Chachapoyas, Peru 🇵🇪

The Gotca waterfall has been known by locals for centuries but remarkable its existence was only publicly shared with the world by a German explorer in 2005!  Its claim to be the third tallest waterfall in the world with a cumulative drop of 771m is disputed but it still makes for a impressive sight.

It is set in rainforest and there is a challenging 5km trek to get to it.  The forest is brilliant and I enjoy being in a jungle type environment, with huge plants and different flowers.  The waterfalls are immensely powerful and I get drenched from about 30ft away.  We take our pictures and turn back, trying to beat the rain we can see closing in.  This doesn’t work and a good hour of the return is spent in rain, sliding on the already muddy trail.  It clears up for the tougher final section up and out of the cleave to the village where we started.  Our lunch is waiting and I am starving. We are all feeling tired and wet but elated at our efforts.

A quick cold shower (eek!) and I then kill the hours at a cafe that does a great apple tea and banana pancake.  I am on a night bus tonight back down the terrible road to Chiclayo, it is practically empty and I am exhausted so I am hopeful for a decent nights sleep…