Places in Peru You Have Never Heard of

You are planning a Peru vacation, but you don't want to go where everybody else does. Yes, Machu Picchu is an obvious choice, yes you can visit Colca Canyon to see Condors and yes, the Nazca lines are fantastic. But what about the lesser-known parts of Peru, the unique places where you'll have some real stories to tell when you get back from your adventures? Try these three Peru vacation spots for size.

The Northern Coastline of Peru – Plenty Of Options
Incredible, but true; hardly anyone goes up from Lima. One place in Peru that remains unknown is the northernmost part of the country near Ecuador where there are some of the finest beach resorts in the world. The accommodation ranges from quaint bed and breakfast places to first class hotels close to the beach with all the modern facilities. These provide access to the twenty-six northern pyramids of Tucume, built of adobe (earth bricks). Although time has taken its toll on the pyramids, the site still retains a sense of its original glory and it can be seen from numerous viewpoints for many miles. A small museum is also on-site.

One Of The Best Archeological Finds In The Americas, Still Unknown
In the area around Lambayeque is the 'Lord of Sipan' Museum, which was discovered in the late 1980s when a robber was arrested by the police as he was trying to sell gold from the tomb of the Lord of Sipan. The exhibits at the museum include the most important archeological remains of the Moche Culture as well as the amazing gold, silver and pottery artifacts that were discovered during the excavation of the Tombs of the Lord of Sipan, who was thought to have been a Moche government leader. As one of the most magnificent archeological finds in the Americas, this exhibit can take two to three days to see in its entirety.

Beach Living In The North
Among the resorts in the area to see are the Las Arenas de Mancora hotel in Mancora and the Punta Sal Club Resort in Tumbes. Situated on the warm northern Peruvian coast, the Las Arenas de Mancora hotel is surrounded by massive palm trees and gardens. It offers a five-star restaurant that serves traditional Peruvian gourmet dishes with an extensive international menu. In addition to accommodation, the Punta Sal Club include suites, bungalows and rooms right on the beach. One of the main activities to indulge in at the hotel is deep-sea fishing. Their fishing vessel is fully equipped with a GPS fish finder system, full fishing equipment and a highly-trained crew. The fish which can be caught in this area include striped and black marlin, big eye, dorado and grouper.

Far-Away Jungle Paradise
The last place that is little heard of and among the least visited in Peru is the largest natural reserve of Peru, the Pacaya-Samiria, located in the wilderness north of the Amazon jungle. Although it is remote, it is extremely beautiful with endless waterways. It is named by the two rivers, Pacaya and Samiria, which flow through it. The waterways are designed for riverboat cruises and wetlands make it a lesser-known jungle spot for nature tourism. Visitors to the area can also observe nature, camp and make fishing tours as well as explore the jungle which covers the area. Watching birds and animal life in the early morning or at dusk when the jungle is its liveliest is made possible by canopy walkways. Viewing from the highest possible level also reveals the layers of the Amazon eco-system.

Take advantage of the quieter and lesser-known spots for your upcoming Peru vacation, and book a tour that will take you away from the crowds of the south

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America

Northern Peru - The Secrets of Chachapoyas, Kuelap and Gotca Falls

If you are considering visiting Peru on your vacation you should consider the less visited North of the country. Peru vacations are not just about Machu Picchu; there is so much more!

Chachapoyas - The Spanish Stronghold
Included in the secrets of the North is Chachapoyas, one of Peru's oldest cities with a long history and its colonial Spanish influence. This small town is located in beautiful northern Peru and its name is derived from the Chachapoyacuno, a native word meaning "mountain of mist or forest". It was originally founded on September 5, 1538 by Alonso De Alvarado and was the capital of the whole of Eastern Peru during colonial times as it served as a staging post for expeditions intended for colonizing and conquering the Amazon Jungle.

The city has remained fairly isolated until relatively recently when better roads were built connecting it with major coastal cities such as Chiclayo, Trujillo and Piura. The climate and surrounding spectacular mountain ranges make Chachapoyas a unique and beautiful destination. The colonial Spanish influence is still evident by the existence of large colonial mansions with their red clay tiled roofs, patios and wooden balconies with their surrounding orchards and gardens, and fields of sugar cane and coffee.

Around Chachapoyas
There are many attractions for tourists in and around the city of Chachapoyas. The city has three plazas which are linked by Victory Street, named after the victorious Chachapoyanos who paraded through the city on this avenue after famous battles. The main square in the city is called Saint Anna's square and is where the first church of the city was built. Historically eight days of bullfighting took place in this square during the San Juan de los Indios festivities. In the east of the city Independence Square is to be found where a monument stands to the Chachapoyan heroes from the battle of the Higos Urco that took place on June 6, 1821.

Other attractions close to the city include the Cuyana fountain which is located on the hill known as Luya Urco just west of the city. This fountain is legendary as it has a water-well sunk into a rock from which Santo Toribo de Mogrovia was able to draw water, ending a drought that was affecting the region. It is also considered a fountain of love as it is said that any man who drinks from the fountain will always be attractive to the women of the city. Anything goes with the desperate...

The Ancient Citadel of Kuelap
There are also many important archeological monuments in the areas surrounding the town that were built by the Chachapoyans. Some of these are ancient stone citadels that were built on the tops of mountains with commanding views and leaving more land open for cultivation. One of the best examples of one of these citadels is Kuelap which is three miles from the village of Tingo and one hour by dirt road from Chachapoyas.

Kuelap is a colossal structure containing millions of cubic feet of stone and presumed to have taken 200 years to construct. Its strategic location between the Marañon and Utcubamba Rivers, both tributaries of the mighty Amazon, has contributed to the fact that it still stands today. At 9,843 feet above sea level, it can be reached by car, horseback or a three to four hour hike. The main group of buildings are circular with one main access corridor, designed for maximum security and defense. Inside the huge outer walls there are over 400 buildings in total, some of which are small round stone houses with some of the larger ones measuring up to 1,969 feet long and 66 feet high. Many defensive towers were strategically placed around the complex to protect the exterior and interior of the citadel from ancient invaders.

The Waterfalls of Gotca
Gotca Falls, located a couple of hours from Chachapoyas, remained unknown to the wider world until an expedition in 2002 led by Stefan Ziemendorf, a German engineer, and a group of Peruvian explorers re-discovered it. At a height of 2,532 feet, Gotca Falls is the third highest waterfall in the world if you consider its two stage drops together. The scenery is spectacular and the 3 hour hike to the middle of the falls is well worth the effort, as you are able to stand under the torrent at the bottom of the first drop.

The Gotca falls are produced as the Cocahuayco River runs over a sharp cliff face from a high plateau and falls for the first thousand feet to a large ledge which interrupts the torrent. The river waters then meander a short distance through vegetation and fall over the side of the second cliff to continue the decent to the base of the canyon.

Although this region is relatively new to tourism, many Peruvian travel agencies have developed tours for people with an interest in archeology and a sense of adventure. A tour through the landscape and history of Peru's little known northern region can make for a magical and enchanting vacation, one that few people have had the opportunity to experience.