*I, JohnManuel*, *CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Peru has 25 administrative regions and 196 provinces within them. That’s way too complex of a breakdown for the average traveler, so if you’re planning your trip and trying to figure out what the various regions are like, so we’ve tried to make things a bit easier by dividing the country up into 9 major regions of interest. We focused on their geography, major sites and attractions, and unique appeal to visitors.

Many guides will just say to consider Peru in terms of its 3 main climate/eco zones, meaning coast, highlands, and jungle. That’s useful when considering the weather and the time of year to visit each different zone, but it doesn’t help you actually plan your trip to them.

Peru is huge - it’s over 2,000 kms from the southernmost city of Tacna to the northernmost city of Tumbes - so you need a more sensible way to look at the different regions, think about what they each offer, and work out what to include in your trip.

Read on to learn more.

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North Coast

*Chan Chan. Photo:* *ThayneT*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Located along the western edge of Peru, the North Coast is a long strip of desert that stretches from north to south, bounded by the Pacific Ocean. Peru’s northern coastline is dotted with lovely beaches and seaside cities, but also has its fair share of history in the way of pre-Inca and colonial sites.

Once home to some of Peru’s mightiest pre-Columbian (and pre-Inca) empires, there is an incredible array of things to do and places to visit. The most impressive site is the ancient city of Chan Chan, one of the largest pre-Columbian adobe cities in the world, which offers a fascinating glimpse into pre-Inca history. Others, like Caral and Sechín, are also marvelous.

For outdoor activities, Mancora in particular stands out as a surfer’s or kitesurfer’s paradise. It is a beautiful sandy beach with perfect waves, where you can also enjoy a laid-back atmosphere and surprisingly good nightlife. Fishing, wildlife spotting, and swimming with sea turtles are all other ways to enjoy the outdoors here.

Cities like Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, are pleasant places to visit as you break up long overland journeys. They receive their fair share of visitors, but are still far less visited than Peru’s southern cities. Most of them have excellent food.

The northern coast ends at Lima, the capital city, which is a sprawling, heaving, and bustling hub of culture, gastronomy, and history. The city is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, so be prepared to eat everything once you get there.

Northern Peru (away from the coast)

A view of the Gocta waterfall in northern Peru shrouded by clouds — *Gocta waterfall near Kuelap*

What I’m calling Northern Peru is a big section of the country between the coast and the northern part of Peru’s Amazon jungle.

As you move away from the coast, the scenery changes dramatically and the crowds all but disappear. Much of the region is cloud forest, so something in between the relatively dry highland mountains found in Peru’s center and south and the wet Amazon jungle just further east. Mountainous, but green and wet it provides a very interesting contrast from the craggy and barren high peaks of Huaraz and the lower, more brown and gold ones of the Cusco area.

The main appeal of visiting these mystical-seeming mountains is to explore the barely visited ruins of powerful ancient civilizations, like Kuelap and Chachapoyas. These two are the most famous sites, but there are far more, many of which are still being actively discovered and explored by archaeologists and historians.

It’s a sparsely populated part of the country though, and infrastructure is not as good as in more developed parts of Peru. As such, travel times can be long and you’ll often have to accept journeys with multiple stops and changes.

But the reward of visiting lies in getting to explore an authentic part of the country that is relatively untouched by mass tourism and in which you’ll get to experience outrageously atmospheric and mystical places with barely another soul in sight.

Huaraz and the Cordillera Blanca

What we simplistically refer to as “Huaraz & the Cordilleras” is really the region of Ancash, which lies north of Lima and south of Trujillo and encompasses Huaraz and the stunning Cordillera Blanca mountain range that surrounds it.

It’s a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers, but best saved for intrepid travelers who don’t mind roughing it a bit and are in good physical condition. Here, you’ll set off on exhilarating hikes, climbing adventures, and mountaineering excursions along towering, high-altitude peaks.

The Cordillera Blanca, part of the larger Andes Mountain range, features some of the world's highest tropical peaks, including Huascarán, the tallest in Peru. In these mountains, you can set off on a variety of hikes - ranging from day trips to multi-day expeditions - many of which pass by gorgeous alpine lakes like Laguna 69. The Santa Cruz and Huayhuash Treks are among the most famous, but there are countless. These natural jewels provide ideal spots for relaxation after the hard work you’ll have undertaken to reach them.

