Follow Anything is possible in Peru, from jungle adventures in the Amazon to sandboarding down some of the biggest sand dunes
in the world in Ica. Ancient cultures can be seen and experienced including the Nazca Lines and the city of Cusco (The City of the Inca).
Great surfing can be done in the northern coast areas where many beaches including Mancora are located. Visit Cajamarca and the rock formations
at Cumbemayo, see the Machu Picchu of the north called Kuelap near Chachapoyas and the Peruvian Amazon! I have spent a lot of time in Peru, in the country at least 15 times now. I have visited Cusco 3 times in 2008 and 2011 and have travelled up and down the coast from
north to south and back in 2009 for over 2 weeks. I also did a 5 day dash up the coast from south to north in 2010. In 2011 I spent 5 weeks traveling the mountains
from the north of Peru all the way down to the south. In 2012 I again travelled from south to north. In 2014 I spent time in Lima and Tacna. 2015 the journey from
Tacna to Desaguadero, 2016 the Peruvian Amazon and 2019 Arequipa, Puno and Puerto Maldonado! There is more I want to see in Peru in the future. Here are my experiences and story.
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Puerto Maldonado like Iquitos is a great destination in Peru for exploring and enjoying the Amazon. Puerto Maldonado is somewhat remote (unless you fly) being in
the south-eastern part of Peru, 478kms by road east of Cusco and 604kms by road north of Puno. Moredate: April 2019
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Iquitos proved to be a fantastic place to explore the Amazon jungle on foot, to enjoy nature, wildlife and all the little creatures I found hiding among
the leaves! Time now to get back to Colombia where I live. This would be my 5th river journey in the Amazon, but my 1st in a fast boat, the others were in the
slower more laidback ferries! I bought a ticket for the fast boat to Santa Rosa in central Iquitos just down from the main plaza for $150 Soles ($45USD) for an early exit at 6:30am, it's a 9hr
ride at an average speed of 55-65kmsph. Moredate: October 2016
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Arriving in AND leaving Iquitos by plane on the same trip is just plain wrong! You absolutely must arrive here OR leave by RIVER! Otherwise you miss so much!
You come to Iquitos for as much of an Amazon experience as you can get, this was my thinking! And the river of course is a major part of a real Amazon and
jungle experience. Moredate: October 2016
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After a couple of weeks of traveling the Amazon by road, I finally came to the end of the road in Yurimaguas, the only option was to continue by river! This
would be my 4th journey by river in the Amazon Rainforest, but my first in Peru. The other trips were in Brazil. Moredate: October 2016
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The last stretch of road in north / east peru that connects to the rest of the country runs to Yurimaguas from Tarapoto. From Yurimaguas it's all down river
baby! This ride from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas takes 2hrs on a winding paved road and goes through a heavily forested area (the Cordillera Escalera), make sure
you eat well like I didn't. Moredate: October 2016
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Tarapoto is a place to enjoy jungle tours, waterfalls, lagoons and to visit the nearby town of Lamas (the folklore capital of the Peruvian Amazon) and its famous
castle. I came to Tarapoto for a number of reasons actually. I planned to head north from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas to take a ferry to Iquitos. Moredate: October 2016, August 2021
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From the photos, the journey between Tingo Maria and Tarapoto looks like a pleasant drive through the jungle and cloud forest, which it is, but it could have
been much different! This road is notorious for bandits and robberies and is known as one of the most dodgy routes in Peru. Moredate: October 2016
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In the middle of Peru, deep towards the eastern side in the Amazon on the banks of the Ucayali River sits the city of Pucallpa. A rugged and busy little
town full of mototaxis at every turn. I came to Pucallpa from Tingo Maria, a 4-5hr journey through the jungle by shared co-op car. Moredate: September 2016
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The road between Pucallpa and Tingo Maria takes you for a 248km ride through the Amazon jungle. I enjoyed this journey in both directions, along the way
getting to see slices of life and glimpses into how the people live in the Amazon. The road is mostly in good condition but there are problems in a couple of places and
may require waiting for roadworks around the Aguaytia River. Moredate: September 2016
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On the surface Tingo Maria looks and feels just like another small busy and crazy Peruvian town with a million mototaxis buzzing up and down the streets, but
after discovering the area around the city and getting a better sense of its location as a major junction between various other cities, you may find Tingo Maria
to be quite a special place. Moredate: September 2016
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A quick 35min flight from Lima brought me up to Huanuco in the mountains at just under 2kms above sea level. I chose Huanuco as the place I would make
my way down to the Peruvian Amazon from. Huanuco is known for its climate of warm days and cool nights, the temple of Kotosh, the old Calicanto stone
bridge and the San Sebastian church. Moredate: September 2016
