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.