Northern Peru seems designed to fascinate the visitor. Superlatives abound:The largest non-road-accessible city in the world (Iquitos). A trekker’s oasis adjacent to culturally important snow-capped mountains (Huaraz). Top-notch surfing next to your private bungalow (most beaches).
Plus a growing tourist capital, Chachapoyas, surrounded by hikes to some of the world’s highest waterfalls and mountaintops with pre-Incan sites. But the tourist industry here is still new and growing. For this reason, planning your itinerary here can be tough. That’s why I’ve written these travel tips for Northern Peru!
When I first visited this region, I was single and wanted to party on the beach all night at places like Máncora. And it was definitely worth it! But I’ve learned there is much more to Northern Peru than beach parties. Although that would still be enough for me :)
The Best Travel Tips for Northern Peru
When planning for Northern Peru, your itinerary can cover a lot of climates and activities. This is a large region and most travelers don’t have unlimited time. Therefore we’ve written a list of the major cities in the region and a brief description of what makes each popular:
Huaraz
Huaraz is a trekker’s paradise. The city is easily reached by the many bus companies that make the 8.5-hr ride from Lima. Huaraz offers the 840,000 acre (340,000 ha) Huascaran National Park, which covers magnificent portions of the Cordillera Blanca (White Range). In Huascaran you can visit quenual forests and day hike to glacial lakes. Above all, Huaraz is known for its mountain climbing and multiday hikes. Here you can get off the grid for the popular 4-day Santa Cruz trek or even the 14-day Huayhaush trek!!
Trujillo & Huanchaco
Further up the coast is the department of La Libertad and Peru’s original capital, Trujillo. You can check out the city and its backpacker-favorite neighbor Huanchaco. In Huanchaco you can surf, witness locals use traditional reed boats, and explore Chan Chan. Chan Chan is the largest pre-Columbian site in the Americas.
Chachapoyas
“Chacha” has become popular in recent years. Despite this, it does not feel overrun with tourists. You can take a day trip to Yumbilla and Gocta, which are two of the tallest waterfalls in the world. Nearby Kuelap is the ancient fortress of the Chachapoya civilization and is accessible by a breathtaking cable car ride. And that’s just to start!
You can fly to Chachapoyas from Lima for as little as $49. The bus ride is 24 hours long. Therefore I recommend flying or breaking up the trip in Chiclayo (12 hours from Lima). In Chiclayo you’ll find great seafood and the world-recognized museum of Sipan. This is home to the ancient Lords of Sipan.
Cajamarca
The location of Pizarro’s first unfortunate meeting with the Incas becomes Peru’s carnival capital every February. Be prepared to party until late, wake up early, and get wet if you go (all totally worth it!). Cajamarca is also famous for its stunning Baños del Inca thermal baths and its history. This is exemplified by sites such as the 900-year-old Kuntur Wasi.
Buses from Lima take 15 hours, or you can take the roughly 1.5 hour flight.
Mancora
Several hours from the border with Ecuador is the surf/party town of Mancora. Here you can dance til’ dawn and chill in hammocks all day. If that’s not your cup of tea, there are quieter beaches such as Los Organos. Even further north are the legendary beaches of Tumbes: Zorritos, Punta Capones and Playa Hermosa. There are few better places to forget about expectations back home and to dream of, for example, becoming a professional traveler. :)
Iquitos
You’ll have to fly or take a boat to this jungle city. This is the largest non-road accessible city on Earth. For this reason, the boat ride to Iquitos can be a highlight in itself. Nearby you can visit parks like Pacaya Samiria and swim with pink dolphins. Or visit the many native communities that dot the Amazon.
Northern Peru Travel Tips: Activities
- Hiking under the gaze of snowcaps around turquoise lakes in Huascaran National Park
- Climb a mountain or take the beautiful Huayhuash and Santa Cruz treks
- Take a dip in a glacial lake at Laguna 69!
- Get your fill of surfing and ceviche at Huancacho
- Surf the 2.2 km (1.4 mile) break in Puerto Chicama. It’s the longest left-leaning surf break in the world!
- Explore ancient pyramids of the Sipan, Sican and other ancient cultures around Chiclayo. Then, end with a visit to the Lord of Sipan Museum (Museo del Senor de Sipan)
- Witness the Cloud Warrior (Chachapoyas) civilization’s famous fortress of Kuelap
- Hike in the warm sun to the frigid 2,500+ feet (760+ meters) falls of Yumbilla and Gocta (check out my blog post on our hike to Gocta here)
- Celebrate Carnival in Cajamarca
- Explore Kuntur Wasi and end the trip with a dip in the thermal baths of Banos del Inca
- Get a private bungalow and surf til’ your heart’s content in Los Organos or Zorritos
- Check out the beach parties of Mancora
- Taking an Amazonian rafting or boat trip to/from Iquitos
- Discover the Amazon at Pacaya Samiria National Park.
When to Visit Northern Peru
The coast is dry year-round. The coldest month is July. The average minimum temperature in July is in the 60’s (17-19 Celsius). The jungle and Andes have rainy seasons roughly from November through March.
Overall I do not recommend traveling during the rainy season. But, there is one exception. Carnival’s exact dates change annually but festivities last all of February. And in Peru, Cajamarca is the place to be during Carnival!
St. John’s Festival, El Dia de San Juan, is the jungle’s largest festival. It’s celebrated on June 23rd.
Next Steps
I hope this helps get you started on planning a trip to Northern Peru! Please comment below to tell me what you really want to do on your trip. Also leave a comment if you have questions, and I’ll respond right away.
Check out my sample itinerary for Northern Peru to get started on your adventure.
Also, check out these articles to decide where you’d like to go in Northern Peru:
- This online guide for visiting Mancora
- A “gringo’s guide” for Northern Peru
- The Ultimate Guide to hike Huayhuash
- How to boat to Iquitos
- My review of the hike to Gocta waterfall
Gracias y hasta pronto!
