6 Reasons to Explore Northern Peru

The classic Peruvian “Gringo Trail” lies entirely in the southern half of the country. Such is the popularity of this southern route that as many as 85% of all foreign tourists never set foot in northern Peru.

And that’s a shame, because the north is a hugely diverse region ripe for exploration. At the same time, this relative lack of popularity means northern Peru is a welcome break from the tourist hordes down south (for now, at least). So what are you waiting for: Go north!

1. The Inspiring Archaeology of Northern Peru

Everyone has heard about the Incas and Machu Picchu. But head to the northern half of Peru and you’ll be in territory once dominated by equally fascinating cultures such as the Moche (Mochica), Chimú, Sican and Chachapoyas.

Some predate the rise of the Inca Empire (1438–1533). Others were contemporaries of the Incas, and many were assimilated, forcibly relocated or destroyed by them. But all left their mark: in their ceramics, their textiles and their archaeological sites.

Would-be Indiana Joneses have plenty to explore north of Lima. Not too far from the capital is Caral, a “mother city” and the oldest known city in the Americas. It was already an established metropolis when the Ancient Egyptians were building their great pyramids.

Further north along the coast lies the vast adobe city of Chan Chan and the truncated Moche pyramids of the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and the Moon). At Huaca Rajada, another Moche site, you can explore the tomb of the Lord of Sipán and other important burial chambers. These lavish gold-laden tombs were largely spared from the huaqueros — the local tomb raiders — and so far fourteen tombs have been found and excavated.

Head inland from the north coast and you’ll reach the town of Chachapoyas and the imposing Fortress of Kuélap. This huge structure was built by the Chachapoyas civilization, known as the “Warriors of the Clouds,” before the Inca Empire developed into a mighty force. But despite their impressive stronghold, the Chachapoyas were eventually conquered by the Incas, not long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the swift fall of the Incas themselves.

2. Natural Wonders of Northern Peru

The southern half of Peru is home to numerous natural wonders: Lake Titicaca, Cotahuasi Canyon, and Manú National Park to name but a few. But the north is just as blessed.

Travel 170 miles north of Lima and you’ll reach Huaraz, Peru’s mountain climbing capital and gateway to Huascarán National Park. The park covers much of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, including Mount Huascarán, the highest peak in Peru and the fourth highest in the Western Hemisphere. Trekking in the park takes you through fantastical landscapes of mountain lakes and tropical glaciers, snow-capped peaks and plunging ravines.

Head further north to Chachapoyas and you’ll be within an easy day trip of the silvery Gocta Waterfall, which plunges down through the cloud forest. Gocta remained largely unknown to the outside world until the 2005 expedition of German explorer Stefan Ziemendorff. He measured the fall to be 2,530 feet (771 m) high, placing Gocta among the highest waterfalls in the world. Even higher is the nearby Yumbilla Waterfall, located in the Bosque de Cataratas Gigantes (“Forest of Gigantic Waterfalls”) near the town of Cuispes.

Return to the coast and head to the extreme north of Peru and you’ll find the mangrove forests near Tumbes. The Tumbes National Mangrove Sanctuary helps preserve this important ecological zone, home to more than 200 species of birds, many of them endangered. If you’re near Piura, you could also take a day trip to Isla Foca to see sea lions, seals, and plenty of birds.

And, of course, there’s the Peruvian Amazon, which surely deserves a section of its own…

3. Amazonian Adventures

Whether you’re looking for a luxury Amazon riverboat cruise or a dirt-cheap cargo boat voyage, you’ll find it all in northern Peru.

Cargo boats ply the waterways between Yurimaguas (near Tarapoto) and Iquitos, and from Pucallpa to Iquitos, providing budget travelers with easy three- or four-day river voyages along the Amazon River and its tributaries (the Marañon from Yurimaguas and the Ucayali from Pucallpa). Hammock space on one of these lumbering cargo boats costs as little as S/ 60 (about $19) for the three-day trip, or S/ 300 ($93) for a tiny but secure cabin for two. Both options include three simple meals each day. You can read more about my experience on the slow boat to Iquitos here.

For organized Amazon expeditions, find a tour in Yurimaguas or Iquitos to take you into the dreamlike Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. This is the second largest protected area in Peru and the second largest in the entire Amazon Basin. Few protected areas in the world offer as much biodiversity.

4. Unique Food of Northern Peru

Peru’s reputation as a culinary powerhouse is growing by the day. Lima is at the heart of this gastronomic surge, but the capital’s internationally-recognized restaurants draw their inspiration from across the country.

When you travel in northern Peru, you’ll experience a whole new set of regional dishes. The north coast has ceviche to rival that of the capital, and is the home of ceviche de conchas negras, an impressively inky ceviche made using small black clams from the far north.

The coastal city of Chiclayo is a seafood hotspot, and has given its name to various dishes including the breaded seafood mix, jalea chiclayana. Tender dishes of duck and goat are also common along the northern coastal strip, especially around Chiclayo and Trujillo.

A whole different array of dishes await you further east in the jungle regions of the north. The city of Tarapoto is known for its cecina, a type of cured pork typically served with tacacho, a mashed up ball of green plantain and tasty chunks of pork fat.

Keep an eye out for jungle oddities (including some of Peru’s weirdest food), especially in Iquitos. These include roasted ants and fat grubs known as suri. The vast and ramshackle Belén Market in Iquitos is the best place to explore the Amazon’s seemingly endless range of products, from strange fruits to alcoholic aphrodisiacs. Fish, of course, is also in abundance throughout the northern Peruvian Amazon. You might find yourself eating piranha one day, and a huge paiche the next.

5. World-Class Surfing Along the North Coast of Peru

It’s hard to find stunningly beautiful beaches in Peru. If you want white sand, crystal clear waters and perfect sunshine, you’re better off heading to Brazil or the north coast of Colombia. But if you’re a surfer, Peru will suit you just fine.

Surfers head to the north coast of Peru for a variety of reasons. The waves are long, the atmosphere is relaxed, the surf rarely gets too crowded (and most surfers are local), and a wide variety of breaks exist year-round along this strip of coast.

Famous surf spots in the north include Playa Chicama near Trujillo, where you’ll find the longest left-breaking wave in the world. Further north is Lobitos, a small surf town near Talara that’s also great for kitesurfing.

A short ride north of Talara is Máncora, Peru’s most famous beach town. With consistent left breaks and perfect weather, Máncora is ideal for surfers and kitesurfers — and anyone looking for lively nightlife on the north coast.

6. There Are Far Fewer Tourists in Northern Peru

The Gringo Trail down south laps up tourists like a thirsty llama, leaving the north a comparatively untrodden destination where you can escape the crowds and all the negative aspects of burgeoning tourism.

Unlike the historic center of Cusco or the popular tourist hub of Miraflores in Lima, cities in the north remain unsaturated by foreign faces. Sure, there are always a few vacationers strolling around, but nowhere near enough to give you that creeping feeling of being just another tourist on an endless treadmill of selfie-taking travelers.

Don’t get me wrong: the southern half of Peru is spectacular and endlessly intriguing. But the north also has its own special something: something that adventurous travelers will thoroughly appreciate.