Things to see in Peru besides Cusco

Things to see in Peru besides Cusco

Among all the amazing things you can do in Peru, the first place that immediately comes to our mind is the vibrant town of Cusco which is popularly known as Cuzco, the historical capital of Peru, UNESCO world heritage site and the getaway to the world-famous Machu Picchu in South America.

It is a fact that the ancient Inca site will blow your mind and if you have never seen it you should definitely go, at least once in your life.

Unfortunately, in the past few years, the site has been overexploited and the huge crowds that flock there every day to admire the ancient ruins are taking away some of the magic, in a way.

And yet, you should see it, regardless.

Alternative ways to visit Machu Picchu

One good news is that if you were thinking about hiking the overcrowded traditional Inca trail, you should know that now there are many other optional trails and with even more spectacular scenery, I heard.

I went to Machu Picchu in 2013 and I only knew about the traditional trail which I did and loved, but I have heard wonders of the Salkantay trek that offers spectacular views, including the now insta-famous emerald lake.

It was on my list on the things to do in Cuzco this year on my solo travel through Latin America. Unfortunately for a series of reasons I didn’t make it there as I had to interrupt my journey before getting to Cusco.

Amazing places to visit in Peru besides Cusco

Luckily before leaving Peru, I managed to explore the north part and check out less explored places that are just starting now to appear on the map of adventurous travellers.

I was glad to be one of them.

Here below I am listing all the amazing less known places that will make your trip to Peru extra special.

1) Chachapoyas and the surroundings

Chachapoyas is one of the provinces in the north of Peru and also the pretty capital city, named after the indigenous inhabitant that were living in this region before the Inca invasion.

It is part of the Amazon region although the climate is nothing like you would expect in the Amazon.

I was there in February, the rainy season, and it was indeed cold and wet.

If you exclude the dangers of mudslides that can cause bad street accidents or bus delays, it’s an amazing time of the year to visit, when everything is lush and green and the waterfalls are at their best.

You can stay in Chachapoyas for an entire week and still lack enough time to visit everything. The region is just packed with things to do and local travel agents will sell you very cheap tours with very knowledgeable local guides, enthusiast to share their knowledge and proud to show you their homeland.

I know what you are thinking, and yes, I love to visit places on my own, as well, without a guided group, because I love to have the freedom to travel at my own pace.

However, in Chachapoyas, with some exceptions, it’s definitely more convenient to go on a tour. Besides being much cheaper than what you would spend if going on your own, they are more practical and can cover more sites in one day.

The most important sites are tacked away either up in the mountains or close to small villages where local transportation doesn’t get quite often. Besides, going to certain areas without a guide is not that much fun as you would not know what you are looking at.

I wrote a more detailed post on the places to visit in Chachapoyas and how to get there.

Here is a list of the things you can visit in Chachapoyas on your own:

•      Hike to the spectacular Gocta Waterfalls
•      Splurge for one night at the Gocta Lodge right in front of the fall
•      Discover the hidden Yumbilla Waterfall and the other few in the surroundings
•      Admire the spectacular views of the Huanca Canyons

Places you would want to visit with a tour

These tours will take you back in time to understand the origin of the Chachapoyas civilization and their culture. To me it is adamant to join an organized tour and make the most of the guide explanations and anecdotes:

•      The Ancient Fortress of Kuelap (archaeological site)
•      The Sarcophagi of Karajia and explore the caves of Quiojta
•      The Mausoleum of Revash carved in the mountain and the interesting museum of Leymebamba

Where to stay in Chachapoyas

Budget Stay

Killa Wasi Hostal

That’s where I was staying. The cute little hostel is run by a very nice young couple who will make you feel at home. The place is an old house (Casona) that has been restructured and nicely decorated. You can choose among private bedrooms with en suite or shared bathroom or dorms. In any case, it’s a very good value for money.

High-End Hotel

Hostal La Casona Monsante

If you wish to splurge, La Casona Monsante is the best option in town. An elegant mansion that was originally a private home and then turned into a hotel. The rooms are very elegant and finely decorated. It’s located right in the main road, Calle Amazona, one block from the main square.

2) The region of Cajamarca: a landmark in the history of Peru

Cajamarca is a beautiful colonial city, full of history and charm and so is the region of the same name.

It’s known mainly because where now the main plaza (Plaza de Armas) is located, it is where the last Inca emperor Atahualpa was killed by the Spanish Conqueror Pizarro, with the help of the pre-Inca population that tired of the Inca subjugation and saw in the Spaniards a chance for vengeance. They just had no idea of the consequences.

Both around the city itself and the surroundings you will find amazing natural and historical sites that make it a great day visit.

When I arrived in Cajamarca I immediately reached the tourism office where enthusiast agents showed me all the things you could do from there and how to do them.

I was so fascinated that I saw almost everything and on my own. Needless to say, I had a blast.

