While Machu Picchu and the Incan ruins of the south have for decades been the main calling card for just about every person that steps foot in Peru, the Chachapoya ruins of the northern “cloud people” have remained largely underexplored, a prize left for backpackers and savvy travelers looking to avoid the crowds. But those days look to be coming to an end as the Peruvian government seeks to ease traffic off its holy grail and increase tourism in other areas of the country, specifically the northern Amazonas region.
The plan calls for a cultural heritage site called Kuelap to be the centerpiece of the north’s revitalization, as well as several other 9th century Chachapoya ruins, such as Sipan, Chan Chan, Leymebamba, and Gran Pajaten. As of now, they all remain underexplored due to a lack of both access and awareness.
Last week, the first step to fixing the former was taken. The government announced that it will build a cable car system that will allow the general public easier access to Kuelap, which, like most of the Chachapoya ruins, sits at the top of a mountain ridge in a cloud forest. Once access is increased, it stands to reason that awareness will follow.
“Kuelap could be a second Machu Picchu, easily,” Peru’s President Ollanta Humala said. “With Kuelap, we can create a tourist circuit that will be as competitive as the south.”
Set to begin operating in 2016, the cable car system will cost roughly $18 million and have the capacity to transport 1,000 passengers per hour. There has been no word yet on whether the other sites will receive related upgrades. A video was released to show the scope of the project. It’s entirely in Spanish, but you can still get a sense of it all even if you don’t speak the language.
