Kuelap Cable Car Review: See Peru’s Fortress in the Sky

If you’re thinking about a trip to northern Peru, then chances are the ancient fortress of Kuelap is on your radar. This pre-Inca site, built by the Chachapoyas culture, that’s also called the “Cloud Warriors,” offers views, mystery, plus a hefty dose of history. It’s a climb to reach it, too, which is where the Kuelap Cable Car comes in! So, it’s a modern addition making this place more available than it ever was. Let’s check out what you need to know before heading there!

A Different View: Why Kuelap Is Very Worth It

Okay, first off, Kuelap is more than some pile of old rocks, and that is very certain! Kuelap is huge – bigger than Machu Picchu, basically – and it sits up high, giving amazing looks out over the valleys all around. Built somewhere around 6th century AD, the Chachapoyas people needed this place to stay safe. You get to wonder how they did all this work way up on that mountain.

So, Kuelap offers a peek into a very interesting society that gave the Incas some competition. What really stands out is, it’s the architecture, with huge walls crafted from stones and that’s really something, circular buildings that just feel different from what you’d see somewhere else. The whole atmosphere up there really transports you. As a matter of fact, you might think that the mountains have something to say to you.

As you stroll amongst the stone walls and what is there now, you have to think about who they were, what was important for them, that built such a huge amazing construction. Very obviously it’s a testament to their skill, resilience, ingenuity, too. The site feels spiritual, basically, connecting you to generations past.

Reaching for the Sky: Kuelap Cable Car Details

Ok, so prior to 2017, getting to Kuelap could be pretty wild! Most people took on a bumpy road ride, along with a challenging hike. The trip took hours, and it just wasn’t something that everyone could really do. The cable car changes all of that, which is a really big difference! It means seeing this special place has became something doable for families, older adults, and anyone who doesn’t feel they are ready to do heavy hikes.

As a matter of fact, the cable car system goes a little over 4 km (nearly 2.5 miles), hopping from the town of Nuevo Tingo all the way up close to the entrance of Kuelap. The trip just simply sails in 20 minutes, cutting hours off what it used to take to get there. The cars themselves fit eight people, which means your group or family can, actually, all ride up together. Think of those awesome views as you ascend – those green mountains are beautiful!

The ticket currently hovers near 20 soles (about $5-6 USD) for a one-way ride for tourists. It could be that prices change, which is, of course, why you want to check current rates prior to heading there. One helpful detail: the station up top has bathrooms and shops with souvenirs, which makes that whole visit more accessible plus, a bit easier for travelers.

Up, Up, and Away: What the Cable Car Experience Is Actually Like

So, stepping into the cable car, what’s the ride, actually, like? If you have problems with heights, you might feel a tiny nervousness when the doors close and you’re pulled away from the station! As a matter of fact, as you glide over that valley, any stress is going to disappear fast.

Right away, the views that are all around start to appear. Green slopes go downwards. Little farms appear, that dot the hills. The Utcubamba River snakes through it all. The perspective is really something: from the top the earth extends to far, which kind of gives you a sense as to what it means for us to be humble. Seriously, snap some photos. You are going to remember this scene later!

You’ll find is that, it is quiet in the car, which just adds to everything, the calmness. You have the time to think, discuss the experience, get to see all the green things underneath, with who you have come to see it all with. It is so calming that you may even forget that you’re rising higher up.

Before You Go: Planning Your Cable Car Trip

OK, so planning makes a big difference so you can relax. This is, really, what you should think about:

Getting There: Nuevo Tingo serves, actually, as the cable car’s base. You’ll be able to catch a bus, “collectivo” (shared taxi), straight from Chachapoyas. That’s a ride which can be about an hour or so.
Tickets: So, you have the option of buying the cable car tickets on location in Nuevo Tingo. Through the busier season, just booking ahead is really something you will want to look at so that things run smoothly. You will see some tours which also sell inclusive tickets for the car and also Kuelap’s entrance fee.
Timetable: So, find out what that timetable is beforehand! The cable car typically runs through the daylight time, but operating times fluctuate dependent on seasons, and also weather.
What to Take: It will depend, but you should take with you shoes that are wonderful, water to hydrate yourself with and definitely, don’t forget sunscreen because that altitude sun gets rather intensive! Of course, you are definitely going to need your camera.
Weather: Speaking about this. Weather over the Andes, tends to be wildly fluctuating, which it really does. So dress using some layers which you may put on or take off dependent on what exactly is happening, that you might, otherwise feel the cold later!

Beyond the Ride: Kuelap Tips to Get The Most Out of Your Visit

The cable car takes you up most of how to get to Kuelap, it does not get you, like, totally there! Just get ready for just a bit of hiking from where they drop you off at the top! So, it’s a walk of twenty minutes and it really is mostly flat, that anyone, even your average type individual, could, too, accomplish!

Guide Power: Get one of these local guides! Really. They really bring out something within Kuelap – these are tales and facts that your reading material alone will really, really, just not even manage to reach.
Pace Yourself: That altitude will have an affect, especially when you simply come from sea-level. Do just allow for plenty time to, so, explore and also sit so that you can rehydrate so things aren’t getting, such, an enormous impact.
Pack Snacks: Get yourself certain energy food or snacks and have it stored for once your power does start flagging. Of course it’s, generally, better to keep it from those tours just selling everything, or just that location at the summit selling bits as keepsakes; so planning matters!
Check Weather Conditions: When it’s rain season things could be really, like, treacherous due to the paths, there is potential to find yourself knee-deep, nearly, in a whole pool-full because some segments is made up of the mountains all circling each other – don’t ignore caution guidance signs.
Support the Local Community: Shop at local spots! Do also, eat close to in these neighboring communities just around, which really has the result of providing that little added incentive boost directly directly locally into their economic well being!

Is the Kuelap Cable Car Truly Worth It? Final Thoughts

If, your mind wonders whether Kuelap Cable Car deserves what amount they’re seeking – for sure! You get these remarkable sights to take into Kuelap at all stages, even taking away much physical effort to, even, see that mountain itself and make it extra that individuals come and relish its history. Is that short duration the vehicle ride takes value-formative, yes with none other than pure accessibility, along the lines for providing that possibility out unto so, a treasure filled with ancient secrets!

In the end it has to deal just with far reaching further versus, only an opportunity which goes somewhere, like, in, amongst one particular spot around Peru rather just any one. What these cables may do will turn into giving this bridge somewhere close through some culture through that time period providing they be inclined out by there what its meaning actually really makes out plus how such people had acted, previously and actually lived around there then way even before times turned up at Machu Picchu began rising its importance either. What, exactly would, that you hold yourselves and take through there does this matter?

Quick trip to see some history.
Great vistas which makes, for those with photographic interest and/or taking their personal recollections from what all is seen by one whom holds this digital means.
Help increase access so this all goes out further towards individuals with no hiking prowess there for to be at peace whenever things proceed with far little trouble
When at mountain summits so it doesn’t cause a great hassle regarding all required resources versus simply not buying, at said locations/spots around, Kuelap
You will gain that complete ability from traveling the Peruvian mountains versus when by, at any means, traveling just without making what they’ve managed when at each summit with this vehicle here being made there by such persons’.

Get the backpack equipped take a deep immersion under the Chachapoyan tradition when at someplace you may discover by being close by Nuevo Tingo.

Your stories, adventure from this location remains, which will await for you to grasp under an eternal cloud.