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Cusco is a great town for nightlife, clubs, bars, restaurants and of course, the place to book your Machu Picchu tour! Cusco is not the be all and end all
of Peru however, but being in the highlands it is a more beautiful place than perhaps the coastal cities are. Moredate: April 2008, October 2008, September 2011
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In 2014 I spent 2 days in Lima and had a great time exploring the city without any problems although I was warned a few times to be careful with my
camera and of course after my 2009 experience I was very careful with taxis. I arrived first thing in the morning on a flight from Bogota (Colombia) and
walked to a hostel about 1km from the airport. Moredate: Apr 2009, Jun 2009, May 2010, Aug 2011, Jun 2012, Apr 2014, Nov 2017, Feb 2021
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I arrived in Pisco at about 5am from Lima which was a 3hr journey south. From the bus I was hussled by mototaxis
for a ride into the center of Pisco. The buses drop passengers on the Pan-American highway because the road into Pisco is currently (2009) inaccessible
to buses because of the earthquake in 2007. Moredate: April 2009, May 2009
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I travelled from Pisco to Ica by bus and took a short taxi ride to Huacachina to stay by the oasis and go sandboarding on the
huge sand dunes. I found a great hostel with a pool and bar and outside area with a bunch of macaw as pets that sat and flew around the garden. Moredate: April 2009
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NEWS: In July 2017 alien mummies were uncovered in a tomb in Nazca!I have been to many places in Peru
more than once and Nazca is one such place. I do different things each time I pass through. Once when I arrived in
Nazca from Ica, at the bus terminal I was approached immediately
by people offering accommodation and tours to the Nazca lines. Moredate: April 2009, May 2010, June 2012
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I have visited Arequipa three times now, in 2009, 2012 and 2019. Arequipa is reminiscent in some ways of Cusco and is known as the white city because
of its many beautiful white buildings. One of the highlights in the city is the beautiful Plaza de Armas - a big wide open plaza with palm trees, grass areas,
flowers, fountain, pigeons and people enjoying the sun. Moredate: April 2009, June 2012, January 2019
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Puno is a pleasant port city in a beautiful setting and is the gateway to Lake Titicaca. The central city area between the 2 main plazas is the nicest part of the
city to stay and has many shops, hotels, restaurants and tour agencies. Explore the streets around the center for lower prices and interesting surprises. Moredate: April 2009, September 2011, January 2019
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I went on a day trip to Machu Picchu on the train, it took about 4hrs each way from Cusco and cost $105USD for everything included except the entrance ticket to the ruins. There was a group of us with a guide to talk
about and explain things. When we arrived, from the train station we got on a bus that drove us up to the top of the mountain which took about 20 minutes. Moredate: April 2008
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I and a small group of 4 others went up into the mountains overlooking Cusco to a special place to drink San Pedro, the day trip cost $70USD. We had an amazing experience which lasted about 10-12 hours.
I can't really explain it, but it was very surreal. Moredate: October 2008
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From Puno I wanted to go to Copacabana on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. I have spent a few days at Copacabana on 3 occasions. On my first trip I
came here from La Paz in the south, the other times from Puno in the north. One time by mistake from Puno I got on the wrong bus which was
going to Desaguadero on the other side of the lake from Copacabana
instead of a bus to Yunguyo. Moredate: April 2009, September 2011
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From the bus and taxi terminal in Arica in northern Chile I took a collective taxi across the border to Tacna in southern Peru. It was the end of the day
and the Peruvian people who come over the border each day to sell their products in Chile were packing up at the terminal and getting buses back into
Peru. Moredate: May 2009, May 2010, May 2014, Dec 2019
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2015 I came through Tacna this year on a flight from Lima so to get from Tacna to Desaguadero on the border of Bolivia which took 6hrs 15mins in a shared van. We passed through Moquegua, a place I had visited a few years earlier. Tacna is very much a travel junction, north, south or east!
2014 I came through Tacna twice this year, once when I passed through heading south on my way to Arica Chile and then on the way back
stopping to spend a few hours walking around taking some more photos before a flight north to Lima. Moredate: May 2009, May 2010, May 2014, Sep 2015, Dec 2019
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2010: I turned up in Moquegua after leaving Arica in Chile in the middle of the day. Firstly the border crossing into Peru to Tacna bus terminal by co-op taxi. Then from
Tacna by bus for about 150kms to Moquegua. I chose to visit Moquegue simply because I had already stayed in Tacna, Camana and Arequipa a year before. Moredate: May 2010, Sep 2015
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I was glad to arrive in Camana after a not so pleasant bus ride from Tacna, it took about 9hrs and I was in desperate need of some soup.
