#6782 Stepping Through the Entrance of the Kings in Kuélap, Peru

Driving bumpy Peruvian roads in foul smelling taxis at 6 am might make you wonder whether you've gone too far in your quest for the marvels of the earth. Yet when the clouds lift in Chachapoyas, there is no longer a question of doubt: you are on the most beautiful road less traveled. Its destination is the Fortress of Kuélap, an archeological site with more than 400 structures that easily competes with the grandeur of Machu Picchu or Tikal. Situated 9,843 feet above sea level, overlooking the Marañon and Utcubamba Rivers deep down below and with a history that is equally as intriguing as morbid, Kuélap is a remarkably little visited gem. Step through the "Entrance of the Kings" like the Chachapoyan aristocrats did, see the llamas graze around the cylindrical ruins and experience the real ancient inland of Peru.