Right in the Andean forest of the Peruvian Amazon is located the city of Chachapoyas, considered as the capital of the Amazon. Through its natural and historical wealth, it has become in the new star tourist destination in Peru. However, due to its location and access routes, it is difficult for many travellers to know how to get to Chachapoyas.
Here you can check a guide with the different ways to get to Chachapoyas, companies, prices and tips.
Chachapoyas was an Ancient Peru Culture developed between 750 – 800 AD in the Amazon basin. An area characterized by its cloud forest environment, hence the origin of the word Chachapoyas derives from the Quechua word «Sacha» and «Puyus» meaning «cloud forest«, for this reason the people of Chachapoyas are known as «People of the Clouds» or «Warriors of the Clouds«.
The culture of Chachapoyas has left an important legacy of monuments such as the architectural complex of Kuelap, the archaeological site of Gran Pajatén (UNESCO Cultural Heritage), funerary buildings such as the sarcophagi of Karajía, the mausoleums of Revash or the Laguna de los Cóndor.
In addition to all this historical heritage, travelers who tour Chachapoyas will enjoy a journey through the Amazon, its nature and its unique environment on the planet, such as cloud forests and Gotcha Falls.
Getting to Chachapoyas can be basically summarized in two ways: by bus or by plane.
Getting to Chachapoyas. Airports and Airlines.
The closest cities to Chachapoyas that can be reached by plane are Tarapoto, Chiclayo and Cajamarca. It is important to keep in mind that all of them are located far away from our destination, so we must take a long bus ride . Depending on the city and the company we choose the tour will last 8,10 or 12 hours.
The airlines wich fly to these cities are LAN, LC Peru, Peruvian Airlines, StarPeru and Avianca. Flight prices from Lima to Tarapoto range between 70 – 120$. Flight from Lima to Chiclayo costs around 80 – 100$. Flights from Lima to Cajamarca are the most expensive option, prices range from 90 to 200$.
Travelling to Chachapoyas from Chiclayo airport is the preferred option for travelers because there are more bus lines available from Chiclayo. Going from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas by road will take about 8 hours approximately. The advantage is that there are several night buses that travel at night, so we can arrive to our destination in the next morning and take advantage of the day.
In 2016 the airline Saeta, connected the cities of Tarapoto and Chachapoyas in a flight of just 30 minutes for a price of approximately $18.
Atsa Airlines, announced the launch of a direct flight Lima – Chachapoyas in charter mode for 19 passengers. The flight would connect the capital of Peru with the capital of the Amazon in one hour and twenty minutes. For various reasons the service is not yet operational. We will be waiting for new news to update the information.
Getting to Chachapoyas by Bus. Stations and Companies.
Lima – Chachapoyas
The bus company Movil Tours has a direct service that travels from Lima to Chachapoyas passing through Chiclayo. The cheapest option costs $41; ergonomic 140º tilt seats. The most expensive option costs $52, they are ergonomic seats that can be reclined in its entirety to arrive more rested at the destination. The duration of the trip Lima – Chachapoyas is 22 hours.
Civa company has a direct bus service between Lima and Chachapoyas. It has a daily frequency, costs $45 and the trip is 22 hours.
Trujillo – Chachapoyas
Movil Tours also has a night line to travel from Trujillo (16:30) for $21 or $27 depending on the seat we book.
Chiclayo – Chachapoyas
The company Excluciva has a nighttime daily service, departing at 8:30pm and arriving at 6:30am with a price of 22/29$.
Movil Tours has a line that departs around 20:30 – 21:00 for $18 or $24 arriving in Chachapoyas around 6am.
Another company that operates this route is Civa, which has a daily service from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas around $10.
Cajamarca – Chachapoyas
The bus route from Cajamarca to Chachapoyas is probably one of the most spectacular in the world, not suitable for cardiac patients. 10 hours of trekking along a journey of 360 kilometers full of climbs and descents, where we will reach such a height that we will cross the clouds. Its price is $14, recommended for the most adventurous travelers.