Gran Vilaya

Located to the west of the Fortress of Kuelap, covering an area of approximately 6 hectares, the enormous complex of Gran Vilaya contains a number of archaeological sites. You can enter around 5000 circular and rectangular buildings, all with the rhomboidal friezes that symbolize the height of the Chachapoyas culture (1100 – 1350 AD). The site is famous for the controversial figure who discovered it in 1985. Gene Savoy, an American explorer was nicknamed “the real Indiana Jones” and explored much of the Peruvian Amazon. Archaeologists hotly dispute his claims to have found this and other sites.