Peru is an incredibly diverse country, and between the Pacific, Andes and Amazon we can find many unique places to visit in Peru.
From the biodiverse Tambopata Jungle which is full of rare Jaguars, Poison Dart Frogs and Giant River Otters, to places like Chachapoyas and Trujillo which house ancient crumbling pre-Inca ruins, there’s a lot to see in Peru. And after having spent numerous years travelling all throughout the country, take it from me that you’ll want to add some of these into your itinerary aside from the usual Machu Picchu, Cusco, Arequipa and Lima.
In this guide we’ll explore some of the most unique destinations that you can visit in all of Peru. Like with everything on this site, these all come from my first-hand experience travelling to these destinations, so I’ll also list some special tips and tricks from my own visits.
The Best Unique Places To Visit In Peru
In no particular order let’s now take a look at some of the best unique places to visit in Peru, why I recommend them and how to add them to your itinerary.
Chachapoyas (Incredible Waterfalls And Pre-Inca Ruins)
Situated high up in the north of Peru, Chachapoyas tends to get overlooked by tourists. However this gem is an incredible destination, and you could easily spend a week here uncovering all of its secrets.
Chachapoyas is sandwiched between the Andes and Amazon Jungle (in an area known as the ceja de selva in Peru), where we can see tall mountains covered in bright green vegetation. Ancient pre-Inca civilisations such as the Chachapoyas once thrived here, where we can visit Kuelap Ruins as well as see the spooky yet fascinating Sarcophagi of Kajari.
There are also lots of beautiful waterfalls to visit as day trips, such as Gotca Falls (the most famous), as well as Yumbilla Falls – my personal favourite – which has recently been discovered as the fifth tallest waterfall on the planet.
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Although Peru’s north can be challenging to include in itineraries, Chachapoyas allure of ancient ruins and thundering waterfalls is only growing in interest. Offering an itinerary aligned with Tarapoto makes best sense, given its airport plus that you can also offer an Amazon Jungle experience here.
Tingo Maria (Mountainous Amazon Jungle And Few Crowds)
Similar to Chachapoyas, Tingo Maria is also located up in the ceja de selva of Peru – however it is found at a lower altitude so is much warmer and perfect for outdoor hikes and swims.
A haven for exotic wildlife, here you’ll want to hike the Circuito 3 de Mayo where we can see the bright-red Cock of the Rock, colourful butterflies, and even rare mammals such as Jaguars and Otters. Between trying local regional dishes such as Paiche a la Plancha, and riding down rivers on a rubber dinghy, you’ll also want to visit the Cueva de las Lechuzas – a giant cave filled with hundreds of Bats, Guácharos and other exotic birds.
Tingo Maria is roughly a 6 hour bus from Lima, and is a great addition for tourists who want to visit the Amazon Jungle without venturing too far from the capital (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado and Pucallpa are all very far and require flights).
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Tingo Maria is hardly known by the outside world so far, which is the perfect time to start teaching tourists about its exotic value. It’s a perfect add-on for tourists who don’t want to venture too far from Lima’s central regions, yet still see prime rainforest and exotic animals.
Huaraz (Epic Snowy Mountains And High Altitude Glacial Lakes)
Huaraz is definitely one of the most already well-known places on this list, and is a popular Andes stop for travellers heading to Peru. However it gets its place here for different reasons.
Unlike Cusco, which has seen its historic centre completely transformed for tourism – Huaraz’s culture remains true and raw. A walk around the Plaza de Armas and up to Rataquenua Mirador confirms this, where you can chat with friendly locals and also try tasty Picarones with hot chocolate. The nearby town of Yungay should also be visited – both for its incredible church with a backdrop of giant Andean peaks – but also to learn about the tragic earthquake that rippled the region in 1970.
Hiking is a must here, where the Huascaran National Park has epic snowy trails like the hike up Nevado Mateo, the blue glacial Lake 69 as well as the multi-day Santa Cruz trek. Huaraz is just a 5 hours bus north of Lima, making it an ideal visit when wanting snowy landscapes close to the capital.
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Whilst getting to Huaraz is simple enough, the main hiking season runs from May until October. If offering Huaraz tours in the rainy season, you can still visit Lake Parón, Lake 69 and the famous Chavín de Huántar Ruins both safely and with ease from Huaraz.
The Tambopata Rainforest (Rich Amazon Jungle Full Of Rare Peruvian Wildlife)
One of the most biodiverse areas of the entire Amazon Jungle, Tambopata is no stranger to tourism. However, given its extremely high levels of exotic animals, plus that it’s still a giant area where you can get away from crowds, it had to be included here.
There are many standout reasons to come here, however the biggest has to be that this slice of rainforest has one of the highest probabilities of spotting a Jaguar (especially in eco-lodges like the Tambopata Research Center). It’s common to see all of the classic Amazon species here such as Crocodiles, Monkeys, Capybara, Anaconda and the Giant River Otter. Between canopy walks, you can also go out on a specialised tour to spot rare Poison Dart Frogs.
