Gocta Cataracts

The Gocta Waterfall (Spanish: Catarata del Gocta), a perennial waterfall with two drops, has been known for centuries to the local residents in Peru's province of Chachapoyas in Amazonas, which is approximately 700 kilometres (430 mi) to the north-east of Lima and flows into the Cocahuayco river. Its existence was made public following an expedition made in 2005 by a German, Stefan Ziemendorff, with a group of Peruvian explorers. At the time of his discovery he successfully persuaded the Peruvian government to map the falls and to measure their height. On 11 March 2006, following his third expedition to the falls, he held a press conference, the contents of which were published by several of the world's wire services. He stated that the total height was accurately measured at 771 metres (2,530 ft), although this was apparently based on outdated and incomplete information gleaned from the National Geographic Society, which ranked Gocta as the third tallest free-leaping waterfall in the world after Angel Falls in Venezuela and Tugela Falls in South Africa.

Stefan Ziemendorff's inaccurate comments as to the waterfalls' ranking have since been widely disputed. Citing various encyclopedias, reference books, and webpages accessible through Google, Gocta Cataracts are unofficially listed as the world's fifth-tallest, after adding Ramnefjellsfossen (Norway) and Mongefossen (Norway). Furthermore, The World Waterfall Database ranks Gocta as the 14th tallest. (For definitions of waterfalls see also discussion.)

The waterfall, which can be seen from kilometers away in the heart of the Chachapoyas region, has been christened Gocta Falls, after the name of the nearest settlement.

The daily El Comercio, whose reporter visited the place, said that the impressive waterfall had remained unknown to outsiders until now, because local people feared the curse of a beautiful blond mermaid who lived in its waters, if they revealed its whereabouts.

On 13 March 2006, the Peruvian government announced to the press, as was published on that date by La República[], that the area surrounding the falls would be developed as a tourist attraction, with a target date for sometime in mid-2007.

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Isabel Kamt
4 December 2017
Precioso lugar. Espectacular. Llevar zapatos cómodos para caminar. Los de tipo trekking mejor. Son 5kms de ida y lo mismo para volver. Disfruta el camino. Más info en isabelkamt.com
Gian Carlo Casildo
10 September 2014
Uno de los principales atractivos de Chacha. Son dos horas de caminata de ida y otras dos de vuelta hasta ver la segunda caída. Llevar buenos zapatos para Trekking, repelente y un impermeable.
Angie Muñoz
21 December 2013
Ir con bloqueador y repelente es OBLIGATORIO! Y poncho de lluvias y con ropa muuuuy ligera y agua.. :)
Jean Zelada
16 January 2017
Lleven ropa para cambiarse por que se van a mojar lo quieran o no. También un pequeño refrigerio para soportar la caminata
Pilar Gutarra Cotrina
17 June 2019
Vístanse en capas considerando un poncho o casaca para la lluvia. Agua y mantengan su propio ritmo para caminar :)
Angello Gastello
21 April 2013
Impresionante!
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