The Best Adventure Activities in Peru

Mountain Biking

Every activity will be an adventure with some of the planet's most diverse landscapes and historical sites; every move will be an adventure. Explore the Peruvian landscape and culture atop a mountain bike. Head anywhere in the Peruvian Andes, and you’ll have spectacular rides along new roads. Peru is considered one of the best-kept secrets in the biking community, and the Andes are definitely the highlight, with many downhill routes and unrivaled panoramic views. In these remote areas, you’ll also come across lesser-visited Inca ruins that you can explore away from the usual tourist traps.

 

Family Mountain Biking near Piuray

Surfing

Peru is one of the best countries in the world to score some epic waves. With thousands of kilometers of coastline and year-round swells, you can always find somewhere in Peru that is surf-tastic. While there are some crowds, especially in Lima and Mancora, with so much coastline, you’re bound to find some empty ocean areas. Peru´s surf is generally around Lima and up north of Peru. Lima is usually covered by a hazy fog that hangs over the region, only clearing up for the summer months, which are hot and sunny. The water is cold in the winter and a little bit better in the summer, but you will need a wetsuit to surf here, in any season. The north coast of Peru has warmer waters and will be sunny almost all year round. The best time for waves is during the summer, from October to March when Peru attracts more northerly swells that bring along warmer water. 

 

White Water Rafting

This is not one for the faint of heart. Rafting companies offer adrenaline junkies the opportunity to raft down class III and IV rapids in the Sacred Valley, located a short distance from Cusco. Go with a guide and a group of friends and enjoy the rush of rafting. You will be equipped with gear, including a helmet, because it can get choppy. However, it is a great way to escape the city life of Cusco and raft world-class rapids.

 

White-water Rafting in The Sacred Valley

Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

There’s a reason visiting Machu Picchu sits firmly atop so many bucket lists. While all Inca roads lead to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail gets you there in the most boast-worthy way. Spend four days hiking through impressive archaeological sites and past stunning panoramas toward an unparalleled final destination. Access to this route is strictly controlled, with only 500 permits per day issued to authorized travel companies. Book today and start the 42 km of stone steps, plunging descents, brutal altitude, and heart-pumping mountain peaks.

 

Kite-Surfing

When the swell isn’t quite hitting, or the surf gets blown out, it’s time to use the wind to your advantage and head out kite-surfing. There are schools all over the north of Peru, especially around Mancora. You can pay for single lessons, but we recommend a package deal where you go out for a couple of days to get the whole kit-surf experience.

 

Kite-Surfing, Northern Peru

SUP in The Sacred Valley

The stand-up paddleboarding craze has officially reached new heights, an altitude of 3400m, to be exact. When Peruvian fitness enthusiast Alvaro Bedoya launched SUP Cusco in Lake Piuray, he created the highest-altitude paddling tours in the world. . Today, travelers and athletes alike, including the Peruvian national football team, head to the highlands for training programs that blend Cross Fit, yoga, and low-impact paddles around the picturesque lake in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

 

Hiking in the Treetops

A short flight from Cusco to the Amazon town of Puerto Maldonado brings you to the Tambopata National Reserve, a biodiversity hot spot with some of the country’s most pristine primary rainforest. More than 500 species of birds have been identified within the park, and rare creatures such as caimans, capybaras, and even jaguars are regularly spotted on guided tours. Up in the rainforest tree canopy on the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, 30 meters above the ground, you'll see an entirely different ecosystem that few will ever have the chance to witness.

 

Amazon Treetop Hike

Para-gliding

Miraflores in Lima allows you to paraglide over the beach area and the Pacific Ocean. You’ll have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and Lima’s beach neighborhoods if the sun is out. Expect to pay around $70 for 10 minutes. You can also hang-glide over the stunning Sacred Valley near Cusco. Due to the favorable winds, Urubamba’s climate allows travelers to hang glide and paraglide in the Sacred Valley due to the fair winds. This adrenaline-filled sport gives you the best panoramic view over imposing mountains and is perfect for lovers of heights. This fantastic activity takes place in the privileged mountains of Chinchero, where you can see the Andes Mountains range and the entire Sacred Valley. It is advisable to go from April to October.

 

Lima Hang-Gliding

Zip-Lining

You can go zip-lining through the Sacred Valley of The Incas not too far outside CuscoCusco; you can go zip-lining through the Sacred Valley of The Incas. This offers a fun experience while also seeing the beautiful valley, as you enjoy this sacred region up above on a zip-line. Flying through the air, this adventure sport is full-speed adrenaline-inducing bliss and allows you to feel the freedom of being part of the magical Sacred Valley. You can take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the green fields, added by the majestic mountain peaks of the Andes. The zip line, without a doubt, is a rich and peculiar experience for travelers who don´t fear heights. The best time to practice this adventure sport is from April to October.

Sand Boarding

Usually, the dune buggy ride is packaged together with sandboarding. Don’t worry; you don’t have to stand up if you don’t want to! Boarders can sit on their bottoms and use the board like a sled on the sand if they prefer. Giant hills of sand are a defining feature of the region in Ica. Three hours south of Lima lies the small desert oasis town of Huacachina, surrounded by dunes. Take a dune buggy with a group and surf the steep sand faces. You won’t get tossed around by a rogue wave, but you might fall down a dune or two – at least it’s only sand. Take a change of clothes!

 

Dune-Buggy and Sandboards