Top 7 Adventure Activities in Peru

17 Mar Top 7 Adventure Activities in Peru

The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu offers a less-traveled option to the Inca Trail

Photo © Greg Courter, Natural Habitat Adventures

With some of the world’s most varied topography inside the bounds of one country, it’s no wonder Peru is an epic adventure travel destination. Culturally, it’s known for its archaeological riches and colonial splendors. But Peru’s epic nature is what really beckons adventure lovers. From the glacier-iced peaks of the Andes to the jungled depths of the Amazon, from desert dunes to ocean coast, Peru offers a diverse slate of backdrops to play upon for trekkers, climbers, rafters, paddlers and more.

1) SALKANTAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a classic in the annals of Peru adventure travel. But its popularity has prompted regulation and crowd control, and a trek over the typical route feels more commercial than it used to. A less-traveled alternative along the Salkantay route offers even more stunning scenery, with far fewer people. Salkantay, sacred to the Incas, is the highest peak in the region at 20,500 feet, while the snowy summits of the Vilcabamba Range dominate the skyline in the distance. Like the Inca Trail, the Salcantay route is typically a 4-5 day journey amid Andean peaks, cloud forest and lush jungle valleys. It traverses several passes, the highest around 15,000 feet, and concludes at Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Most trekkers depart from Cusco.

2) WHITEWATER RAFTING
Rafting the Apurimac RiverIt’s no wonder Peru has outstanding whitewater rafting, given all the glaciers that crown the Andes and feed the rushing rivers that slice through narrow canyons below. The Apurimac, whose name means “God Talker” in Quechua, was sacred to the Incas and offers the most thrilling ride. While most of the whitewater is Class III+ to Class IV, a few IV+ and V rapids will test the mettle of even seasoned rafters. Scenery along the way is magnificent, as the river cuts its way through deep gorges below sheer granite walls, making its way ultimately to the Amazon. Look for river otters, condors and foxes at home in these remote environs. Single-day trips on the Urubamba outside Cusco offer an easy or exhilarating alternative, depending on which section of the river you choose. The mellower Lower Urubamba offers mostly Class II-III rapids through the Sacred Valley, but the upper Chuquicahuana section has Class IV whitewater during runoff, and it’s cleaner here above Cusco, too.

3) HIKING IN COLCA CANYON

The Oasis offers respite to hikers at the bottom of Colca Canyon

The patch of green at the bottom of Colca Canyon is known as the Oasis, a resort respite for hikers

Carved by the Colca River and nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at 13,650 feet, Colca Canyon in southern Peru is one of the country’s most dramatic hiking destinations. The two-day descent to the canyon floor is demanding, but hikers are rewarded with a relaxing welcome at the Oasis, where several tourist resorts await. There’s nothing better to replenish tired legs than sleeping out at the bottom of the deepest canyon in the world beneath a star-studded sky. Colca Canyon is also one of the best places to see Andean condors soaring on the wind currents overhead. For those who prefer to explore near the rim, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding around the valley offer mountain panoramas and traditional villages that date to pre-Inca times. The area is best accessed via Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city, where transportation is available to Chivay, the nexus of the valley’s ancient agricultural economy and the center for tourism in the canyon area.

4) WILDLIFE WATCHING IN THE AMAZON

Pink river dolphins in the Peruvian Amazon

Pink river dolphins in Pacaya-Samiria Reserve.  ©Natural Habitat Adventures

Peru’s Amazon rain forest harbors some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet. Lying just east of the Andes, much of this vast jungle is protected within the Tambopata National Reserve and Manu Biosphere Reserve, two of the best places to watch wildlife. From elusive jaguars, ocelots and shy tapirs to raucous monkey troops, river otters and caimans that slink through blackwater creeks, an abundance of life fills this remote tropical wilderness. Peru also ranks third in the world for bird species, and some 1,200 of them inhabit this verdant realm, including toucans and scarlet macaws. Few natural spectacles are as fascinating as seeing thousands of parrots feeding noisily at a clay lick. Visitors to these northern reserves typically book a package at an ecolodge or arrive as part of a guided trip. Travelers who want a taste of life on the mighty Amazon from the vantage point of a riverboat can book a multi-day voyage from Iquitos to the river’s headwaters inside the wildlife-rich Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. And some operators offer combination Amazon and Machu Picchu tours that include both iconic destinations in a single itinerary.

