Areas of Peru

Arequipa and Colca Canyon

The spectacular geographic and biological diversity and rich cultural heritage of the Arequipa department make it a worthy destination for travelers of all interests. Here you'll encounter the vestiges of ancient peoples, traditional villages perched on the edge of two of the world's deepest canyons and in the lap of towering volcanoes, endangered wildlife reserves, unique natural landscapes that border on the surreal, beautiful beaches and culinary artistry that's second to none.

Without question one of the department's most famous attractions is the Colca Canyon. With a depth of 10,500 feet it is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States and makes for an ideal vantage point to observe the majestic Andean condor in flight. Here, the pre-Inca Collagua and Cabana people built agricultural terraces which continue to be cultivated to this day by their descendants, who proudly dress in the same colorful hand-woven garments their ancestors did centuries ago. Travelers can visit the villages' old colonial churches and participate in outdoor sports such as trekking, mountain biking and river rafting.

Further to the west lies an even deeper canyon, which at 11,597 feet deep is Earth's most profound, but it receives fewer visitors due to its remote location. Those who do make the trip to the Cotahuasi Canyon are rewarded with views of the snowcapped peaks of Coropuna and Solimana, hot springs, waterfalls, Wari and Inca agricultural terraces and picturesque villages populated by native people relocated by the Spanish in colonial times.

Arequipa is also a land of magnificent volcanoes popular with climbers of all abilities. Misti, the stunningly symmetrical volcano that looms over the city of Arequipa, is an excellent choice as is Ampato, the inactive volcano where the world's best-preserved pre-Hispanic mummy, known as Lady of Ampato, was found. One of Arequipa's most unique attractions is the Valley of Volcanoes which has the highest concentration of volcanic peaks in the world. The landscape reminds one of the moon with its 80-odd small peaks.

Pre-historic peoples also left their mark on this intriguing corner of Peru in the form of cave paintings and petroglyphs. Paleolithic people painted 500 images depicting camelids, rheas, felines and hunting scenes in the Sumbay Caves and in the Majes Valley huge volcanic rocks can be found with over 3,000 petroglyphs dating back to 1,100 AD known as Toro Muerto.

Those interested in observing wildlife in its natural habitat can visit the coastal wetlands of the Lagunas de Mejía National Sanctuary with its abundant bird life and the highland Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve which protects tarucas, flamingos, vicuñas, guanacos and a number of threatened bird species.

Just outside the department capital you'll find delightful little villages known for their colonial-era churches, mansions and a mill, excellent picanterías (traditional restaurants), medicinal hot springs and lively celebrations. The coast boasts fine sand beaches for camping and bathing as well as some great fishing spots. Other sites worth visiting include the Imata Stone Forest and the ruins of Puerto Inca.

Cuzco - Machu Picchu

Train between Cuzco and Machu Picchu Peru's Cuzco region is home to the country's crown jewels of tourism: Cuzco and Machu Picchu. The nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas, with its famous ruins at Ollantaytambo and Pisac, also features prominently on the tourist map. However, the region is a veritable gold mine of archaeological and other fascinating sites and there is a lot more in the surrounding area to explore than you may have imagined.

North of Cuzco along the two roads leading to the Sacred Valley there are some impressive Inca ruins and a colorful tourist market. The ruins of Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and Q'enqo lie along the easterly road, the first of these consisting of aqueducts and fountains amidst fine stonework. Puca Pucara was a fortress designed to defend Cuzco, while Q'enqo is an intriguing temple site with subterranean chambers, an amphitheater and zigzag canals carved out of stone. The westerly road, meanwhile, will take you to the Sunday tourist market of Chinchero, a small traditional mountain village with breathtaking views and a colonial church built on Inca ruins.

A visit to the enchanting places east of Cuzco requires a wide detour off the beaten tourist track, but they're worth the trip. Fourteen miles east of the city rest the painstakingly-built agricultural terraces of Tipón, an Inca complex so impressive it's nearly on a par with Ollantaytambo. Ten miles further on lie the ruins of Pikillacta and Rumicolca, the former being an enormous Wari ceremonial complex and the latter built by the Incas as a portal to the Sacred Valley. Beyond, in the remote mountain village of Paucartambo, the exuberant Virgen del Carmen festival is celebrated each July and the truly adventurous will make it all the way to the outlook at Tres Cruces. Considered a sacred site by the Incas for its incredible sunrises, Tres Cruces is a ridge on the edge of the Andes with an amazing panorama of the eastern jungle.

