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▷ How to visit Gocta Waterfall on your own, Peru
Gocta waterfall is one of the highest in the world, the most famous in Peru and for us the most impressive we have seen so far. We remember her with a carvery special child.
This waterfall is located in the surroundings of Chachapoyas, a small Peruvian city that is little by little becoming one of the stops on the route of many tourists in Peru, especially among backpackers. Definitely if you have 3 weeks or more to tour the country, I would include Chachapoyas and surrounding areas on the route.
The two main reasons why Chachapoyas is becoming more and more popular are the fascinating pre-Inca ruins of the fortress of Cakes and the incredible Gocta waterfall, "discovered" just 20 years ago. Although of course there are many other things to do in this corner of Peru.
Do you want to visit number 17 on the list of highest waterfalls in the world and be amazed how we did it? Then read on, I'll tell you how to go to Gocta on your own and what route.
HOW TO GET TO GOCTA FROM CHACHAPOYAS
Depending on your budget and travel preferences, you can book a tour with hotel pickup, transportation, and a guide. But as the name suggests, we are lowcosteros and we enjoyed going at our own pace so I'll tell you how to visit the Gocta waterfall enjoying it to the fullest and spending the minimum.
La Gocta waterfall has two waterfalls, the most visited is the second with its more than 540 meters. Although there is a route to see both, and it is very worth it. In this article we tell you how to visit Gocta on your own, going to just one jump, or both.
Let's start with how to get there since the routes have different starting points.
- If you want to visit the second jump The starting and ending point is the town of Cocachimba.
- If you want to do the entire route You will start at one point and end at the other depending on the direction you choose. I recommend starting in San Pablo and ending in Cocachimba since it is easier to find return transportation and the difference in elevation is less.
How to get to Cocachimba to visit Gocta on your own
To get from Chachapoyas to Cocachimba you will have to take a 50-minute bus direction to Pedro Ruíz in the Terrestrial terminal from Chachapoyas and tell the driver that you get off at the Cocahuayco intersection. They leave from 5 in the morning when they fill up and the price for this trip was s/10 in December 2021.
Once At the Cocahuayco crossing, tuk-tuks await you that will take you directly to Cocachimba for about 20 soles.
How to get to San Pablo, to see the two Gocta waterfalls
If you want to do the complete route, we recommend starting in the town of San Pablo. At the same intersection as the previous point there will be tuk-tuks waiting for them to take you to the Plaza de Armas of San Pablo.
Gocta waterfall entrance price
One of the things we like least about Peru, or perhaps the only thing, is that nature is very privatized for tourists. For almost all mountain routes or national parks you pay an entrance fee, so for Gocta it was not going to be any less. The cost is different depending on where you start the route;
- From Cocachimba (second jump only) s/15
- From Saint Paul (full route) s/30
*Gocta entry costs December 2021
Both tickets are purchased at the tourist booths. We entered through San Pablo and it didn't open until 8 so we took the opportunity to have breakfast. We paid like good citizens, but no one ever asked us for admission, I leave it up in the air...
ROUTE TO VISIT GOCTA STEP BY STEP
1. Route to the second Gocta waterfall
As the terrain is good and the gradual slope is a route that someone who is not in very good physical shape can do if they take it easy and take breaks. In addition, the route is well indicated and has no loss, so no mountain experience is needed.
As it is the most popular option There are even several places to stop to eat or drink something if you need it. We tried sugarcane juicecar Freshly squeezed, which turned out to be something typical of the region, glasses for 1 sol, impossible to resist to get energy.
The first section is about 7 kilometers mainly downhill until reaching the foot of the 540-meter waterfall. That you will want to immortalize in a photo, in a video, in anything that does it justice. But it's impossible, it's so massive that it almost doesn't fit your entire gaze.
Here we found many families spending the day, taking the opportunity to have a picnic and some brave people bathing in the lake formed by the Gocta waterfall. There cannot be a better ideal plan for a sunny day.
To return to Cochachimba you will simply have to return the same way But this time it will take you longer since it's a constant climb. Once you're back, there are vans from tourist companies that make the trip for 20 soles, but they don't run often. If you can't get one of those, you'll have to take a bus.car a tuk-tuk that goes down to the Cocahuayco crossing and there wait for the bus to Chachapoyas.
By the way! Be attentive during the journey, we didn't have it, but if you're lucky you could spot a Cock of the Rock, the most carcharacteristic of the region.
2. Complete route to visit Gocta on your own
This route is less popular and we loved it despite the first jump not being so spectacular. We were alone for much of the route and we passed a viewpoint from where you can see both super cool jumps.
During the 19km you follow a path well indicated without any more difficulty than one's own fatigue, except for a descent of just a kilometer and a half where there is a lot of unevenness and slippery terrain.
The initial stretch between San Pablo and the first waterfall is 7 kilometers long, almost entirely uphill, and surrounded by very dense vegetation. carcharacteristic of the area. When there are stairs to get there to the foot of the waterfall where you will practically take a shower while you enjoy you enjoy its strength.
Once you are ready to continue you will have to retrace your steps to the intersection and begin the descent towards the second jump. This is the slippery stretch I was telling you about, a full-fledged knee-breaker.
At the end of the descent, you cross a river and join with route that leaves from Cocachimba. From this point to the foot of the second jump there is only one and a half kilometers. When you arrive, eat, rest, and enjoy it for a long time. The water falls in slow motion and the whole environment is really beautiful.
On the way back you have about 6 kilometers to Cocachimba. When we went they were paving and even putting railings in some areas...hopefully they didn't destroy it too much.
WHERE TO SLEEP IN GOCTA
Going from Chachapoyas like we did is an option, but sleeping in the Gocta area is cooler. The town of Cochachimba has hotel options and from almost any point in the town you can see Gocta. I imagine having a freshly made mango juice for breakfast with those views And my goodness, I don't even need anything else. These are 3 hotels with very good reviews:
$ The Gocta Inn It is a hostel in the heart of Cocachimba with views of the waterfall. It is one of the cheapest accommodations in town. No breakfast and simple, but very correct facilities.
$$ Gocta Balcony The name already says it all, a hotel with spectacular views and breakfast included.
$ $ $ Mamaq Tambo Lodge For a special occasion or if you have a bigger budget, this lodge in the middle of nature is amazing. It offers delicious homemade food and luxurious facilities with incredible views.
We hope you are encouraged to visit Gocta on your own! If you go and something has changed, don't hesitate to leave us a comment so we can update the information for other travelers. To continue organizing your adventure you can read our other guides travel to Peru.
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