By now, we don’t need to explain what makes Machu Picchu and Cusco so special (and therefore so popular). But do you wonder what the area was like before it became a tourist epicenter?
The attraction of traveling off the beaten track is that the experience may feel more authentic, and certainly more adventurous. But you must be flexible. Transportation, lodging, and locals’ sense of time (and urgency) may not match those of tourist hotspots.
However, if you settle in and don’t fight sometimes-frustrating phenomena like Peruvian time (hora peruana), exploring the interior will result in a wonderfully fulfilling adventure. The people enhance it; from cities to tiny hamlets, Peruvians are generous, grateful, and happy to help. And they are always sure to inform you which foods you still need to try.
Here we break down 8 spots to visit off the beaten track in Peru by region (Northern, Central, and Southern Peru).
Northern Peru
This is Peru’s least-visited region, although it does have well-trodden destinations such as Mancora and Chachapoyas. Northern Peru claims to have the country’s best food and owns the title of world’s greatest ceviche (they credit the local limes). Here the coast is greener, the history of the Inca’s rivals reverberates, and you won’t ever feel that you’re being funneled through a tourist trap.
Chiclayo
Not the city per se, although its witches market is noteworthy. There are plenty of treasures for travelers within an hour of town. The museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipan mesmerizes with undisturbed remains of Northern Peru’s ancient, gold-festooned rulers. The pyramids of Túcume will wake up your inner archaeologist as well.
For water sports, try Pimentel or Puerto Eten. Finally, the market area at Monsefú has locally-made crafts (plus hands-down the best ceviche I’ve ever had).
Chiclayo is a short flight or a long bus ride (14 hours) from Lima.
Playa Lobitos
Even the snobbiest beach critics have to love Lobitos’ wonderful weather and water. Despite being known for solid surf breaks, Lobitos isn’t overcrowded (unlike nearby Mancora). Surfing isn’t the only water activity, though, and make sure to try that famous Northern Peruvian ceviche!
Take a 1hr, 50 minute flight from Lima to nearby Talara or a 2-3 hour car from the city of Piura.
Tarapoto
This medium-sized city (pop. 180,000) is the largest in jungle-laden San Martin department. Adventure into the Amazon rain forest, hike to countless waterfalls, and even check out a Medieval castle in nearby Lamas. There are private conservation areas, such as Cordillera Escalera, which protect primary forest and provide direct sources of income for locals, too.
Tarapoto is a 1-hour flight from Lima. Or if you’re already in Northern Peru, take a bus from Chachapoyas (8 hours).
Central Peru
Pretty much any visit to Peru involves Lima, but the rest of Central Peru is virtually ignored. It’s true that the “Gringo Trail” has grown a new offshoot, going south of Lima to the oasis of Lunahuaná and the Nazca lines. But this region is more than its coastal treasures. You can hike in an UNESCO biosphere reserve, mountaineer Peru’s tallest peaks, and stay in traditional Quechua towns. Adventure is just an overnight buscama away!
Huaraz
Literally some of Peru’s (and the world’s) best hikes are near Huaraz. The 4-day Santa Cruz and longer Huayhuash treks are the most famous. But there are plenty of fascinating day hikes too, such as to Laguna 69. The glaciers are popular for mountaineering as well.
This small city sits at 3,052 meters (about 10,000 feet) above sea level. So make sure to acclimate to the altitude before hiking!
Buses leave throughout the day and night from Lima to Huaraz for the 8-hour journey.
Lunahuana
Rafting is the top activity in Lunahuaná, an oasis that borders the Cañete River in the dry foothills outside Lima. A pleasant climate, fresh air and several restaurants seal the deal.
The trip is only 3 hours if you hire a private car or sign up for a tour. The town sits on the road for the Nor-Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve. This Reserve is home to traditional villages, hikes to little-visited archaeological sites, and captivating cascades.
Oxapampa
Austrian immigrants arrived here in the 1800s, and they brought their architecture (and beer). Locals may not wear lederhosen or speak German anymore, but the fun sensation of being in tropical Tyrol lingers.
The region is an UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it has the wildlife and adventures of one. Hiking and birdwatching for Peru’s national bird, the cock-of-the-rock, is possible in Yanachaga-Chemmillen National Park. Several conservation areas protect the selva alta ecosystems. You can stay at some, including Ulcumano with its private lodges, canopy bridges, and ziplines!
Weather is springlike most of the year, but it’s colder in the rainy season (November-March). Buses leave throughout the day and night from Lima. It’s an 8-10 hour trip.
San Bartolo
This splendid horseshoe-shaped beach is famous for its surf breaks. Bonus: bodysurfers can usually catch waves here, too. Alternatively, chowing down some seafood on a hillside restaurant adjacent to the shore provides for a chill lunch. Add a couple beers to the mix, and you’ve got an afternoon.
San Bartolo is only a couple hours south of Lima, and several bus companies take you there.
Southern Peru
With Machu Picchu and Cusco, Southern Peru is by far the most popular region for visitors. Even smaller attractions in the Sacred Valley are peddled on tour websites nowadays. But explore further out and the traditional ways of life, warm villagers, and miraculously solitary sites may be your trip’s highlights.
For people staying closer to the hotspots, take an alternative Inca Trail for an off-the-beaten track Peru option. Or take in an Amazonian adventure in Tambopata, starting with a barely-one-hour flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado.
Cotahuasi canyon
Colca Canyon’s less-famous brother has fantastic hiking, rafting, and cultural immersion opportunities. The Cotahuasi River has class IV and V rapids, while the trekking is world-class due to the canyon’s depth of 11,595 feet (3,534 meters). Farmers herd llamas and plant quinoa and other traditional Andean crops. And you’ll be certain to have an Incan or pre-Incan archaeological site all to your own.
Stay in the town of Cotahuasi or bring camping equipment to stay at the Cotahuasi Sub-basin Landscape Reserve. Cotahuasi is an 8 hour bus ride from Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city.
Off the Beaten Track Peru: Conclusion
At the size of 3 Californias, Peru holds too many overlooked treasures to be listed. This article is just meant to provide a starting point, and each of the locations provides its own off-the-beaten path flavor. I suggest adding them to one of our own curated itineraries for Northern, Central or Southern Peru. Or if. you’re getting started, check out our guide for visiting Peru.