I asked a few restaurants if they served soup and they all kept telling me the same name of a place where I could get some. Moredate: May 2009
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In Trujillo and nearby Huanchaco there is a lot to see and do. Trujillo has a fantastic historical center with at least a dozen notable churches worth
checking out. Trujillo's main square - the Plaza de Armas is quite spectacular to see with colorful buildings surrounding it, the cathedral and flower
gardens. Moredate: June 2009
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I arrived in Mancora at 11pm from Trujillo, stepped out of the taxi-van and was immediately hounded by 4 mototaxi drivers asking if I needed accommodation
and that they knew of a good place. All talking at the same time. I chose one to take me for a short ride to a cheap crash pad by the beach which
cost only 15 Soles ($5USD) per night. Moredate: June 2009, June 2012
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Exiting Macara in Ecuador for Peru is straightforward, you can get your exit stamp at the border, walk across the bridge and get your entry stamp
for Peru on the other side. Once this is done there are co-op taxis waiting here to take you to Sullana which is about 130kms away. Moredate: June 2009
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In 2012 I returned to Chimbote and stayed a couple of nights. I got to know the city a lot better and saw some more sights. The same friend from my first trip showed me around. I was fortunate to be here on a weekend of
festivities and watched a couple of shows in the plaza beside the sea during my stay. Moredate: June 2009, June 2012
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I left Nazca in the early afternoon up to Ica and at the bus terminal hopped on a bus to Chincha Alta arriving in the late afternoon.
This was the next place I had decided to stay on my 4 day dash up the coast of Peru from south to north. From Nazca to Chincha Alta is 248kms and
it takes 4hrs 30mins by bus. Moredate: May 2010
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I left Chincha Alta after lunch on a bus up to Lima and then took another bus north during the night up to Chiclayo and then took another bus to Piura.
This part of my dash up the Peruvian coast from south to north would take 22hrs from leaving Chincha Alta to arriving in Piura. Moredate: May 2010
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I arrived in Piura for a 3rd time but this time to stay the night, the other 2 times I was just passing through. This was part of my 4 day dash up the
coast of Peru from south to north. I had just spent 22hrs traveling all the way up from Chincha Alta south of Lima and this was where I would have
a rest for the night. Moredate: June 2009, May 2010, June 2012
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Of the 3 border crossings I have done between Peru and Ecuador, La Balsa is the most remote and isolated, but it's scenic, adventurous and fun. I came
from Zumba after being in Vilcabamba in Ecuador and travelled 1hr down to Pucapamba at the border, then did passport formalities and walked over the bridge across the Rio Blanco
to La Balsa. Moredate: August 2011
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The journey from San Ignacio to Chachapoyas takes most of the day, 7hrs and 30mins in total. The first 3hrs to Jaen, another 1hr 30mins to Bagua Grande
and another 3hrs to reach Chachapoyas. It is a nice trip through low-altitude forest and jungle regions where crop fields are separated by rows of palm
trees. Moredate: August 2011
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I came to Chachapoyas from the north the first time and from Moyobamba the second time. It's one of the more isolated cities in northern Peru away from the coast up in the mountains
2235m above sea. Chachapoyas is home to the ancient civilization 'the People of the Clouds' who fought the Inca from Kuelap - the amazing fortress high
up in the mountains. Moredate: August 2011, August 2021
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The bus left Chachapoyas at 6am, it would take 9 more hours to reach Celendin and a further 3hrs to get to Cajamarca by early evening. We arrived in
Leymebamba at 8:20am and stopped for about 30mins for breakfast. I had a walk through the town of Leymebamba and had a quick look around, it is a lovely
little place with a stone church, narrow streets and tiled-roof houses. Moredate: August 2011
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Cajamarca is a place full of history, it's a beautiful city in the northern Andes, a city full of indigenous locals wearing white hats, the place where
the Inca Empire came to its demise. The city has plenty of old churches, monuments and statues, plazas, parks and markets. Moredate: August 2011
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I travelled on a beautiful day from Cajamarca to Cajabamba, it takes 3hrs 30mins for the 125km journey. I enjoyed very much the countryside and landscapes
along the way - red rock mountain sides, pastures and farmland. We passed through the small towns of Namora and San Marcos before arriving in Cajabamba
where I spent the next 2 nights. Moredate: August 2011
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I could not have been more lucky with the timing of my arrival in Huamachuco, it was the Thursday before a weekend of celebrations for the festival called
Feria Patronal - Homenaje Santisima Virgen de la Alta Gracia, the 458th aniversary of Huamachuco! I hadn't planned to stay more than a couple of days in
Huamachuco but decided to change that and stay until Monday. Moredate: August 2011
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The best way to describe the journey from Huamachuco to Caraz in the highlands is 'pure hell'. In total it took around 20hrs in crappy buses on the most
roughest of unsealed roads that weaved around cliffs with sheer drops of 100 meters or more. It took 2 and a half days to complete. Moredate: August 2011
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had spent the previous 2 and a half days traveling over some very rugged terrains from Huamachuco in the north to get to Caraz. I was tired and ready
to spend a couple of days taking it easy. I found a nice little hotel just half a block from the Plaza de Armas, it's a beautiful plaza and park with
a fountain, gardens and tall trees. Moredate: August 2011
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Trekking, trekking, trekking, this is the principal reason to visit Huaraz, the Callejon de Huaylas has the highest snow-capped mountain peaks in Peru.
