If you keep finding the same articles about Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley and the same old tourist places in Peru and wonder whether there are any secret, unspoilt places to visit in this country, you’ve come to the right place.
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Choquequirao
Trekking enthusiasts will fall in love with Choquequirao. Meaning Cradle of God, this is an Incan site left in ruins for centuries. The Choquequirao trek takes typically four to five days with very few people venturing into this more remote and harder-to-reach site than Machu Picchu. On the way, view pristine mountain ranges while descending into the bottom of the Apurimac Canyon and lush vegetation. Best of all, you will encounter only a fraction of the numbers of people that hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, making it a real trekking adventure in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
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Amantani Island
For a true local experience of Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world – make your way to Isla Amantani from the city of Puno. The islanders have been able to preserve their ancient culture, weaving techniques, agriculture, music and native language (Aymara). While basic, many locals have opened their homes to visitors in order to share a day in their lives through a local homestay that may involve cooking, harvesting local crops, teaching kids a few words of English or another foreign language. If a Lake Titicaca tour / homestay is not your thing, just stay in a local lodge and spend your time hiking around and taking in the views of the emerald blue lake.
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Tambopata
This remote paradise is located in southeastern Peru, adjacent to the Bolivian border. While visitors have increased in recent years, it still remains one of Peru’s least visited areas. Come for excellent wildlife opportunities and real Amazon jungle expeditions. If you don’t mind the long bus ride from Cusco, make the trip during the day to view jaw-dropping scenery starting at 5000m Andean landscapes down to almost sea level jungle scenery. The starting point for all Tambopata tours is Puerto Maldonado which can also be reached by plane from Lima or Cusco.
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Cotahuasi Canyon
Most people are put off by the 10-hour drive from Arequipa in southern Peru. However, the best places are those hard to reach. Boasting the title of deepest canyon in the world, it offers world-class trekking opportunities and plenty of wild camping ground. Few crowds means plenty of country to discover and find yourself lost in. See waterfalls, go rafting or horse riding. End the day in soothing hot springs. Do your best to join a private Cotahuasi Canyon Tour in order to make the most of the beautiful drive in which you can see/stop at Andean scenery with llamas, alpacas, rock gardens, grasslands, kheñua forests (dwarf Andean tree) and other unique Andean features which cannot be appreciated from a local bus.
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Valle de los Volcanes (Andagua)
The recently-titled ‘Geopark’ by UNESCO, the Valley of Volcanoes (and Colca Valley) is southern Peru’s best-kept secret. While not far from the well-known Colca Canyon, the winding roads up and down will make the trip last about 9-10 hours from Arequipa. If this puts you off, this place is definitely not for you (or you are not for this place). Hike to secluded waterfalls, find yourself completely alone on the shore of a pristine lagoon, get to see the largest freshwater springs in the continent, discover true Peruvian unspoilt culture and traditions and learn about the wild volcanic past of this region. The Valle de los Volcanes is quite a drive away from Arequipa but totally worth it.
Get off the beaten track, don’t be a typical tourist and get to know these beautiful, undiscovered places to visit in Peru before they become overrun with people in the next few years.
