Chachapoyas and Catarata de Gocta

Imagine sitting on a night bus called Exclusiva, where you can recline the seats to 180°. Doesn't that sound like a dream night bus ride? Oh no, we soon realized that it wasn't. Our route from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas shook us up on narrow roads and gravel paths, making it impossible to sleep. We were relieved that we had arranged to check in early at the hotel. But when we arrived, they had no knowledge of our early check-in. So, in my sleep-deprived state, I exclaimed in Spanish, and we were given a room just an hour later. ;-)

After a few hours of sleep, we got our first impression of the colonial town of Chachapoyas, and for the first time, we were happy that we didn't end up in a stuffy city but could feel comfortable here.

So, we spent Monday as a day of rest and exploration in Chachapoyas. In the evening, we had a delicious meal at a nice restaurant. Silvio soon realized that this meal would turn into a nightmare. For nearly three days now, he has been confined to bed with a severe case of food poisoning, with his condition fluctuating. Our travel plans have to be changed, as we still want to visit Kuelap, and Silvio needs to regain his strength. But this is all part of traveling and reminds us that we should appreciate the amazing moments even more.

Since I can't be of much help, I was sent on a little excursion. I decided to visit the Gocta waterfall because it required strength and a hike.

So, yesterday, I went with a group. A minibus took us to the town of Cocachimba. The first thing I had to do was choose a lunch menu. From there, we started walking. The Gocta waterfall is 771 meters high and was only discovered in 2002 by German Stefan Ziemendorf. With its height, it is considered one of the five highest waterfalls in the world. On the way there, you could already see the waterfall from a distance, which is divided into two stages. The path led through the rainforest with beautiful nature. However, it was very muddy. The trail went up and down for five kilometers. I found the last kilometer to be the most beautiful because you kept turning a corner and seeing the waterfall from a new perspective. When I arrived at the waterfall, I enjoyed a little picnic and the incredible sound of the water splashing. On the way back, it rained intermittently, and the return journey was noticeably more difficult. Back in Cocachimba, we had lunch, took one last look, and then had a curvy and adventurous ride back to Chachapoyas.