Peru beyond Machu Picchu
 

Not that I'm not a fan of that "new" wonder, but I always like to let know people there are far more places than Cusco and the Inca lost city. In fact if you come to Peru and visit several places plus Cusco & Machu Picchu, keep this destiny for the grand finale.

However probably Hoffington Post has not chosen "the best" of the peruvian alternatives. My favorite of this list are Titicaca and Cotahuasi. And the great missings are the jungle/rain forest/amazon destinies (Iquitos, Manu, Pacaya Samiria, Tarapoto, Kuelap Ruins). Anyway it always depends on the personal tastes:

Peru has its fair share of awe-inspiring sights, but most visitors skip right over them and head for the grand finale, Machu Picchu. And though the ancient city is certainly worthy of your time, there is much more to this vast country than a litter-ridden Inca Trail.
Here are five really good reasons to go to Peru that don't include Machu Picchu.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/awayco...isit_Cotahuasi

there are so many great things to see and explore in Peru that all depends on personal tastes. I've been to Peru 5 times. Haven't been to Iquitos and jungle region. Lago Titicaca is magical. Cusco and Machu Picchu is always very important. I did that on my first visit to Peru. It gets the gringo hooked. ;)

Machu Picchu & More
 

If you have at least 8 days or more, it is fairly simple to include tours to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. If you have 10 days you can add Colca Canyon (2 x deep as the Grand Canyon) or other destinations to the Amazon jungle or to remote ruins in northern Peru.

There is much more to see than Machu Picchu but if you have at least 5-7 days, you will have time to explore the sites in Cusco and Sacred Valley of the Inca on your way to Machu Picchu.

We went to Machu Picchu but then after that we stayed in the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo), probably one of the most beautiful villages in which I've ever stayed. We walked through the countryside and were absolutely mesmerized by the natural beauty surrounding us.

After a week there we flew back into Lima and transferred over to a LAN flight into Iquitos, where we spent a few days before moving up the Amazon River. Spent one week with Explorama, near the Napo river (Ecuador). Fascinating.

I am planning to return to Peru, this time take hubby with me. Would like to go to the northern part (Huaraz), Titicaca, Arequipa, and once again the Amazon, this time taking a banana boat to Manaus.

There are so many underrated places, or unknown by foreigns because of the lack of infrastructure, specially transport; no flights or even no paved highways.

Kuelap ruins in the Chachapoyas region is one of them. Besides the ruins there are several archeological sites in the region, with ancient sarcophagi; plus a beautiful nature that includes one of the highest waterfalls, Gocta. Unfortunately there are no regular flights to Chachapoyas and though the roads are mostly paved it's too far from Lima, the best way is to fly to Chiclayo and then go by bus. I've heard there are considering to re-open the airport for large airlines flights again.

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http://www.barrancosenperu.es/fotos/gocta00.jpg

The Huaylas Alley (Callejón de Huaylas) or valley is another great place for nature and adventure trips. It's the valley where you can see the most beautiful glaciers and lagoons. It's about 8 hours by bus from Lima, actually not far. There are no flights to Huaraz (the region's capital). And there is also archeological sites like Wilcawain (near Huaraz), or Chavín de Huantar, a great temple of one of the largest culture before the Incas era.
The tour to Chavin is an adventure itself. You must cross the mountains chain to enter another valley (Conchucos), crossing a mountain thru a large tunnel, watching the whole valley near beatiful lagoons and landscapes.

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Ah yes, the north... Before your bus to Chachapoyos, hang around Chiclayo a bit. Go the the archaeological dig of the Lord of Sipan, then the new modern museum of him in Layambeque, it is great. While there see the 25 pyramids. Then time at the nature reserve nearby. For a change of pace, beach it at Pimentel, eat at La Proa there, tiradito to die for. Lots to do in the north.... And warmer!

And soon you can combine the Chiclayo historic circuits with a few days at the new Decameron resort in Tumbes.

And so before your luxury resort at Tumbes, jeje, take a more rugged side tour Piura to Ayabaca for Senor Cautivo festival, then to Aypate - the Machu Pichu of the north. And let us know what you think: Machu Pichu with, what, 4000 tourists per day, Kuelap with 4000 a year and Ayapte with 4 a week. :rolleyes:

Oh yes there are lot of several interesting festival and ceremonies in Peru, among those considered Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are

Pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllurit’i
Huaconada, ritual dance of Mito
Oral heritage and cultural manifestations of the Zápara people (shared with Ecuador)

This cultural treasures are not so known. Other like the Scissors dance are more known even among foreigns. This could be a topic for a new thread "Peru beyond Inti Raymi" ;)

Just got back from our first trip to Peru and Machu Picchu was definitely the highlight. This list and the other suggestions above have me itching to go back again (on a perhaps less ambitious itinerary) and explore the rest of Peru!