Hike to Gocta Falls

Climb through stunning scenery and spot wildlife on your way to Peru's third tallest waterfall, hidden away in a remote location.

Just a decade ago, the only people who knew about this monumental waterfall were the locals who lived within view of its plummeting vertical flume. So recent is Gocta’s discovery by the outside world that it has yet to be accurately measured, but estimates suggest that at 771m it may be the third tallest in Peru.

For now at least, Gocta still feels like a well-guarded secret, and to reach the base of the falls you’ll have to blaze a trail through the remote surroundings. It’s a relatively tough 5-hour trek through stunning cloud-forest, populated by woolly monkeys, mountain sloths and the rare, fire-engine-red cock of the rock. As you finally emerge from a ravine, you are confronted by an unforgettable scene as the powerful cascade crashes from the top of a magnificent natural amphitheatre mantled in lush greenery.

Activity Rating: easy