spanish forces arrived in the 16th century and brought the region under colonial control.

The name Kuélap comes from the local Quechua language and now refers to the entire complex, which visitors enter through narrow passageways. Inside the walls stand hundreds of round dwellings, their shape recalling the layout of ancient communities and showing how life was organized on this high plateau.

The visit typically starts in the village of El Tingo, from where a cable car carries visitors in about 20 minutes over the forested slopes to the complex. Once there, sturdy shoes and sun protection are recommended, as the ground is uneven and the tour can take several hours.

The perimeter walls enclose an area of around 6 hectares and at some points reach a height of 20 meters, showing the scale of effort involved in construction. Inside the complex lie over 450 round structures, many of which contain burial niches in their walls, indicating a close link between daily life and ancestor worship.