5) TREKKING & CLIMBING IN THE CORDILLERA BLANCA

19,511' Alpamayo Peak in Peru's  Cordillera Blanca

19,511′ Alpamayo is one of more than 50 peaks above 15,000 feet in the Cordillera Blanca of northern Peru

The Cordillera Blaca is the highest tropical mountain range in the world, with 722 glaciers and 33 major peaks above 18,000 feet in an area of northern Peru that’s just 13 miles wide and 124 miles long. Glittering meltwater lakes adorn the mountains while glacial-fed rivers course through the valleys. The entire region is protected within Huascarán National Park and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The area also abounds in native flora and fauna and is rich in ruins of several pre-Inca cultures. While the Cordillera naturally beckons mountaineers, trekkers and casual climbers also find its scenic drama entrancing. The classic trek is the 4- to 5-day Santa Cruz-Llanganuco route, one of the most beautiful hikes in South America. This trek, as well as several others, can only be undertaken with a licensed operator accredited by the national park, many of which offer mule-supported packages.

6) SANDBOARD THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DUNES

Sandboarding at Huacachina

Sandboarding at Huacachina. Photo: Huacachina.com

The desert along Peru’s southern coast boasts some of the largest sand dunes in the world, created by relentless winds that blow off the ocean from west to east. Some of these huge, shifting mountains of golden sand have as much vertical as major ski resorts. Cerro Blanco, at 2070m, is generally considered the world’s tallest. If you’re an experienced snowboarder, you’ll find sandboarding easier than someone who never ridden a mountain, though the slower, tackier surface is a challenge to negotiate at first. Anyone who enjoys a burst of adrenaline can give sandboarding a go. Excursions start in Huacachina or Nazca, where you board a dune buggy that carries you to the top. A long-sleeved shirt and long pants are essential, so you don’t feel like your skin has been sand-papered when you fall. And if the thought of getting grit into every crevice of your body sounds decidedly unappealing, dune buggy tours offer an alternative.

Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich

Peruvian surfing champion Sofia Mulanovich riding the waves at Lobitos. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

7) SURF THE NORTH COAST
Peru’s Pacific coastline stretches more than 1,200 miles, luring surfers with big waves, long, uncrowded breaks and some of the most consistent conditions in the world for quality surf. Winds generate huge swells from the south, and the biggest waves are measured in miles. Mancora is famous for the largest left-hand point break in the world. Peru’s coast is arid but the water is chilly year-round, mandating a wetsuit. The best surfing happens from October to March, and aficionados head north of Lima to the mellow beach towns of Huanchaco, Mancora and Chicama. Since these are fishing villages, surfers can feast on fresh seafood along with their Pisco sours once they come ashore at the end of the day.

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Wendy Redal
Wendy Redal is a passionate writer and traveler with a focus on nature, wildlife, food and the environment. Her adventures have taken her to 60 countries and all 50 states, including face to face with gorillas in the Congo, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos, wine tasting in the Republic of Georgia, and trekking on horseback across Mongolia. A former tour director in Alaska, Canada, the western U.S. and New England, Wendy today enjoys crafting and guiding private group trips around the world, in addition to her marketing communications job in the adventure travel industry. She holds a PhD in media studies, an MA in journalism and a BA in history and previously worked with the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Wendy’s travel writing has appeared in the Huffington Post, Budget Travel, Alaska magazine, World Wildlife, Gaiam Life and Good Nature Travel.
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