Huaraz, a small city nestled amid the mountains, is the entry point to this outdoor wonderland. The city’s streets are filled with shops offering gear and supplies (an essential component of your visit here), making it an excellent starting point for your outdoor excursions, especially if you forgot any equipment back home.

The Cordillera Blanca, part of the larger Andes Mountain range, features some of the world's highest tropical peaks, including Huascarán, Peru's tallest mountain. Here, you can set off on a variety of hikes, ranging from day trips to multi-day expeditions.

The Santa Cruz Trek and the Huayhuash Trek are among the most famous, offering breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and pristine wilderness.

For a break from hiking and adventuring, this region also offers the opportunity to experience local life, by visiting the indigenous communities who still call this area home. Their culture is deeply interconnect with the environment, and many communities maintain traditions and customs from ancient times, so guided community visits here are a wonderful way to experience their culture.

Central Highlands

Peru’s Central Highlands make up the largest chunk of the Peruvian Andes. Lying to the northwest of Cusco, they are a rugged massif stretching 1000km from Andahualyas in the southeast to Tingo María in the northwest.

The region is Peru at its most iconically Peruvian: a place where the tourist gloss is absent. Villages, towns, and cities move to a local rhythm, colorful celebrations carry on almost identically to how they they have for centuries, and stunning Inca ruins flank the mountainsides with scarcely a soul to disturb the tranquillity.

These mountains were once the base from which the “Sendero Luminoso” revolutionary armed group (regarded by many as a terrorist organization) operated, and for decades it was almost entirely avoided by tourists and anyone not local to the area. It also was - and remains, to an extent - a major center of coca cultivation (although this happens in distant valleys you are unlikely to ever visit).

Today, times have changed and it’s now safe to visit (and very interesting!), but nonetheless remains one of the nation’s most isolated and least-visited regions. For travelers coming from Cusco or Lima, a trip here will seem like a big step back in time (and out of the tourist circuit). Roads are rough and transport bone-shaking, meaning the act of traveling alone here is a huge adventure.

On the vast high plains below the peaks, there is nevertheless plenty of civilization, despite the relative remoteness. Enchanting colonial cities and towns enclose beautiful churches, put on the country’s best traditional festivals, and produce Peru’s finest handicrafts.

The big regional metropolis is Huancayo, seven hours’ drive east of Lima and also the nearest major Central Highlands city to the capital, although the most important city for travelers is Ayacucho, ten hours’ drive southeast of Lima and 15-17 hours’ drive northwest of Cuzco.

This tradition-revering region has ticked to the same beat for hundreds of years, and if you want to discover the country’s soul there is no better place to search.

Despite this, few travelers explore the region and it remains one of the greatest places in Peru to get off the beaten tourist trail.

Amazon jungle

The Peruvian Amazon is a vast and incredibly biodiverse tropical region stretching across much of the east of the country and running the entire length of it. It runs almost the entire len jungle runs the entire length of Peru, eIt is teeming with lush vegetation and abundant wildlife, and has a huge network of rivers, including the world's longest, the Amazon itself, that crisscross the expansive ecosystem.

As you might expect, the Amazon region is quite remote, with huge stretches of it remaining essentially untouched. What that means for you, as a visitor, are endless opportunities for activities such as wildlife spotting, photography expeditions, jungle treks, and boating and canoeing along its serene waterways.

Additionally, if you fancy a touch of luxury, you can take multi-day cruises through the Amazon, where you'll travel down the river in style and comfort, while exploring remote areas and witnessing pristine and undisturbed nature and wildlife.

In the southern Amazon, Tambopata, a designated conservation area, offers its own unique experiences, with amazing eco-lodges where guests are treated to organized activities such as guided jungle walks, wildlife observation, and birdwatching. Tambopata is a place where the rainforest thrives, time stops, and the modern world and daily life simply fade away.

While the nature is undoubtedly the main reason for coming to the Amazon, this region also affords opportunities for visitors to experience the local life of some of the people who call this place home. You’ll be able to join visits to indigenous communities like the Asháninka and Shipibo, who. will share with you invaluable insights into their customs, traditional medicine practices, and deep connection with the rainforest.

Lake Titicaca and the Altiplano

*A view of the lake from Amantani island*

Southeastern Peru is dominated by the vast and sparsely populated Altiplano (high plateau). This enormous area, all located at 3,000+ meters, is a relatively flat and fairly barren part of the country. At its Peruvian edge (the plateau actually continues through much of Bolivia) lies the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca.

