Peru Off The Beaten Path: 7 Crowd-Free Destinations

Peru Off The Beaten Path_ 7 Crowd-Free Destinations

With Peru on more than a few travelers’ bucket lists, you would think the entire country and all of its best attractions are overrun with tourists. Discovering Peru off the beaten path is possible when one looks beyond Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, and the reservation-only restaurants of Lima. Of course, such renowned historical and contemporary sites should not be missed– our team of travel designers at Kuoda simply want to show you that there is more to Peru.

Here are 7 off-the-beaten-path destinations in Peru to consider for your itinerary. Are each of the sites mentioned free of tourists? Not necessarily, but they do lack the crowds that Peru’s best-known tourist destinations can accrue. Our word of advice: visit the following places as soon as possible, while they remain low on the tourist radar!

1. Choquequirao

Choquequirao

Aerial view of the imposing Inca site Choquequirao

Though similar in structure and architecture to Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is believed to be at least 3 times larger than the famed citadel. Found at 3000 masl in the Vilcabamba mountain range, hovering above the Apurimac River, Choquequirao is the real lost city of Peru and a worthwhile Inca ruin to visit. Excavations of the site began as recently as half a century ago, and archaeologists believe that what’s been uncovered from thick jungle brush counts for just 30% of Choquequirao.

The multi-day (between 4 and 5 days) trek to reach the historical site is as off-the-beaten path as it gets.  Whereas Machu Picchu can be accessed by the comforts of train and bus, Choquequirao can only be reached by foot. The cherry on top? Once you arrive at Choquequirao, you practically have the ruins to yourself as few tourists are intrepid enough to experience Peru off the beaten path like this.

2. The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley

Inca terraces of the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo

With towering glacial peaks in the background and quaint Quechua-speaking villages in the foreground, the Sacred Valley is like a breath of fresh air. This is especially true given its relative proximity to the bustling city of Cusco (about 1.5 hours by car) and crowded entrance to Machu Picchu (a 2-hour train ride). Most tourists will spend just a day (or perhaps a few hours!) in the Sacred Valley after having visited the famed Inca ruins, but this tranquil area is well worth a longer visit.

From Pisac to Ollantaytambo, a journey along the Sacred Valley’s lush and river-carved floor is a must-do for any trip to Peru, especially if it’s peace and quiet that you’re after. Pisac is a high-altitude town with a great artisan market, ruins, hikes, and even a stellar Italian restaurant. Heading west, before reaching the quaint town of Yucay, is the Museo Inkariy, a spectacular stop to learn more about ancient local culture. Urubamba is the Valley’s largest town and has a handful of trendy cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops.

Finally, Ollantaytambo is the oldest living Inca town and is most visited for its train station to Machu Picchu. Though the stone streets make it look frozen in time, Kuoda can point you to the town’s innovative distillery as well as Alqa, a gallery of popular Andean art.

3. Chachapoyas

Chachapoyas

A view of Gocta Waterfall from the town of Chachapoyas

It may not come as a surprise that one of the best ways to experience Peru off the beaten path is to head to the jungle. While the better-known jungle city of Iquitos has its own perks, we are particularly fond of Chachapoyas, the launching point for two of northern Peru’s greatest wonders: the Gocta Falls and the Kuelap Fortress.

The Gocta Falls is a multi-drop, 771-meter (2,530-foot) waterfall that ranks as the third-highest waterfall in the world. Peru’s tallest free-falling cascade can be reached from Chachapoyas town via a car ride followed by a short hike. Gocta Falls is so tucked away that it wasn’t brought to international attention until 2022!

Another fantastic and lesser-known site near Chachapoyas is the Kuelap Fortress. A pre-Inca fortified citadel, Kuelap was built by the Chachapoyas culture (900-1400 AD) and originally covered 15 hectares, according to the World Monuments Fund. Sitting at 3000 masl on the slopes of the Andes, the ancient site is one of the largest stone ruins in the Americas. Kuelap consists of zig-zag friezes, over 420 circular stone dwellings, and the remnants of a massive stone wall that encircled its cliffside perch.

4. The Huayhuash

Huayhuash

Huayhuash mountain range in Ancash, one of the most beautiful in the world

For a wild and remote setting, head to the Huayhuash, a compact mountain range that sits just below the more heavily traveled Cordillera Blanca. The Cordillera Huayhuash is home to seven peaks over 6,000 masl (19,000+ feet), all of which are connected by a trekking circuit that is repeatedly acclaimed by outdoor enthusiasts as being one of the best alpine treks in the world.

There are a multitude of circuits to hike Huayhuash based on your physical stamina and time allowance. The classic Huayhuash trail can take between 8-14 days to complete, with each day spent crossing a mountain pass (or two). Not to mention, the singular vistas of icy towers and turquoise lakes. It is essential to allow yourself to acclimatize in the city of Huaraz before setting out on your hike and to be confident in your physical condition.

5. Ausangate

Ausangate

Snowy Ausangate has an altitude of 6,385 m.a.s.l.

Ausangate itself is a 6,384-meter (20944 ft.) peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota and the highest mountain in Southern Peru. For this article’s purposes, we’re not talking about the peak, but the 43-mile trekking circuit void of crowds and bursting with small villages, glacial lakes, towering snow-capped peaks, and often herds of alpacas, too.

If you have your heart set on trekking to Machu Picchu but aren’t a fan of joining the crowds on the Inca Trail, the Ausangate Trek is most definitely for you. Keep in mind, however, that the high-altitude trail passes through elevations of 4000-5500 masl and that most circuits maintain hiking days of 6-7 hours. Classically completed in 6 days, Ausangate is a strenuous hike yet one of the most scenic off-the-path experiences that Peru offers.

6. The Uros Islands

The Uros Islands

Reed raft hand woven by the locals of Uros Island

For a truly unique travel experience and a taste of the simple life, visit the Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca. The community of floating islands was constructed using totora, a type of reed native to the area. It is said that the Uros people were forced to take up residence on the lake in this way when the Incas moved in and took over their land. Even the boats are fashioned out of reed.

Today, locals of the Uros Islands make their living from fishing and selling their reed handicrafts to tourists. Lake Titicaca is a magical place and your time spent upon the Uros Islands will only convince you of that. For a truly immersive experience, you may even consider spending the night with a local family to gain a deeper understanding of their way of life.

7. The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Sailing down the Amazon River in he Pacaya-Samiria Park

One of the most pristine and beautiful places in Peru is the wildlife-rich and crowd-free Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Located near Iquitos, Peru, in the depths of the Amazon Rainforest, the Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in all of Peru. The area’s autonomous ecosystem is a paradise for nature lovers and is maintained through sustainable tourism.

The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve protects incredible biodiversity that includes over 1000 species of fauna and more than 900 species of flora. Spot pink river dolphins, search for caimans and venture out on night hikes and boat rides by flashlight when the forest is at its liveliest.

Our travel team considers a luxury Amazon cruise to be the best way to visit this unique region of Peru.

A Trip To Peru Is What You Make It

Though Machu Picchu might be the reason you book your trip to Peru, we’re here to show you that there is so much more to Peru than the famous world wonder. Get in touch with a Kuoda Travel Designer today to begin putting together your itinerary, whether on or off the beaten path.

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