Explore Peru Beyond Machu Picchu On An Adventure Of A Lifetime

Machu Picchu is an iconic and amazing experience to visit but for those seeking more adventure, Peru has other exciting adventures. Among them is trekking the Andes Mountains, exploring the country’s desert coast or viewing the mysterious Nazca Lines that can only be seen from the air.

Peru beyond Machu Picchu

Naturally, any first-time visitor to Peru must visit the ancient Machu Picchu citadel. To do so, travelers can hike the Inca Trail from the Urubamba Valley in what feels like a pilgrimage. Hikers head through the cloud forests while exploring the remains of ancient way stations along the route. Meanwhile, the trek offers amazing scenery along the way to the top and the final reward is Machu Picchu itself.

Trekking the Andes Mountains

For more adventures, visitors to Peru can trek up the exciting Andes Mountains. Located in the heart of the country, the Cordillera Blanca is a series of snow-capped, craggy and high-altitude peaks just waiting to be explored.

Along the way, trekkers can gaze at the beautiful scenery of the Huascarán National Park that surrounds them. Among the wonders to be found are turquoise alpine lakes, streams and waterfalls and quaint, traditional Andean villages. In the villages, visitors will meet the friendly locals and find out more about the area.

Other ancient citadels in Peru

Meanwhile, along the Andes trek, visitors can explore the ruins of several ancient cities. Among them, Kuelap is a magnificent walled citadel that stands on a mountain in the northern Peruvian cloud forest.

The citadel was built by the Chachapoyas people in the distant past. Moreover, this area offers spectacular views over the Utcubamba Valley, making the trek one of a lifetime.

Heading to the coastal areas

For those not keen on trekking in the mountains, adventure can be found in the coastal areas of Peru. Here, travelers can meet the Humboldt penguins, Peruvian boobies and more birds off the Paracas Peninsula. Known as the “poor man’s Galapagos,” the Islas Ballestas are renowned for their sea- and bird-life.

For those who love surfing, Peru’s coastline measures more than 1,864 miles. Here, a varied range of conditions can be found including really big swells. However, one of the best spots for surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers is north of Lima and close to Máncora, Chicama and Huanchaco.

Here, not only is the surfing experience excellent, but a delicious range of seafood is offered. One particular specialty in the area is a type of tasty local shrimp bisque, dubbed chupe de camarones.

For a different boarding experience, adventurous folk can head to the southern Peruvian desert close to Huacachina. The area is renowned for truly adventurous sandboarding and if not feeling quite that energetic, fun buggy rides are available through the dunes.

View the mysterious Nazca Lines

Many people know of the mysterious ancient glyphs that form the famous Nazca Lines. Among the most exciting mysteries in Peru, the Nazca Lines feature 70 ancient glyphs of lines, animals and other shapes. Meanwhile, these are so massive that the Nazca Lines can only be seen from the air. It is unknown who created the glyphs, or their actual purpose, but some experts theorize this could have been a landing site for ancient alien spacecraft.

Travelers can enjoy a flight in a small aircraft over the lines for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will never be forgotten. Moreover, as more people view the mysterious glyphs they will wonder how and why the Nazca Lines were created.

Experience an adventure in Peru outside of Machu Picchu this year and return for more. Visit Peru’s official tourism website for more information.