Everyone knows that Peru has culture by the bucket loads, but it’s by getting outdoors and amongst all the adventure that this South American nation shines.
Peru has it all: a lofty topography, ice-cold glacial rivers, desert dunes and a lush, Amazonian interior. So it shouldn’t really be surprising to learn that it’s the perfect destination for adventure seekers.
Here are four ways you can answer the call to adventure in Peru.
1. FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ANCIENTS
Inca Trail. Credit Alejandro Balaguer/ PromPerú
A four-day trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that’s worth all the effort to get there.
Peru’s most popular hike and definitely one of the most spectacular trekking routes in the world, the Inca Trail is a rite of passage for adventurous travellers.
A pilgrimage to the crumbling archaeological remains of an ancient civilisation through gorgeous mountain scenery and mystical cloud forests.
High season for the trek spans June to September, so you’ll need to secure your entry ticket into the site well in advance to avoid missing out if visiting during this time.
2. ENJOY THE RUSH OF WORLD-CLASS WHITE WATER
Ancash. Credit: Flor Sánchez / PromPerú
Considering that you’ll need to acclimatise for at least a few days in Cusco before taking that first step on the Inca Trail, why not spend that time exploring the Sacred Valley along the Rio Urumamba on a rafting tour?
But you’ll need to be brave. It can get a little rough on the water as you go head-to-head with class III and IV rapids.
Still, it’s loads of fun and a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of Cusco. It’s only possible to raft the river from April to November when water levels are sufficient.
3. GET YOUR SHOES DIRTY IN HUARAZ
Huaraz. Credit: PromPerú
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu may be Peru’s most popular hike, but Huaraz is, and has always been, Peru’s high altitude hiking capital.
Each year, thousands of adventure seekers colonise the city, using it as a base to explore the spectacular mountainous playground that is the Cordillera Blanca, home to numerous trekking trails and glaciers.
Huaraz is also home to Peru’s tallest mountain, Huarascán, a whopping 6,768-metres-tall. Sitting within its namesake national park and covering nearly 340,000 hectares, the area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers 25 trekking breathtaking routes through its grounds.
4. A RECENTLY DISCOVERED TREASURE
Gocta Waterfall. Credit-Jaime Chavez /PROMPERU
A towering 771 metres tall, Gocta Waterfall, in the province of Chachapoyas in Amazonas, is one of those quintessentially epic waterfalls.
If its height doesn’t impress you, just consider that it was only relatively recently, back in 2005, that it was revealed to the world—just think of what other treasures await discovery in Peru?
Depending on who you ask, Gocta Waterfall is either the 3rd or 16th tallest waterfall in the world (it depends on where you measure from). But what isn’t up for debate is the sheer majesty of it all.
Gocta Waterfall is reached via a trail (five hours return) through the rainforest starting at Caserío de Cocachimba.
For more information on how you can answer the call to adventure in Peru, visit the website here.