The city of Huaraz itself is at an altitude of 3100m, the peaks of the Callejon de Huaylas are over 6000m above sea level. Moredate: August 2011
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I came to Lima from Huaraz to get to Huancayo. I made my way by taxi to the bus at Terminal Terrestre in Lima and bought a ticket for around $30 Soles ($10USD),
it would be an 8hr trip. The first hour of the trip was through the smog climbing up and out of Lima, gradually the sky became clear and blue and the
air cleaner. Moredate: August 2011
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Ayacucho is definitely the most underrated and undervisited city by tourists and backpackers in Peru. I had come to Ayacucho on an 8hr bus from Huancayo through some
amazing terrains and landscapes. 40 minutes out of Huancayo the distance to Ayacucho is 223kms, Huancavelica 111kms and Izcuchaca 33kms, during this
time we passed through Huancan with its pretty plaza and church and 2 other small churches in the countryside. Moredate: August 2011
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Andahuaylas was the next place I wanted to visit in Peru's southern highlands. Andahuaylas is famous for its Sunday market, a huge market full of color
and activity, the biggest market in South America that I have ever seen! From Ayacucho it had been an 8 and a half hour journey to get to Andahuaylas,
we had passed through some brilliant and beautiful terrains including from up in the mountains - amazing views of the river Rio Pampas at Airabamba with
its turquoise blue waters. Moredate: August 2011
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I enjoyed a couple of days in Abancay just walking around the city, it's a nice place and I was lucky to be here during a small festival for the local
college. Abancay is known as the "valley of the white lilies" by the indigenous Quechua community. To me, Abancay felt and looked similar to Caraz, a
place I had visited a few weeks earlier. Moredate: August 2011
Hotel Santa Maria - Juliaca (Apr 2009 - 1 night) - They said they had hot water but didn't, the bed was so bad we left at 4am in the morning and got a ride by co-op taxi-van to Puno by 4:30am.
Chan Chan Inn - Trujillo (Jun 2009 - 1 night) - Basic and not very nice room, the bed was thin and uncomfortable and I was covered in bug bites in the morning, not recommended.
In the thick of the Pacota Forest, driving from Tocache to Juanjui.
Narrow walkways among houses with flower pots in the San Lazaro neighborhood in Arequipa.
Colorful blankets stall at the Sunday markets in Andahuaylas.
Red crab and his smaller silver friend on the rocks at Paracas National Park.
Exotic red and yellow flower and plant, one of many in Puerto Maldonado.
Wow, paragliding in Huacachina with the city of Ica behind.
Leader of the Sipan with ornaments and a mouthpiece, Sipan museum, Lambayeque.
Dancer with a wooden flute, wrapped in colored wool, doll, Carlos Dreyer Museum, Puno.
Ramon Castilla (1797-1867) monument in Huancayo, 4 times President of Peru.
Cusco cathedral at the plaza, built in 1560 in Baroque style.
Bananas and other fruit on a bicycle cart, Camana.
Baptism, magic water container at Parroquia El Sagrario la Merced in Huanuco.
Taking the fast boat from Iquitos to Santa Rosa early in the morning, 9hr journey.
Exotic red, green and yellow plant found at Tingo Maria National Park.
Family on a wooden river canoe with bananas to sell or eat themselves, the Amazon.
Ceramic urn on display at Leymebamba museum.
The bridge across the Aguaytia River into the town of Aguaytia, between Pucallpa and Tingo Maria.
View of the Huallaga River beside the road north to Juanjui.
It's a magical experience to explore the Lost City of the Incas!
Indigenous woman tends to her sheep on a hillside between Uripa and Andahuaylas.
Dirt country road through the terrain and mountains in Namora.
Candles and people outside the Convento de San Francisco church in Lima.