The famous hiking route to Machu Picchu, known as the Inca Trail, also has plenty of ruins for travelers to discover, not to mention beautiful flora and fauna and gorgeous mountain scenery. From Inca farming terraces to ceremonial baths there are historic ruins all along its length.

Madre de Dios

Peru's so-called "Biodiversity Capital", the Madre de Dios department is one of the most stunningly megadiverse places on earth. Home to record numbers of bird, butterfly, mammal, tree and insect species, it is also inhabited by numerous indigenous groups, some of which remain uncontacted to this day. To the south its terrain consists of mountainous highland rainforest, which pans out into vast stretches of flat lowland rainforest in the center and north. Its capital and largest city, Puerto Maldonado, serves as the region's economic center as well as a gateway to many of its national parks and nature reserves.

The Manú National Park is among the country's largest and most impressive, encompassing one of the world's most species-rich tropical forests and maintaining the world record for number of bird species spotted in a single place in a single day. Many endangered species can be found here, including jaguars, spectacled bears, red-faced spider monkeys and oncillas. The Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve is also known for its species richness, possessing the world's greatest number of butterfly species as well as the largest collpa of the Peruvian Amazon. Peru's only tropical wet savannah is protected in the Bahuaja Sonene National Park, where anteaters, giant otters, bush dogs and other unique animals can be found. The department also contains two beautiful lakes, Sandoval and Valencia, which provide habitat to a variety of fish, exotic flora, turtles, toucans, caimans, tapirs and other animals.

The Andes

The world could hardly offer a more spectacular natural stage for adventure sports, cultural discovery and archaeological exploration than the Peruvian Andes. Home to the world's highest tropical mountain (Huascarán) and the world's deepest canyon (Cotahuasi Canyon), this region spans diverse ecosystems, is studded with the remains of Pre-Columbian cultures and is populated by vibrant and hospitable people who carry on the traditions of their ancestors.

The "sierra", as the region is known, offers unlimited opportunities for outdoor adventure sports such as trekking, mountain climbing, river rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, hang gliding, skiing, camping, fishing and horseback riding. While the sierra's most famous trek by far is the Inca Trail, an ancient Inca highway leading to Machu Picchu, the possibilities are endless. You could hike the high windswept plateau, along the edge of scenic canyons, through forested valleys or across rugged alpine landscapes. Mountain climbers of all abilities will find a challenge in Peru's numerous peaks, many of which surpass 19,500 feet. The Cordillera Blanca range, which includes Mt. Huascarán at 22,205 feet and beautifully pyramidal Mt. Alpamayo, offers superb mountain climbing as does the Huayhuash range. Other mountain ranges with excellent climbing include the volcanic range of Arequipa, the Vilcabamba range and the Vilcanota range. The Apurímac River Canyon and Cotahuasi River offer world-class river rafting through incredible landscapes and Lake Titicaca is a great place to kayak. Nearly the entire region is apt for mountain biking and there are routes which allow you to descend through distinct ecological tiers in just a few hours' time. Here you can ski down pristine glaciers and fish for trout in crystalline rivers and lakes.

Natural attractions abound in the Peruvian Andes, where vicuñas, pumas, spectacled bears, viscachas and deer still roam, condors and flamingos soar overhead and remarkable plants such as the Puya raimondii adorn the mountain slopes. Intriguing stone formations can be observed in the various stone forests and all across the country's rugged spine natural medicinal hot springs can be found, like those in Cajamarca where Emperor Atahualpa himself is said to have bathed.

To visit the sierra is to come face-to-face with ancient cultures and living traditions. Pre-Columbian ruins are scattered across the landscape and the Spanish left behind an impressive architectural legacy in the cities. Don't miss the temples of Koricancha, Chavín de Huántar and Kotosh, the fortresses of Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo, or the ancient city of Wari. The prehistoric petroglyphs of Toro Muerto are fascinating, as are the burial sites of Las Ventanas de Otuzco and the Chullpas of Sillustani. Grand colonial churches, monasteries and mansions still stand in cities such as Arequipa, Cuzco and Ayacucho.