Here is the list of things to do in Cajamarca

•      Visit the colorful local market where you get great fresh veggies and you can observe indigenous people in their beautiful colorful dresses and hats.
•      Have a Little exercise climbing up to the Mirador de Santa Apolonia. Located right in the city center, at a few steps from the Plaza de Armas and where you will supposedly find the throne of Atahualpa, or so they say. What you will get for sure is a spectacular view of the city and the entire valley framed by multicolored flowers for your perfect shot.
•      Check out some example of the colonial architecture in the Iglesia Santa Catalina, the Plaza de Armas, and the Iglesia San Francisco
•      Peek into the Cuarto de Rescate and then, the Conjunto monumental Belen – an old hospital that has now been turned into a museum. It’s worth to hire a guide here, which is available for free at the entrance. You just pay them a tip. All worth it.

Things to do in the surroundings of Cajamarca

•      Las Ventanillas de Otuzco– a small archeological site at about 8km northwest of the city of Cajamarca where crypts engraved in the rocks were used for funerary purposes in the pre-Incan times. You can get there by local combi, (small buses) from the market.
•      Kuntur Wasi archeological site and the nearby museum (Museo de sitio) in the town of San Pablo
•      Namora and the lagoon of San Nicolas. I did this tour on my own but I regretted it. If you join an organized tour you will be able to see much more, including some caves and a park where public transportation won’t reach.
•      Cumbemayo – a spectacular area that is called wood of stones (Bosque de Piedras) where you can also admire an original aqueduct. This is the only place that you must see with an organized tour unless you decide to rent a car because no public transportation gets there.

3) Hike like there is no tomorrow in the Cordillera Blanca  

I have been hearing about the insta-famous Lagoon 69, a spectacular emerald green lagoon in the middle of the Cordillera Blanca and I couldn’t wait to get there myself and take the same amazing pictures that I saw on the internet.

Full of excitement and enthusiasm I reached the small town of Huaraz, at 3000 mt of altitude, the getaway to the Cordillera Blanca.

I only had one week because my 3-months visa was expiring and I needed to get out of the country, so I wanted to make the most of my short time.

From Huaraz, I would acclimatize for a few days and get ready to the hike to the famous lagoon, which I knew from other hikers that would have been quite strenuous.

However, sometimes things don’t go as you plan and that was the case. I realized I was taking too long to acclimatize as I was barely making it to my hotel room on the 4^th floor.

Every time I had to climb those stairs my breathing was getting shorter and shorter and I felt like I was climbing Mount Everest instead or walking to my room.

I took it as a sign that I had to take it slow and my dream to photograph the spectacular lagoon simply vanished.

However, it was a pleasant surprise to see that there were so many other less known places to visit, but still spectacular, that required minor efforts or were at a lower altitude.

It was perfect for me to acclimatize and actually for any hikers to get accustomed to the altitude before starting more challenging adventures.

So here below I am sharing a list of the tours I did instead of my original plan.

Easy one day tours in Huaraz, besides the Lagoon 69

Llanganuco Lagoon

 This tour is the only one that requires zero hiking but includes interesting cultural visits, besides chilling by the beautiful lagoon, among which, an Ice-cream stop in Carhuaz and a visit at the village of Yungay learning about its tragic history.

Paron Lake 

It’s a spectacular lagoon surrounded by rocky hills and flowery bushes. You can either sit there and relax at the beautiful view or walk up to the mirador (viewpoint) the walk is easy but the last few hundred feet are on a very narrow crest with slopes on the sides. Obviously, I was too scared to walk there. But still, I could enjoy the amazing views.

Pastoruri Glacier 

Amazing landscapes are what you get if you join this tour, both along the way and at the top of the glacier. The walk to the Glacier is very short and easy. However, remember you are at 5000 mt (15000ft) altitude, which means your breath gets short and your legs heavy. It’s a great place to acclimatize before going to the Lagoon 69 as you would be hiking at a lower altitude then and your body should be adapted. This Impressive glacier is an example of the global warming issue. I was lucky to have a great knowledgeable guide, very concerned about climate change and what’s happening in his country. We had a great conversation about it and he was also explaining how glaciers have been disappearing also in the Cordillera Blanca in the past few years. Pastoruri Glacier keeps melting and shrinking as well. Therefore, if you wish to see its beauty and immensity, you better go right now.

From Huaraz, there are many more visits that you can do, including an archaeological site and many multi-day treks of various lengths and difficulties that local travel agency offer.

Are you now planning a trip and wondering where to stay?

If you want to plan a trip then book flights through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline. here.

You can plan your stay in Cusco or any place in Peru. For the best hotels or the best accommodation in Cuzco or places in Peru, we suggest checking out our favorite sites to book here. We always use these sites to book our stay. Hotel booking can be done through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline to save huge and get best deals on booking your stay.

Best Peru Tours

Certainly, you got to love hiking if you wish to appreciate it.

The list of amazing places to visit in Peru, besides Machu Picchu doesn’t end here but I hope I was able to offer a few great options if you are looking to visit Peru off the beaten track.

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