There’s More to Peru than Just Machu Picchu

The southern stretches of Peru are normally the focus of any Peruvian holiday – and it’s no secret why. Machu Picchu inspires wonder, and those lucky enough to have strolled these ancient soils are intrigued by this mysterious civilization. But thankfully, these ruins are not the only ones worthy of a visit.

Another high-altitude site is that of Kuélap, which sits at over 9000 feet above sea level. In fact, it’s compared to Machu Picchu regularly. While Kuélap’s structures are made of stone, just like Machu Picchu, this site’s structures are circular. They were defense structures, but from what at that altitude? Some of the structures stand as tall as 60 feet in some places and offer striking views over the Andean Valley far below. Sometimes, the valley is shrouded in mist, adding to its allure. Nature has reclaimed several of the structures – all types of foliage now grow in, on, and through these limestone blocks, further adding a nearly mythical antiquity to the scene.

Head south to Santo Tomás to find the epic Tombs of Revash. As you gaze on these structures, you’d assume you were looking at what was once a small set of cottages dramatically carved into a cliffside. Instead, these are the Chachapoya’s ancient funerary buildings. The Chachapoyas ruled this area up to the point the conquistadores arrived from Spain in the 1500s. The white and red paint used to decorate these buildings is still as vibrant today, making them stand out in dramatic fashion compared to the grey of the cliffs and the emerald of the surrounding foliage.

Nearby in the Utcubamba Valley, similar limestone cliffs hold their own surprises – seven of them, to be exact. There once were eight sarcophagi standing shoulder to shoulder. The eighth toppled down the cliffside during the 1928 earthquake. The now seven that still stand look out into the valleys they once were rulers over. The sarcophagi resemble human forms and stand up to 7.5 feet in height. They were first discovered in 1985 and to this day are the greatest display of Chachapoyan sarcophagi still intact.

So, besides Machu Picchu, what ground do you want to set foot on in Peru?

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