Chachapoyas, Peru

Chachapoyas is a city in northern Peru. It is the capital of the Amazonas Region and the Chachapoyas Province. The city is poised on an exposed plateau between two river gorges, at 2234 meters above sea level.

A small town by Peruvian standards, Chachapoyas was once a colonial possession rich with gold and silver mines as well as extremely fertile alluvial soil, before falling into decline during the Republican era. Recently, however, with the building of the Cajamarca road and the opening up of air travel, it has developed into a thriving little market town supporting a mostly Indian population of some seven thousand, with a reputation of being among the most friendly and hospitable in Peru.

Also known as 'The City of Balconies', it is known for its traditional tiled roof mansions, decorated with balconies in their large interior patios, surrounded by orchards and gardens.

The pleasant Plaza de Armas contains a colonial bronze fountain, a monument to Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, the Cathedral and the municipal buildings. The town also possesses a couple of churches of some interest, notably the Iglesia del Señor de Burgos , known for its attractive colonial imagery, and the Iglesia de Santa Ana, the first of its kind built by the Spanish. All these attractions provide clear evidence of the Spanish influence remaining in the city. Due to this connection, the regional government of Extremadura, in Spain, provided financial aid towards the construction of an Iberian style stone bridge.

In Aymara, Chachapoyas means "the cloud people", perhaps a description of the fair-skinned tribes who used to dominate this region, living in one of at least seven major cities, each one located high up above the Utcubamba Valley on prominent, dramatic peaks and ridges. Many of the local inhabitants still have light-coloured hair and remarkably pale faces. The town today, friendly and attractively surrounded by wooded hills, is a base from which to explore the area's numerous archeological remains – above all the ruins of Kuélap. Even at the start of the 21st century, Chachapoyas remains well off the beaten track, though it has become a firm favourite for those who have made it to this remote and beautiful destination.

There is very little tourism infrastructure in Chachapoyas or the surrounding region, but, if you are prepared to camp, you can explore a wealth of interesting sites in little charted territory.

The Yanayacu Well, built by Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, with its crowds of loving couples, the Grottos of Santa Lucía and the orchid nurseries of Santa Isabel are just some of the attractions that no visitor should go without seeing.