Destinations
Peru beyond Machu Picchu
Glacier lakes, cloud-forest fortresses, adobe cities and river dolphins. Where to go once you've seen the citadel, or instead of it.
· 2 min read
Machu Picchu deserves its fame. But Peru is three countries in one, a desert coast, the high Andes and the Amazon, and most visitors only see a sliver of it. If you're coming back, or simply want more than the classic route, start here.
The Cordillera Blanca
Above Huaraz, the highest tropical mountain range on Earth rises in a white wall. Day hikes lead to glacier lakes like Laguna 69 (about 4,600 m), so build up over several days first. The 3,000-year-old temple at Chavín de Huántar is a day trip away. See the north.
Kuélap and the cloud forest
The Chachapoya, the "cloud people", built Kuélap on a ridge about 3,000 metres up, centuries before the Incas. A cable car now takes you most of the way. Pair it with the long, green walk to the Gocta waterfall. Chachapoyas & Kuélap.
Trujillo and Chan Chan
On the north coast, Chan Chan was the largest adobe city in the Americas. The Moche temples nearby still show their painted friezes, and fishermen in Huanchaco still ride reed boats. Trujillo & Chan Chan.
Arequipa, Colca and Titicaca
The south climbs in sensible steps: white-stone Arequipa at about 2,335 metres, condors over Colca Canyon, and then Lake Titicaca at about 3,800 metres, with its reed islands and island weavers. Titicaca & the High Plains.
The Amazon, three ways
Tambopata is the easy one: a short flight from Cusco and a boat to the lodge. Manu is for travellers with time, descending from the Andes through cloud forest. Iquitos is the city you can't drive to, the gateway to river cruises and pink dolphins.
Máncora
After all that, the far north coast has the warm sea the rest of Peru doesn't. Surf, black-clam ceviche and a hammock.
Want help deciding? Tell us what you love and your Peru Specialist will suggest a route.
