Hiking & trekking
Peru is a hiker's paradise, offering endless possibilities for all levels of aptitude, from the relatively gentle hike through the Quilcayhuanca ravine in the popular Cordillera Blanca mountain range to the more challenging Mount Ausangate (6,333m/20,772ft) in the heart of the Eastern Andes. The Inca Trail is undoubtedly the country's most famous hike and arguably one of the most spectacular in the Americas. Follow the stone-paved road built by the ancient Inca civilisation leading to the mystical lost citadel of Machu Picchu. Other treks offering spectacular scenery include the Colca Valley - home to the world's deepest canyons, Paracas bay/peninsula - a unique feeding ground for colonies of marine life such as sea lions, and the high cloud forest - a haven of unique plant life and endangered animals. September to December is a good time for mountain trekking.


Mountaineering
The Cordillera Blanca range provides an ideal climate for mountaineering between May and October. It is home to the world's highest mountain in the tropics, Mount Huascarán (6,768m/22,199ft), and embraces several other snow-capped peaks of over 6,000m. The neighbouring Cordillera Huayhuash offers more remote climbs and includes a number of challenging glaciers. Arequipa is the starting point for a number of ascents of variable difficulty, with Misti volcano (5,825m/19,106ft) representing the most popular local climb. Other worthwhile climbs include the mountains surrounding the Sacred Inca Valley, with peaks surpassing 5,000m, and the stunning volcanoes and glaciers of the Colca valley. The dry season (May to September) is the only season open to high mountain climbing, with July offering the best conditions. September to December is the best time for the lower glaciers.


Rock climbing
Peru is blessed with ideal sites for rock climbing, especially on the outskirts of Lima, home to the notorious Infiernito - literally Little Hell - one of the most demanding walls for climbers. Further down the coast, overhanging the Pacific, are the sedimentary rock cliffs at Bikini, La Tiza and Paracas. Popular spots in the Andes include Cumbemayo, near Cajamarca; the Tinajani rock forest in Ayaviri, Puno; the Llanganuco glacier walls in Ancash; and the stone formations in the Huayllay sanctuary in Pasco.


Mountain biking
Much of Peru is blessed with a rugged geography providing ideal mountain-biking terrain. Pachacámac is the most popular area for Lima bikers (April-December). Most popular route along the coast is Los Platanales de Totoritas and is included in the international mountain bike rally circuits. Paracas national park involves weaving between sand dunes and climbing steep hillsides. The Cordillera Blanca provides one of the most spectacular rides in the country, along the gullies and mountains of the Callejón de Huaylas valley. A series of zig-zagging dirt tracks provide challenging routes through villages and farmlands in the Colca valley and are best biked May-October. The most popular Colca route is Chivay-Cabanaconde, which passes the exhilarating Mirador de Condores (Condor viewpoint). May-October is also the best time to bike the Sacred Valley, which has the added attraction of major pre-Columbian ruins along the way.


Surfing
The waves found off the Peruvian coast are well-known all over the world, with some of the best breakers - such as Punta Rocas to the south of Lima and Cabo Blanco to the north - forming part of the international surfing championship circuit. Chicama in the north is the world's longest wave while Pico Alto, south of Lima, represents the country's largest and most spectacular wave, reaching up to ten metres in height. Between them, Peru's beaches provide all-year-round: the central coast offers constant waves during winter (April to September), while rough seas characterize the north October to March.


White water rafting
The Colca river and its rapids ranks as one of the toughest rafting runs in the world, which can be rafted May-October. Generally rafted around the same time is the Tumbes in the north, Peru's most torrential river found along the coast. This run takes in the spectacular Northern Biosphere Reserve, which teems with crocodiles, giant otters and iguana lizards. Other popular runs are the Cañete river, southeast of Lima (October-April); the Santa river in the Callejón de Huaylas (May-October) and the Urubamba river, running through the heart of the Sacred Inca Valley (May-October) and the Tambopata river, deep in the lush Amazon jungle (May-October).


Hang gliding/paragliding
The Sacred Valley provides some excellent flights, particularly from the lookout point over the town of Chincero and the Cerro Sacro hill which enjoys the good thermal currents of the Pampa de Maras plain (May-October). Simple flights on the strength of good thermals can also be found over the jungle town of Moyobamba (May-Oct) and from the Pan de Azúcar hilltop over the beautiful Callejón de Huaylas valley. Lima's Costa Verde is dotted with popular meeting places for enthusiasts making the most of wind gusts from the west. The coastal desert plains, particularly around the Ica area, are also excellent for flying.


Other adventure sports
The most popular spots for windsurfing in Peru are on the breezy Paracas bays and along the north coast. Sandboarding is also becoming increasingly popular on steep sandy slopes of the coastal desert. In addition to hang gliding and paragliding over the Sacred Valley, there is now more relaxing option of viewing this stunning landscape by hot air balloon. And for those brave enough to take the plunge, there are even flights over the valley which cater for bungy jumps.


Fishing
Among the most common fish found in Peru's Pacific waters are drums, flounder, grouper, grunts, Pacific croaker, una and the world's largest recorded black marlin, as well as local species. Fishing from shore remains the most common method of deep-sea fishing in Peru, with the sandy beaches of the central and southern coast a favourite with the locals. There are also endless idyllic fishing coves all along the coast. The best freshwater fishing is practiced in the highlands, largely limited to trout and silverside, and in the Amazon jungle, which is home to some magnificent native species. The best time for fishing in the Andes is during the winter season (April to October) as there is an official ban on trout fishing during the summer months. The jungle is best avoided during the rainy season, November - March.


Ornithology
The possibilities for bird watching are endless, spanning almost every inch of the country. Boasting some 1,710 species at the last count and claiming to have the highest concentration of species in the world, Peru is a bird watcher's haven. It is a land teeming with species living in unique and fragile habitats, some of which have even disappeared in other parts of the world. The Paracas National Reserve is the country's main bird watching centre, with an extensive rocky coastline attracting vast numbers of shore birds, especially May - September at the height of the migratory season. A day trip to the nearby Ballestas Islands allows close observation of guano bird colonies and the native Humboldt penguin, while the famous Andean condor can be spotted soaring above congregations of sea lions in the summer. The Amazon rain forest is also a must for any serious ornithologist, with the Tambopata and Manu nature reserves boasting a particularly amazing diversity of species.