Travel Agency in Peru - The Fortress of Kuelap

http://www.fertur-travel.com/chachapoyas_tours.html The Fortress of Kuelap is one of Perus hidden archaeological treaures, often called the Machu Picchu of the North Built on a mountain ridge at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, the fortress is proof of the incredible stoneworking skill of the Chachapoyas people, who dominated the region between 1000 and 1400 AD. The gigantic wall that protects the city includes a series of guard posts, a tower built overlooking a sheer cliff and three narrow entrances that forced invaders to enter in single file. The wall reaches a height of 8 meters and extends for more than 600 meters to completely encircle the ruins. The city inside is made entirely of stone, but in a very different architectural style from the Incas, with carvings of human faces and animal figures lining the main entrance passageway. A string of geometric shapes, rhomboid stonework is built into the walls of most buildings. The most common houses take the form of more than 400 large circular buildings, some of which have been reconstructed with conical thatched roofs to give visitors an idea of what they looked like when people were living here. Kuelaps remote location at the top of a cloud forest means it gets fewer visitors than the more famous attractions around Cusco, but those that make it here get a real sense of ancient life in an eerie, isolated setting, surrounded by orchids, moss-laden trees and bromeliads. The mix of ancient ruins and encroaching natural beauty creates a powerful impression. Its easy to imagine how the fortress remained impregnable to armies like the Wari and other invaders. It took an empire like the Incas to conquer Kuelap and the Chachapoyas people, but they continued to fight the invaders for decades after their defeat. Theyve left little of their language and culture to history, but their stone cities stand as their greatest monument. Fertur Peru Travel. A full service travel agency and tour operator dedicated to making your journey to Peru a dream come true. Visit us at: http://www.fertur-travel.com/chachapoyas_tours.html Peru tours to Iquitos hotels peru peru tour huaraz peru caraz peru inca trail peru trip peru tourism peru alpamayo hiking peru travel agency peru climbing peru tour operator peru peru tourism trekking Peru peru flights peru bike tours tour companies