The people of the sierra, meanwhile, continue to work the land, raise animals, dress, speak, celebrate, cook, worship and weave in ways that have changed little over the centuries. Wherever you go they'll invite you to participate in their lively festivals and solemn rituals, savor their uniquely earthy cuisine, and experience the warmth of traditional Andean hospitality.

The Northern Coast

Peru's northern coast, with its gorgeous sandy beaches caressed by warm Pacific tides and blessed by eternal sunshine, is the ideal vacation destination. Few other places can offer such an enticing blend of nature, water sports, entertainment, tradition and history, not to mention exquisite regional cuisine featuring the fresh daily catches of local fishermen.

Proceeding from north to south, we first encounter the Tumbes region bordering Ecuador. Here, visitors can spot American crocodiles, magnificent frigatebirds and crab-eating raccoons at the 2,972-hectare Mangroves of Tumbes National Sanctuary and surf in the company of abundant marine life at the fisherman's cove of Zorritos. Just inland of Zorritos you'll find the Cerros de Amotape National Park, Peru's only protected stretch of dry equatorial forest, and the medicinal mud baths of Hervideros. Further south lies Punta Sal, one of the region's finest beaches, where the warm, placid waters invite windsurfing and kite surfing among the dolphins and sea lions. Local fishermen drag heavy catches of swordfish, anchovies, sea bass and eels ashore where crabs skitter away in the sand.

Crossing the border into the Piura region we come to the very popular beach town of Mancora, which provides some of the best surfing, most exclusive hotels and hottest nightlife. Vichayito, on the other hand, is a peaceful paradise of marine life where you can even spot migrating whales in the month of November. Los Organos is ideal for fishing, as is Cabo Blanco, the famous destination of Ernest Hemingway, who came here years ago to fish for black marlins. Cabo Blanco is also known for its powerful tubular left that draws surfers from around the world. Or just get away from it all at Norura, one of the country's most splendid virgin beaches with wide bays, sand dunes and a picture-perfect azure sea.

Legend has it that the pre-Hispanic god Naylamp first landed on Peruvian shores in Lambayeque in a caballito de totora (reed watercraft), giving rise to a tradition that lives on to this day. Here and in La Libertad, particularly at Huanchaco, local fishermen masterfully maneuver these unique handmade vessels over the waves. Chicama boasts the world's longest left wave and Pacasmayo, one of the country's principal ports in the 19th century, offers handsome architecture and a lovely stretch of beach lined with restaurants. The great Moche and Chimu civilizations once occupied vast swaths of the northern coast and it is here, in Lambayeque and La Libertad, where some of their most impressive ruins and artifacts can be found. Explore the world's largest adobe city at Chan Chan, glimpse beautiful color friezes at Huaca de la Luna and Huaca El Brujo, and view the magnificent tomb of the Lord of Sipán. Beautiful Spanish colonial architecture can be found in Trujillo, where the yearly traditional marinera dance competition is held.

The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon basin is home to the world's vastest rainforest as well as the planet's largest river by volume. Over 13% of this immense jungle (and an ever larger percentage of its unspoiled area) lies within the borders of Peru, where it occupies over half of the country's territory yet accounts for only about 11% of its population. The Peruvian Amazon comprises two distinct ecoregions, the largest of these being the lowland jungle region at 262 to 1,312 feet (80 to 400 meter) above sea level, where the average temperature is 82°F (28 °C), there is high relative humidity and rainfall is abundant. Along the eastern edge of the Andes, between 1,312 and 3,280 feet (400 to 1000 meters) above sea level, lies the highland jungle region, where temperatures vary depending on altitude and the rugged terrain has given rise to many endemic species. The Peruvian Amazon as a whole is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, with over 50,000 plant, 1,700 bird, 400 mammal and 300 reptile species, and scientists continue to discover new species all the time. A number of national parks and reserves now protect vast tracts of this tropical wilderness where large numbers of indigenous people still live and which has grown into a popular tourist destination. Here visitors can trek in the jungle, see exotic animals in the wild, experience river life, visit native villages, stay overnight at a jungle lodge and otherwise fully immerse themselves in this utterly enchanting place, one of the world's last true frontiers.

