Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 717

TREKKING AND HIKING
Peru offers a spectacular variety of
trekking routes; the main hiking centres
are Cusco and Arequipa in the south and
Huaraz in the north. The most popular
trekking route is, of course, the famous
Inca Trail, but other trails in and around
the Sacred Valley are rapidly gaining
popularity, partly because you get to
experience fantastic Andean scenery
without being overrun by hordes of
tourists. From Arequipa, you can descend
into two of the world's deepest canyons
- Cañón de Colca and the more remote
Cañón de Cotahuasi, which are accessible
all year, unlike the Sacred Valley. The
Cordillera Blanca near Huaraz lures hikers
and climbers alike with its challenging
peaks, many of them over 5000m high.
Guides are required for some trekking
routes, such as the Inca Trail, and for
some challenging routes you'll need to
hire mules and arrieros (muleteers). You
can rent trekking gear or join guided
treks at all the major hiking centres; good
topographic maps are available from the
Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) or
the South American Explorers' Club (see
p.723). Always make sure you're properly
equipped, as the weather is renowned for
its dramatic changeability, and properly
acclimatized.

as mountain-bike rental is pretty basic.
Various tour companies (see p.746) offer
guided cycling tours, which can be an
excellent way to see the best of Peru.
Huaraz and Cusco are both popular and
challenging destinations for experienced
bikers, while the Colca Canyon is a better
bet for novices.

9

WATERSPORTS
Cusco is one of the top white-water
rafting and kayaking centres in South
America, with easy access to a whole range
of river grades, from Class II to V on the
Río Urubamba (shifting up grades in the
rainy season) to the most dangerous white
water on the Río Apurímac, only safe for
rafting during the dry season. Río Chili
near Arequipa offers good rafting for
beginners, with half-day trips passing
through Class II and III rapids. A superb
multi-day rafting expedition from Cusco
goes right down into the Amazon Basin
on the Tambopata River.
Bear in mind that rafting is still not
a regulated sport in Peru, so it's very
important to go with a responsible and
eco-friendly operator (see p.746). Also see
W

peruwhitewater.com.

SURFING
Surfing is a popular sport in Peru,
with annual national and international
championships held in Punta Rocas, south
of Lima. You can find good breaks even in
Lima itself, particularly in the Miraflores
area, though Punta Hermosa, further
south, is less crowded. Peru's north coast
offers some world-class breaks, with Puerto
Chicano boasting the world's longest
left-hand wave, whereas Santa Rosa and
Pacasmayo outside Chiclayo also have
excellent waves. Equipment rental is
abundant and it's possible to take surfing
lessons. Check out W peruazul.com or
W vivamancora.com for more information.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Bike shops and bicycle repair workshops
are easy to find throughout Peru, though
you should bring your own bike if you're
planning on some major cycle touring,

GAY AND LESBIAN TRAVEL
IN PERU
Being gay in Peru is still very much frowned
upon due to a culture infused with
machismo and fervent Catholicism, though
tolerance is slowly improving. Epicentro
(Jr. Jaén 250A, Barranco, Lima; T 01 247
4158, W epicentro.org.pe) is a not-for-profit
community centre that also produces the
regular publication Guía Antena (available
to download free from the website), which
includes gay-friendly hostels, bars, clubs,
health services and shopping in Lima, as
well as gay clubs nationwide.

SANDBOARDING AND DUNE BUGGYING
The best places to ride the sand are in
Nazca (see p.773), home of the world's
largest dune - Cerro Blanco - and
Huacachina, near Ica (see p.769). You can
either rent a board from the numerous
agencies or go out on the dunes with one