Peru
Home > South America > Peru > Peruvian Andes -- Northern
Rate Peruvian Andes -- Northern
Overall Experience

Atmosphere

Convenience

Value

Safety

Page Rating
Content Quality:

Page Importance:
Author Pick:
Close Map
Mapa
Map It!!!


Top Peru
Contributors
Peruvian Andes -- Northern
The Northern Peruvian Highlands are one of Peru’s least traveled areas, but not for lack of attractions. The Andes climb up from the coast and descend into the Amazon and in the middle lay the Chachapoyas and Cajamarca regions of Peru. Chachapoyas is surrounded by recently discovered Incan ruins while Cajamarca is dotted with classic colonial architecture. The beauty of the two areas of Peru is that they are much less visited than other colonial and ruin destinations in Peru. The lack of

Read All

The Northern Peruvian Highlands are one of Peru’s least traveled areas, but not for lack of attractions. The Andes climb up from the coast and descend into the Amazon and in the middle lay the Chachapoyas and Cajamarca regions of Peru. Chachapoyas is surrounded by recently discovered Incan ruins while Cajamarca is dotted with classic colonial architecture. The beauty of the two areas of Peru is that they are much less visited than other colonial and ruin destinations in Peru. The lack of visitors is not the result of less-than-spectacular attractions, but almost entirely to do with the windy, bumpy and generally shoddy roads that lead into the region.
Hidden within the lush, virgin jungle surrounding Chachapoyas are a plethora of Incan and pre-Incan treasures--many of which have been recently found, however certainly there are many yet to be discovered. For ruin lovers there are several remote Inca ruin sites that carry with them a more adventurous feeling than areas like Machu Picchu that are much busier. The most popular site is Kuélap which is perched out on a limestone peak. Getting to many of the sites is not easy, but it certainly is fun--requiring some mixture of 4x4 vehicle and horseback to get to some of them.
The colonial history of Cajamarca can’t be missed during a stroll through the town’s central area. The streets are beautiful cobble-stone and there are numerous remaining buildings from the colonial period. While their beauty is easy to appreciate, they also represent the end of Incan rule in the area. Outside of Cajamarca, the Incan presence can be seen in the crumbling ruins in the countryside.


Close
Places to Stay in the Northern Peruvian Andes

Posada del Puruay

Set in the countryside this Spanish Colonial house in undoubtedly quaint. Originally built in 1822, its current owners seriously renovated it in the late 90s, keeping true to its colonial heritage. ...
Hotel
Cajamarca , Peru

Casa Hospedaje Cucha Cuella

The courtyard is a working area for the family, with wash areas and, in one corner, a beehive adobe stove where the doña bakes traditional bread. But step into one of the half-dozen rooms up on the ...
Hotel
Kuélap, Peru

Hostal Continental

Labyrinthine hallways lead to the rooms of the Hostal Continental. The four stories echo with the comings and goings, the conversations and music of its guests. The rooms are a bit cramped, but have ...
Hotel
Chachapoyas, Peru

Hospedaje Laguna de los Cóndores

This hostel, popular with tour groups, is a half-block from the Plaza de Armas. The common areas are homey. The entryway has a hand-laid stone floor with the design of a Chachapoyan sarcophagus. ...
Hotel
Leymebamba , Peru

La Casona de Leymebamba

Walk into this gem, located two blocks from the Plaza, and you are welcomed by an interior garden surrounded by a broad, second-story, wooden balconies. Between local treks, you can rest in the ...
Hotel
Leymebamba , Peru

Hotel Escobedo

The hand-painted sign greets you with promises of "modest prices," and that is just what you will receive here: A single is 8 soles /$2.60; a double, 12 soles /$4. This hotel of time-worn adobe ...
Hotel
Leymebamba , Peru

La Casona Monsante

La Casona Monsante is a quaint little hotel just one block from Chachapoyas’ Plaza de Armas. It is charmingly situated in a 19th century building, and received a national award for their ...
Hotel
Chachapoyas, Peru

Spatuletail Lodge

The Spatuletail Lodge is located just outside the village of Choctamal and the Kuelap ruins. It is managed by the village and the income is split between the employees. The real attraction of the ...
Hotel
Chachapoyas, Peru

Casa Vieja Peru

Casa Vieja Peru, while not quite from the Colonial Era, is a beautiful converted house that has served as both a dwelling for generations of families as well as a monetary. As with many transformed ...
Hotel
Chachapoyas, Peru

El Portal Del Marques

El Portal Del Marques is conveniently located in Cajamarca, only blocks away from the Plaza de Armas. If you want to be amidst the action, this is a great place for you. The hotel has many onsite ...
Hotel
Cajamarca , Peru
The Highlights of the Northern Peruvian Andes

Cajamarca

Cajamarca is located in the beautiful Andean countryside in a valley with the same name. This was an important area for the Inca Empire. The first encounter between Inca Atahualpa and the Spanish ...
City
Cajamarca , Peru

Chachapoyas

Chachapoyas is a small town containing several little-known archaeological sites as well as the fifth largest waterfall in the world Yumbilla, Catarata. The most accessible and spectacular ...
City
Chachapoyas, Peru

Lámud

Lámud is yet a small village. Extensive chacras hide behind adobe walls and roosters crow in the pre-dawn hours. Days of walking to explore this area await you. Nearby there are 29 archaeological ...
City
Lámud, Peru

Leymebamba

Called "The Land of the Millenium Gods," Leymebamba is a friendly, relaxed town on the banks of the Río Utcubamba. It is a convenient stopping point between Chachapoyas and Celendín, providing many ...
City
Leymebamba , Peru

Yerbabuena

A 45-minute bus ride north of Leymebamba is the village of Yerbabuena straddling the highway. During the week it is a dusty backwater. But come Sunday, it bustles to life with the region’s largest ...
City
Yerbabuena, Peru

Jalca Grande

Jalca Grande is the most traditional villages in the region. Women still wear their centuries-old clothing. Most still spin wool and weave. Their goods are sold at the Club de Madres La Navidad (Jr. ...
City
Jalca Grande, Peru

Kuélap

Clouds wrap around the mountains, around the stones of the Forteleza. A silence pervades the air, a silence of centuries. What did these massive walls of Kuélap protect? Photos cannot ...
City
Kuélap, Peru
Northern Andes Cultural Tours

Archaeological tours in Chachapoyas - Inka Tours

Explore the Inca ruins at Kuelap, along with the monumental cloud fortress of the Chachapoyas. This area is part of the Inca's last conquest. Fixed departures to/from Chiclayo - about 12 hours ...
Cultural Tour
Chachapoyas, Peru

InkaNatura Travel - Tours

InkaNatura Travel, is owned by the nonprofit group Peru Verde, and operates on the slogan of "conservation through tourism," with all net proceeds benefiting conservation efforts of ...
Cultural Tour
Cajamarca , Peru

Huancas

Huancas, 5 kilometers north of Chachapoyas, derives its name from the Huancas nation. Originally from the Mantaro valley east of Lima, they were sent by Inca ruler Huayna Cápac as mitmaq, or ...
Cultural Tour
Chachapoyas, Peru
Get the book

book
Buy V!VA Book

Direct or on Amazon.com
follow us Twitter Facebook


Other Peruvian Andes -- Northern Pages
You must register as an owner for access to these listing tools and benefits.

Notification of new reviews: receive your latest reviews by e-mail

Customized request-a-review link: encourage guests to spread the word about your property

Our owners' newsletter: stay informed about our latest tools and benefits for you