Peru's jungle region can be divided into three sections—north, central and south—with the northern and southern regions holding the greatest allure. The city of Iquitos is a gateway to the northern jungle, where the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is the largest protected area, and the southern jungle's main attractions are the Manu Biosphere Reserve, the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. The province of Chanchamayo and the city of Pucallpa are the most important tourist areas of the central jungle.

A green world Capital of the remote Loreto region, Iquitos is the country's largest Amazonian port city and quite possibly the largest city in the world that can't be reached by road. A vibrant city with exceptionally friendly and fun-loving people and hot nightlife, it has some of the Peruvian Amazon's best tourist facilities and services. Travelers fly in from Lima and use the city as a starting point for Amazon River cruises and rainforest excursions to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, for example. Hard-to-reach and brimful with some of the Amazon's most amazing wildlife, this gorgeous unspoiled reserve is Peru's second-largest protected area and home to some 30,000 indigenous people.

In Peru's southern jungle region, the Manu Biosphere Reserve stands out as the country's largest protected area and the most species-rich park on the planet. Remote and exceptionally pristine, it spans cloud forest terrain in the foothills of the Andes down to dense lowland rainforest and a few native tribes still roam its lands. One of the best places in the world for birding, Manu is a great place for viewing wildlife in general given that the absence of hunting has made animals less wary of humans. Further south near the Bolivian border, the contiguous Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park encompass an immense area of virgin rainforest that ranks among the world's finest and most biodiverse, thanks to its varied elevation and dozen different kinds of forest. It's home to the largest macaw clay-lick on earth and you'll find more species of birds and butterflies here than any other place of the same size in the world. More easily accessible than Manu, which entails a lengthy trip from Cuzco, a brief flight to Puerto Maldonado followed by a few hours' boat ride will take you to Tambopata.

The toco toucan in flight Peru's central rainforest destinations offer the advantage of easier overland access. Chanchamayo's cloud forests nestled in the Andean foothills are an eight-to-twelve hours' bus ride from Lima, and while the lively port of Pucallpa is best reached via plane there is a decent road linking it to Tingo María and beyond. Pucallpa has some nearby indigenous communities and jungle lodges, and riverboats destined for Iquitos depart from here.

The Peruvian Amazon receives the most rain November to April, is drier May to October and is hottest February through June. Visiting during the rainy season may be ideal for wildlife viewing, as well as for Amazon cruises, but mosquitoes are the worst at this time and roads may be impassable. So plan accordingly, get the necessary vaccinations and brace yourself for a truly eye-popping adventure.

The Sacred Valley

Agriculture in the valley An hour's journey across the mountains from the Inca capital of Cuzco will bring you to the warmer, more verdant environs of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stretching from Pisac in the east to Ollantaytambo in the west, this fertile agricultural valley is peppered with fascinating archaeological sites and picturesque villages. The Vilcanota or Urubamba River (also known as the Willkamayu, or sacred river, in Quechua) flows through it and glacial peaks stand sentinel over its lush fields.

The Incas prized the Sacred Valley for its pleasant climate, fruitful land and strategic location. It was one of the empire's principal farming areas, said to produce the best corn in all of Peru, and to this day it continues to supply the city of Cuzco with grains, fruits and vegetables. The Incas used the valley as a gateway to the Amazon and built palaces, fortresses and temples here, the most famous and awe-inspiring of these being the ruins at Ollantaytambo and Pisac. They conceived of the river as a mirror image of the Milky Way, in fact, and assigned great ceremonial importance to the region as a whole.

Today, the Sacred Valley is every bit as alluring as it was in Inca times, and its status as one of Peru's top tourist destinations is testament to this. On top of first-class archaeological sites and idyllic scenery, it offers tourists a variety of outdoor activities (such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and rafting), premier handicraft markets, and fine lodging and dining. Lower in altitude than Cuzco by about 1,000 ft, the valley is a great place to spend a day or two acclimatizing to the thinner mountain air before heading to the Inca capital city.