Trekking to the Gocta Waterfalls in Peru

Not only is the Gocta Waterfall noteworthy for its height, it also has an intriguing history. The existence of the falls was only revealed to the world in 2005, following a series of expeditions led by Stefan Ziemendorff.

The falls are still relatively untouched by mass tourism, and a visit retains some of the sense of adventure presumably felt by its discoverer, far from the anodyne experiences offered by more famous falls like Iguazu on the border between Brazil and Argentina.

The city of Chachapoyas serves as a staging post for trips to the falls, whose height is subject to debate. Ziemendorff claims Gocta measures 771 meters in height, but his figures have been disputed and the falls are ranked anywhere from third highest to 16^th highest in the world, depending on which source you use.

© Jorge Gobbi | Flickr

Whatever their true measurements may be, the falls are a sight to behold as you hike down the wildly undulating path from the village of Gocta. The cloud forest is home to howler monkeys and scarlet macaws, which provide flashes of color in an otherwise overwhelming blanket of green.

Climb to the top of the falls and look down over the forest from the incredible height of 771 meters, before descending and visiting the deep, cold pool at the bottom. Here lies the explanation for the secrecy surrounding the falls, a beautiful blond mermaid who inhabits the pool and apparently threatened to curse the local people should they reveal the whereabouts of her waterfall. Look out for her hair, which some say can be seen in the spray that bounces off of the rocks.

From here it is impossible to see the top of the falls, and after a hot hike you will be surprised by the cold wind and spray around the pools.