Chachapoyas is steadily becoming a popular tourist area in northern Peru, a section of Peru often ignored by visitors before. The main attractions are not in town however, so be careful to leave time in your itinerary to appreciate the city of "Chacha" itself. In our visit, we took advantage of the bar and cafe presence that caters to tourists and backpackers. After all, there's nothing like a cold beer with friends after traipsing in the tropical heat all day, or a nice strong brew to wake you up the day after a multi-day hike! I think the main reason I like hiking may be for that feeling afterwards. It's a mix of the thrill of accomplishment, a sense of almost meditative relaxation from every bit of your energy having been used, and the enjoyment of doing something with great company. It's not a feeling I've encountered by doing anything else. So while you're in that post-hike high in Chachapoyas, consider these options below. El Batan del Tayta Perhaps the ultimate place to try regional delicacies in large portions, fun cocktails, and even ants! The ceja de selva in this part of Peru offers plates more related to the Sierra or Selva but often with its own twist, and this restaurant does a great job in presenting those flavors. "Batan" is a bit pricier than other options but the decor, portions, and taste make it worth it. You will probably also learn of a few fruits that you've never heard of before; I tried a Pisco drink with something called Pur-pur that was served in a wooden goblet. Most essentially, the vibe in this place was perfect for our celebration after hiking Kuelap all day! Cafe Amazonas 632 This cafe-restaurant has both drinks and coffees in addition to deserts and more American cafe-style fare. If you're suffering culture shock and want something that seems more like lunch back in the USA, you can try here. But the laid-back style of this place offers good post-hike drinking opportunities as well. It's also easy to find- the address is its name! Cafe Fusiones This is located in one of Chachapoyas's plazas and hard to miss when walking by. It's your quintessential cafe-bar-bookstore hybrid that backpackers flock to and spend hours lounging in. It's also part of the Ruta del Cafe (see below), but I put Fusiones apart since this offers artisanal beer, ceramics, locally-made souvenirs, and travel books, giving it more of a touristy vibe compared to the other cafes in Chachapoyas. Ruta del Cafe Perfect for a day of rest after a vacation of hiking around Amazonas, especially if you're like me and love trying coffees and don't mind (or enjoy!!) being a tad over-caffeinated. This is a network of cafes in the city that use locally and fair- trade sourced coffee. Each cafe offers something different as well as its own mode of preparing coffee. You can visit all in half a day and on your own, but tour groups are offered too. All you have to do is enter one of these cafes and ask about the ruta del cafe, and they can provide you with a tasting of their coffee, backstory of the store, and a map of the route. Cafes that stood out to us were Karajia, which has great regional breakfast food, Cal Payes, owned by a Amazonas-Catalunya couple, and Santa Margarita, which is next to a great spot to view the city. Any of these would work for a nice pick-me-up in the middle of the day too. Of course, this list is nowhere near exhaustive. If you've been to Chachapoyas and have more tips on where to eat and drink, please write in the comments section below!
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AuthorBrad Goodman Archives
May 2019
CategoriesAll Amazonas Andes Chachapoyas Huancayo Peru Rural Tourism Trains |