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