Kuelap has to be one of my most favorite destinations in Peru for a wide number of reasons - the main reasons however, are its remoteness and the feeling of utter solace one experiences above its majestic walls. Surprisingly few tourists make it to Kuelap which is remarkable considering that the ruins are often described as the Second Machu Picchu of Peru. Kuelap is visually stunning and is - more or less - the same size as its Inca counterpart. Of course it doesn’t share the same stone craftsmanship with Machu Picchu - but its dense foliage and hidden temple character make it well worth visiting.
Few people realize that in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy treks to the Chachapoyan Mountain Fortress in order to recover a sacred idol. Like the film, Kuelap seems to have been constructed in a way that makes it hard for people to enter the fortress -nowadays however, there are far fewer giant granite balls rolling down mountain gullies to greet you. Kuelap stands in the sun amid a vibrant jungle of bromelias, red airplants, and wild orchids. With plenty of ancient ruins, an absence of people, and a vivid jungle character - Kuelap has an alluring nature that is indeed suggestive of fantasy and the lives of Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones.