Types of Tourism in Peru
BEACH HOLIDAYS
Peru is located on the Pacific coast. In its northern part, which is close to the equator, it is hot all year round, especially since there is quite a bit of precipitation here. The largest city in this region is Tumbes . 30% of its territory is declared a protected area, so the local sandy beaches are surrounded by vegetation. Not far from Tumbes is the most popular resort in Peru – Punta Sal. This is a quiet place with small hotels and cozy restaurants. The nearby resort of Mancora is also popular. If you move south of the country along the coast, you can stay in the city of Trujillo or the small fishing village of Huanchaco. There are many beaches in the country’s capital Lima , but they are all public and crowded with locals. The water here is dirty, and there is a good chance that something will be stolen from you. South of Lima along the coast, you can recommend the beaches of El Silencio, Signoritas, Caballeros, Punto Hermosa, Punto Negra, San Bartolo, Santa Maria, Naplo and Pukusana. These beaches are desert type, with sparse vegetation in the area. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Peru.
SURFING Surfing
is very popular in Peru, both in the northern and southern parts of the coast. The coast of Peru is believed to have some of the longest waves in the world. The best time to practice this sport is from November to February (in the north Peru) and from March to December (in the south of Peru). In the port of Trujillo, which is called Malabrigo, a surfing championship is held annually in March. The beaches of Mancora, Punta Sal are also popular among surfers. In the southern part of the country, places such as Punto Hermosa, Punto Rocas and Pico Alto can be distinguished, where the wave height can reach 10 m, only extreme people can surf here.
DIVING
Diving is not yet very common in Peru, but near cities such as Tumbes, Piura, Trujillo, Lima, Ica and Arequipa have diving centers and equipment rentals. Underwater visibility on the entire coast of the country reaches 5 m. Among the marine life, the most interesting are groupers, marlin, giant tuna and sea lions, with which you can swim on the Paracas Peninsula.
ECOTOURISM
Peru is famous for its biodiversity – about 20% of the known bird species and 10% of the known reptiles live here. The local nature is protected by the system of national parks and reserves, which consists of approximately 30 districts, occupying 13% of the country’s territory.
The most popular protected areas are located in the selva, in its southern part in the department of Madre de Dios. These are Manu Biosphere Reserve and Tambopata Reserve.. The Manu Reserve occupies 19,000 sq. km., on which tropical rainforests grow, one of the last untouched by man in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, because each hectare of the forest contains up to 220 species of trees. In addition, about 850 species of birds have been identified here, and rare animals such as the giant otter, giant armadillo and jaguars. The rainforests of the Manu Reserve are the home of several tribes of Indians that have not been affected by civilization. To the southeast of Manu is the Tambopata reserve, within which three ecosystems are represented – the Amazonian plain, the eastern slopes of the Andes and the Pampa steppe. There are 1234 species of butterflies, 592 species of birds, 74 species of reptiles, 103 species of mammals, 92 species of fish and 40 species of insects. 13 species of animals are protected on the territory of the reserve, which are on the verge of extinction, among which are the jaguar, giant otter, ocelot, harpy eagle and armadillo. The selva is also home to the youngest national park in the country – Bahuaha-Sonene. It was opened in 1996 and now, together with the Maididi National Park, forms a conservation area with a total area of more than 50,000 square meters. km. You can explore the protected areas of the southeast of the selva by setting off from Cusco.
On the west coast of Peru, 15 km south of Pisco on the Paracas Peninsula, there is the National Marine Reserve of the same name. It was founded to protect birds and marine life. The park also includes the nearby Ballestas Islands. It is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies in the world. In addition, Paracas and Ballestas are inhabited by about 150 species of birds, including the Humboldt penguin, pelicans, cormorants, boobies and flamingos.
Another unique monument of Peru – Alpine Lake Titicaca, which is located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. This is the world’s largest alpine navigable reservoir, with an area of 8446 sq. km. The lake and coastal areas are part of the TiticacaNational Park. The waters of the lake are home to many species of marine invertebrates and fish, as well as sharks.
In the northern part of the Andes , Rio Abiseo National Park is interesting. It was established in 1983 to protect the fauna and flora of the tropical rain forests that are characteristic of this part of the Andes. Of the high-altitude nature reserves, the Huascaran National Park can also be distinguished, which occupies most of the Cordillera Blanca.
HIKING
Hiking in the Andes is quite popular from May to September during the dry season. The most famous hiking route on the continent is the 48 km Inca Trail west of the city of Cusco. This route combines the ruins of ancient cities, mountain landscapes and dense forests. The Inca Trail passes through 12 of the most famous ceremonial centers of the ancient Empire and ends at the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park. The duration of the trip varies from 3 to 5 days. The cost of a classic four-day tour is about 350 USD per person. You need to buy a ticket for the hike in advance because this route is very popular and the number of people allowed on the trail during the day is limited. Tickets are sold at travel agencies in Cusco.
Another popular hiking destination in Peru is the Colca Canyon. It is located 180 km from the city of Arequipa. This is the deepest canyon in the world – its depth from the bottom to the mountain peaks reaches 3400 m. Giant Andean condors live in the canyon, which can be seen from the Cruz del Condor observation deck. From here you can see the Valley of the Volcanoes, where you can also go on an excursion.
Great opportunities for hiking open up in the eastern part of the country. From Iquitos , multi-day jungle treks depart daily. During the trip, you will be able to see the diverse flora and fauna of tropical rainforests, in addition, there are several boarding houses right in the jungle where tourists can relax.
CLIMBING MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES
From the city of Huaraz the main routes begin along the Cordillera Blanca massif, where the highest point of the country is located – Mount Huascaran (6768 m). Within the massif there are 33 peaks, the height of which is more than 6000 m. For unprepared tourists, the mountains of Ishinco (5534 m) and Pisco (5752 m) are suitable, and for experienced travelers Mount Alpamayo (5957 m) will be of interest, which is considered the most beautiful in this region. Trekking along the Cordillera Blanca can last from 2 to 12 days.
In the vicinity of the city of Cusco, you can go to the mountains Salkantay (6271 m) and Ausangat (6384 m). The routes along their slopes are quite difficult, so they are suitable only for trained tourists.
There are several volcanoes in the southern part of the Peruvian Andes. The most famous of them is the active volcano Misti. 5822 m high. Hiking in Misti starts from the city of Arequipa and continues for two days. Before climbing the volcano, tourists are advised to spend a day or two in the mountainous areas, in the cities of Cusco or Puno, or go here after visiting the Colca Canyon. Best from May to September. Of the volcanoes in Peru, the most active volcano in the country, Ubinas(5075 m), is also popular.
EXCURSIONS
The excursion program of Peru is not complete without visiting the lost cities of the ancient Inca Empire. Throughout the country, high in the mountains, there are traces of ancient civilizations of the pre-Columbian era. In addition, the cities of the colonial period are very beautiful.
