Peru

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Peru is one of the best locations for ecotourism and activities such as mountain biking, river rafting and trekking. The diversity of the country is incomparable and Peru has much to offer with the Amazon rainforest, the world’s greatest tropical mountain range, the long coastline of the Pacific and the expansive and diverse wilderness – each with its own special offerings.

Trekking and Climbing

          The north and the south of Cusco, the Colca Canyon and the Cordillera Blanca are the country’s favourite regions for climbs and treks. However, there are a number of equally fantastic routes to be found in other locations such as Cajamarca and Chachapoyas where you’ll find some of the country’s most exhilarating treks. From Lima, Trujilla, Chiclayo, Nasca, Pisco, Ica and Arequipa, you can explore the incredible and original eco-niches of the desert coast.

Canoeing and Whitewater Rafting

          Like many other activities in Peru, Peru’s canoeing and whitewater rafting are incomparable. A number of rivers have sections that are good for inexperienced or novice paddlers, but there are also several exhilarating sections to be explored on the rivers around Cusco, the Colca Canyon, Huaraz and Lunahuana. As one of the continent’s top destinations for both rafting and canoeing, Cusco offers easy access to rivers of all grades although these grades do change during the wet season. The most dangerous is the Rio Apurimac, which is a level 6. For consistent Grade 5 rapids, head to Chukikahuana, 90km south of Cusco, where there is a section of the Río Vilcanota that is steady from December to April. For a truly memorable experience, take a trip from Cusco to the Amazon Basin. Since many of these rivers are rough and the locations are usually rather remote, make sure you travel with operators that have solid reputations and experienced guides. It’s possible to do both half- and full-day trips as well as multi-day excursions through jungle and mountainous regions. When booking tours through reputable companies, trip fees typically include the costs of accommodation, food and transport.

Cycling

          A national sport, cycling is immensely popular in Peru since it is a primary form of transport for many people in both major cities and small, rural villages. This means that bike shops and repair workshops are easy to find and bike tours led by local guides are the best way to tour the country. Bikers favour Huaraz and Cusco.

Surfing

          Surfing is yet another favourite sport on Peru’s coasts and local fishermen of the Huanchaco and Chiclayo regions still make use of the traditional caballitos de totora, which are the ocean reed rafts that are shaped like cigars. The best beaches of Peru are Chicama, Cabo Blanco and Punta Rocas, that are compared to the beaches of Brazil and Hawaii. More than 12,000 surfers visit these places annually.

Diving and Fishing

The  Federación Peruana de Caza Submarina y Actividades Acuaticas, Estadio Nacional, Lima Centro provides detailed information about diving and fishing opportunities in Peru.