Cocachimba: Gocta Waterfalls and Hummingbird Watching

Cocachimba brings together community tourism activities around Catarata Gocta, birdwatching, and a specific route to the waterfalls. Refugio del Colibrí Cola de Espátula lies at the entrance to Gocta Falls. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first consider whether hiking, nature watching, or several community activities will be the focus of your trip.

The Gocta Route from Cocachimba

A hiking trail leads from Cocachimba’s main square to the second tier of Catarata Gocta. The route is 5.5 kilometers long and takes approximately two and a half hours on foot. Part of the route can be covered on horseback. The section from the main square to the horse station is listed as 3.2 kilometers and takes approximately one hour and 50 minutes on horseback. The two time estimates refer to different route sections and modes of travel. The route involves a total ascent of 396 meters and a descent of 372 meters.

The community-described route to Catarata Gocta crosses the “La Golondrina” suspension bridge. The water flow along the route is especially impressive during the rainy season from December to April. This lets you account for the route distance, elevation changes, and seasonal character separately when planning your day, without conflating the estimates for walking and horseback-riding sections.

Hummingbirds and Birdwatching

A birdwatching program starting in Cocachimba leads to the base of the 771-meter-high Catarata Gocta. The program includes information about the natural environment and the watersheds of the northeastern Andes. It also includes a visit to Refugio del Colibrí Cola de Espátula for close-up observation and photography, as well as watching five to six other species.

At the refuge’s feeders, visitors can observe the endemic Marvelous Spatuletail and other hummingbird species. These include Purple-collared Woodstar, White-bellied Woodstar, Speckled Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Little Woodstar, and Grey-chinned Hermit. Approximately 110 bird species have been recorded in the area around Catarata Gocta. They include the endemic Colibrí Cola de Espátula of the Amazon region, Carpintero de Pecho Jaspeado, Tucaneta Esmeralda, Gallito de las Rocas, Tucán Andino, Zorzal del Marañón, and Trogón Enmascarado.

The area around the waterfalls also includes the private “Comunal San Pablo – Catarata Gocta” Área de Conservación Privada. It protects water sources and biodiversity and was recognized by Ministerial Resolution No. 115-2019-MINAM.

Community Activities and Local Highlights

Catarata Gocta is the focus of community tourism activities in Cocachimba. The offerings also include visits to the Golondrina, Lejía, and Cajuache waterfalls. Another activity is taking part in grinding sugarcane at a trapiche sugar mill. Huarapo, a traditional sugarcane drink, provides refreshment during your explorations. Together, these offerings provide different areas of focus alongside the Gocta route: waterfalls, birdwatching, and sugarcane.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

The overland trip from Chachapoyas to Cocachimba covers approximately 42 kilometers and takes about one hour. Actual travel time may vary depending on conditions. The recommended stay in Cocachimba is two days and one night. The Asociación Comunal de Turismo de Cocachimba is the responsible community tourism organization.

The travel time from Chachapoyas, the duration of the hike to the second waterfall tier, and the recommended length of stay answer different planning questions. Choose your hotel based on which of the activities mentioned you would like to include in your stay.

Discover more destinations: San Carlos District

For the broader travel overview: Bongará Province.