Table of Contents
Discover diverse lifestyles, cultures, and natural beauty all in one place. Read this article to learn more.
Peru is among the most heterogeneous countries on the planet. It is a cosmopolitan country with rich traditions, distinct gastronomy, and extensive natural resources. There are 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the island, as well as 84 of the planet’s 117 living zones. Peru shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile in the western section of South America.
This vast landmass, which spans over 1.2 million square kilometers, is divided into three distinct regions: jungle, coast, and highlands. It now has a population of almost 31.5 million people. Peru has 47 indigenous languages, including Aymara and Quechua, in addition to Spanish as the official language.
This country located in South America is home to many natural phenomena that should absolutely be a part of your bucket list. Mother Nature has given its finest gifts to Peru. Let’s take a look at some places you have to visit when in Peru.
Top Places to Visit in Peru
There are many natural regions in Peru that you can add to your travel destinations. To help you narrow down your options, here are some places that we think are breathtaking and shouldn’t be missed.
Cotahuasi Canyon
Located in Unyun Pruwinsya, this Peruvian canyon is one of the deepest in the world, about doubling the depth of the Grand Canyon. Novella 11,595 feet in length. It’s awe-inspiring to contemplate, and much more so to witness.
The canyon is carved by the Cotahuasi River and features traditional Andean ranches and terraced crops, sheer canyon cliffs, tumbling valleys, and pre-Inca and ancient ruins.
Tambopata Research Center
The Tambopata Research Center, hidden in the Peruvian rainforest, is one of the most isolated camps in the Amazon, if not all of South America. The remote location makes it an exceptional site to watch the rainforest’s ecology and fauna, which is mainly unaffected by mankind.
The Tambopata region is listed as the most miscellaneous place in the world. Its remoteness makes it a hard place to travel to and hence there are only a few routes that you can take. The presence of unusual animals often surprises the people living in or visiting the area.
Rodadiro Slides
Even though the travel season is just opening up, this place located in Cusco Peru contains many wonders. The bastion of Sacsayhuamán, located just outside of the towering Inca, is a massive rock formation in which the Incas carved terraces, stairs, shrines, and other ritualistic elements.
Natural slides that wind their way down the hill are just as magnificent as these man-made ones. Among the straight lines of colossal Inca architecture, the well-polished slides are an odd, discordant sight.
Youngsters and adults, happily gliding down the rock chutes, are even more at odds with Sacsayhuamán’s prevailing aura of military strength and solemn ceremony.
The Boiling River of the Amazon
A simmering, roaring river hides in the midst of the Peruvian Amazon located in Puerto Inca. The boiling azure waters, which may reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, are steered by ochre stones and protected by 60-foot walls of luxuriant woodland and foliage.
The river was considered sacred by the locals, who believed the hot waters had therapeutic powers, and shamans used it in their remedies.
Gocta Waterfall
This accidentally discovered masterpiece is one that will touch your soul. Veiled within Utcabamba Valley, the Gocta Waterfall is a two-tiered waterfall that is also known as the third-largest waterfall in the world. The water gushing down from approximately 2531 feet makes it even taller than two Eiffel towers combined.
To Ziemendorff (who stumbled upon this waterfall in search of ancient Inca ruins) it was a surprise that even though this waterfall had not been marked on any maps, the locals of Cocachimba were fully aware of it since the 1950s. A beautiful smooth stream running through the clouds is a sight worth seeing.
Huayllay National Sanctuary
It really doesn’t get more secluded than the ocean’s depths. That’s where the Huayllay Stone Forest’s distinctive topography began 75 million years ago.
Explorers seeking a more primitive experience than Grand Canyon-style tourist locations can expect to have the enormous nature preserve almost exclusively to themselves, if not totally. The llamas and other protected species that have roamed this unique place for thousands of years are still its most frequent visitors.
Cerro Blanco
Cerro Blanco near Nazca, Peru claims to be amongst the world’s tallest dunes. It is unquestionably the largest in Peru, and possibly the entire globe. The gigantic sand dune is taller than Britain’s tallest peak, standing at roughly 3,860 feet (1,176 meters) from base to crest. On a good day, you can view the entire Nazca Valley and the Pacific Ocean from its crest.
If you want more of an adrenaline rush, go to the summit of this mountain and slide down the sheer face of the dune from 2600 feet high, uninterrupted. The drop ends in about four minutes if you can achieve full speed without tumbling over and over. Just imagining it will give you a thrill.
Huacachina the Unexpected Oasis
Named as the “Oasis of America”, Huacachina is said to be the only true desert oasis of America. The liquid pool of a luscious island in a sea of sand, swirls in tones of green and blue, entirely engulfed by the harsh landscape surrounding it.
This Peruvian attraction has been a desirable destination to many visitors for the past 70 years, who not only enjoy the fruits of the desert but also dwell on the legends of the princess who was once engulfed by the dunes of sand. Whether you want to go backpacking or enjoy a buggy ride, this is the place to be.
Don’t Miss Out on the Delights of Peru
Visit Peru as soon as possible. Mother Nature is waiting for you with its arms wide open. Don’t forget to take your camera along because these wonders need to be captured.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay