Peru is a paradise for practitioners of outdoors and extreme sports. The country’s monumental Andes mountain ranges draw trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts from across the globe, and experiences range from those apt for novices to those that are expert-only. Cusco and the Sacred Valley are two of the top spots for both leisurely hikes as well as more challenging ascents in the Vilcabamba range. Experienced climbers look to mountain ranges near Huaraz: the Cordillera Blanca (the highest tropical mountain range in the world, offering the opportunity to climb several peaks in relatively short time), the Cordillera Huayhuash (location of some of the finest treks and climbs in the world, though long and rather arduous) and the volcanoes in the vicinity of Arequipa for challenging ascents.

Hiking and Trekking
Possibilities are enormous throughout the Peruvian Andes, for both experienced, high-altitude trekkers and novices alike (though both are likely to require some acclimatization). Most recently, innovative efforts have expanded the traditional adventure travel field and trekking options in Peru. Among the standout alternative treks: Salcantay, in Cusco, with the newly established Mountain Lodges of Peru, which allows trekkers to sleep in comfort in well-equipped lodges after all day out on the trail; and Ausangate, with Andean Lodges / Auqui Mountain Spirit.

Whitewater River Rafting
A major draw in Peru, especially in the Sacred Valley and nearby areas, and the rivers near Arequipa and Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons. The most spectacular, by far, is the descent of the River Apurímac, one of the most distant tributaries of the great Amazon River. Also favored by rafters in summer are Lima’s Cañete River and the Tambopata, in the Puno jungle.

Mountain Biking, Surfing & Others
The biggest destinations so far are Colca Canyon and Valley, and the Sacred Valley, which recently hosted one of South America’s biggest mountain biking competitions.

Peru’s also a big, and continually growing, destination for surfers, who venture both north and south of Lima for big waves and breaks. Principal destinations include Puerto Chicama and Cabo Blanco in the north; Punta Hermosa, Punta Rocas, and Pico Alto in the south.

In the desert dunes near Nasca, Ica and Paracas, sand boarding – like snowboarding, but on steep sand dunes – is a rapidly growing sport. Another stunning option for experiencing the vast coastal desert is by 4x4 dune buggy – in fact it’s the only way to traverse many remote parts of the desert, and the only way to get to the spectacular desert oasis, San Fernando. Casa Andina is fortunate to offer dune-buggy excursions from its hotel in Nasca.

Another rapidly growing, formerly fringe, sport is parapente (paragliding), especially in Lima and south along the coast. On windy summer afternoons, you’ll see plenty of paragliders take to the air above the Bay of Lima.

Wildlife
With two-thirds of its terrain covered by Amazon rainforest, wildlife spotting is a massive draw for birders and others seeking to view and photograph unique wildlife, including macaws, monkeys and river otters, in the Amazon jungle. Colca Canyon (and even to selected places on the coast, including San Fernando near Nasca) is the place to witness the spectacular flight of giant Andean condors – the world’s largest birds – up close. In the highlands the principal camelid species — llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and even occasional, extraordinarily rare guanacos — are a constant presence, but nowhere more so than the Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve on the way to Colca. There, alongside the highway, hundreds of protected camelids graze in peace. On tiny Isla Suasi in Lake Titicaca, though, one can get closer to rare vicuñas than anywhere else in Peru. Dolphin and whale watching along the coast south of Lima is still in a nascent stage, but that stretch of Pacific coastline offers one of the most spectacular wildlife experiences one can have, with the opportunity to routinely views dozens of playful dolphins darting in and out of the water just a few meters from the boat. As more travelers discover that Peru has the densest community of dolphins of any country in the world, dolphin watching is certain to grow leaps and bounds in interest and facilities.

For additional information about Outdoor Activities, you can write to travel@casa-andina.com