On the lake itself sit the fascinating Uros floating islands, artificial reed islands inhabited by the indigenous Uros people, who still maintain their traditional way of life.

Further along the lake, you can explore Taquile Island and discover its distinct culture. Known for its weaving traditions, you’ll be able see many locals meticulously crafting intricate textiles and garments. A great place for some light hiking (walking really), Taquile’s trails offer lovely views of the lake, as you walk through its terraced fields and traditional stone houses.

You also have Amantani island which is a popular spot for travelers looking to partake in a home stay. Isla del Sol is another island on the opposite end of the lake, on the Bolivian side.

The gateway to the lake and these islands is the small city of Puno. Puno itself is not a particularly charming place, but it’s a real city with decent amenities, hotels, and restaurants.

It’s also one of the folkloric capitals of Peru and the city is known for hosting dozens of festivals, parades, and parties throughout the year. During these events, you’ll see teams and groups of colorfully clad locals dancing through the streets (the men often in colorful suits accompanied by boots adorned with bells) with boisterous music and lots of eating and drinking.

But the Altiplano is not just about the lake. Nearby, you also have the interesting ruins of Sillustani. And from a cultural standpoint, it’s interesting to note that the Altiplano is where the Quechua and Aymara ethnic groups meet. The majestic canyon of Tinajani is a few hours away, and there are many other beautiful, but almost entirely unvisited places along the windswept plateau.

Arequipa & the Canyons

South of Cusco and in between the coast and the Altiplano, you have the elegant city of Arequipa. Relatively nearby lie two of Peru’s most stunning natural wonders: Colca Canyon and Cotahuasi Canyon.

Arequipa is a historical gem that features well-preserved colonial architecture and a pleasant atmosphere. The entire city, with its whitewashed volcanic sillar stone buildings is charming, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a striking religious complex, is one of the premier places to visit. The food, found in abundance in local “picanterias” is also excellent, and quite distinct from what you find elsewhere in Peru.

Arequipa is also the gateway to the Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest canyons. There, you can embark on incredible hikes, interact with the locals in tiny villages, and if you’re lucky, spot Andean condors at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. The lesser-visited, but almost equally impressive Cotahuasi canyon is also within easy reach.

The surrounding volcanic landscapes, including Misti and Chachani, offer even more opportunities for adventure and exploration in nature.

Another particularly gorgeous place is Andagua, a remote town that serves as a base for visits to the surrounding “Valley of Volcanoes”.

And if you’re seeking a touch of luxury combined with unbelievable views, don't miss the chance to take the luxurious Andean Explorer train, which runs between Arequipa and Puno (the nearest city to Lake Titicaca).

The South Coast

The South Coast stretches from Lima all the way down to the city of Tacna at the Chilean border. The coastline here varies between low and sandy to wild and rocky, with occasional cliffs. The surf is dangerous in many parts and very few of the beaches are good for swimming.

Unlike the northern coast which has many towns and cities, the south coast is relatively sparsely populated. Although extremely beautiful, the region is pretty desolate.

Immediately south of Lima there are some beach resort towns that are popular with wealthy limeños for weekend escapes from the city. Then there’s not much until you hit the town of Pisco and the Paracas reserve.

Pisco is a rather nondescript seaside town that doesn’t have much to do, but is pleasant enough for a stop. As the name suggests, the town is a center of Pisco production and also some local wines.

The star attractions on the coast are indisputably the Paracas nature reserve, the oasis town of Huacachina, the city of Nazca.

Paracas National Reserve is a paradise for adventure lovers. Here, you can explore dramatic cliffs, take boat tours to the Ballestas Islands to observe wildlife, and engage in desert activities like sandboarding. You can also explore the reserve by bike.

In Nazca, the attraction is of course to the chance to take a short flight over the famous Nazca Lines, mysterious geoglyphs that are thousands of years old. Nearby, the Chauchilla Cemetery offers more insight into ancient Nazca culture.

The tiny town of Huacachina, an oasis in the middle of vast and enormous dunes, is a favorite stop for backpackers. The nearby town of Ica is the main center and a transit hub.

Although the coast stretches on after Nazca for hundreds of kilometers, there is relatively little of interest to visitors (and honestly just very little in general).

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