Tambopata is located in the extreme south-west of Peru, with Puerto Maldonado serving as the gateway city (from which treks and tours depart from). You can easily fly to Puerto Maldonado from Lima or Cusco, or take the overnight bus from the latter.
Peru Tour Operator Tip: If including Tambopata as part of an overall Peru tour, then I recommend offering 2-3 days to this area of the Peruvian Amazon. The shorter option is ideal for seeing Giant River Otters and canopy walks, whilst the longer option is better for a jungle lodge deeper in the rainforest.
The Sacred Valley (Ancient Inca Region Full Of Ruins And Culture)
Again a very well-known popular area of Peru (almost all travel itineraries include this region), the Sacred Valley is a must visit for several reasons.
Firstly, its historic value simply cannot be overstated enough. The sheer amount of ancient Inca ruins and preserved artefacts from the infamous civilisation are impressive, along with the fact that they are all close together. This includes the ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuamán as well as those found along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek. There are also other unique destinations to visit here too, such as the salt pools of Maras and bright-blue Humantay Lake.
Given Cusco is so popular, it can often feel overwhelming with tourist crowds in the centre and in major destinations. This is where staying within towns such as Lamay, Urubamba and Taray have their quiet charm, where you can enjoy this region as it should be. This is definitely a region that can really benefit from an AI-proof digital marketing strategy, given how popular the Sacred Valley will always be for tourism.
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Whilst this incredible region needs little explaining or marketing, it’s important to emphasise flexibility and customisation on your tours. This is both due to the effects of high altitude, but also as it’s common for tourists to learn about new incredible destinations while within Cusco – and wanting to change plans quickly.
Yurimaguas (Raw Jungle Town With Exotic Food And Culture)
If you’re looking for the absolute most raw experience in Peru, then getting off the beaten tourist path is going to be essential. And Yurimaguas – which lies a few hours away from Tarapoto in Peru’s north – fits the bill perfectly here. Going for a stroll around the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets between jungle treks is often an experience in itself, where local life springs into action, and novel events can sometimes be witnessed.
Yurimaguas is also a true foodie destination for those brave enough to indulge in Peru’s more wild cuisines and tastes. Found both in restaurants as well as within the legendary local markets, here we can sample everything from Alligator to local Patarascha, as well as cooked Piranhas caught that same day by local fisherman. The infamous Surri can also be tried here – and whilst it wasn’t my personal favourite – locals do swear by it and who knows – maybe you’ll love it too!
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Yurimaguas is rarely going to be a consistently-demanded destination by tourists until it becomes more mainstream. However it’s definitely worth still offering this while tourists are building their own itineraries. You can offer this along with Tarapoto and Chachapoyas for anyone who seems interested in exploring Peru’s northern regions.
The Outer Lima Region (Pacific Beaches, Ancient Pre-Inca Ruins And Bright Green Hills)
Lima as a whole is already a popular spot to visit. Not only is it home to the largest international airport (and therefore the main artery into the country), however places like Barranco, Miraflores and the Historic Centre are firm tourist hotspots. However the true hidden gems lie outside of the city.
Firstly we have Caral Ruins, which date back over 5000 years and are amongst some of the earliest traces of civilised human life on our planet. Set within the desert, we can explore various temples and pyramids, with the site being just a few hours north of Lima. Coastal resort towns are also popular to hit for their beaches, such as San Bartolo and Punta Negra (most popular outside of the winter months – so the best to visit these is between October and April).
However if you do end up visiting the Peruvian capital during the winter, fear not – as there’s another incredible phenomenon which is only possible to experience during these cooler months. Given Lima’s unique micro-climate, the hills around the capital get covered in mists, and allow thick green hills and wildlife to thrive. Known as the Lomas, there’s many you can visit – with the Lomas de Lucumo and Lomas del Paraíso amongst the very best of them all.
Peru Tour Operator Tip: Lima is a staple on any tour, and most tourists are going to want to see Miraflores and try novel Peruvian cuisine. However, offering these day trips (depending on the season for some) is an incredible way of offering more unique adventures to tourists, especially when using your own private transport to beat the crowds there.
Overview Of The Best Unique Places To Visit In Peru
And that’s all for this guide on the very best unique places to visit in Peru.
Yes – Machu Picchu and the incredible cuisine of Lima and beyond remain firm staples on any trip through Peru – however there’s much more we can explore here. And from hidden jungle towns like Tingo Maria and Puerto Maldonado to the bright blue glacial lakes of Huaraz, you can easily spice up your trip with just a couple of extra additions to your itinerary.
This article is part of my Travel Series — real experiences from my journeys across Latin America.
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