Two of Peru's Best Archaeological Sites

Peru is full of some really amazing archeological sites of which Machu Picchu is only one. There are also many other civilizations represented other than the Incas. If touring the remains of ancient people is your idea fun, this is a great country to visit. Many of the sites include opportunities for hiking as well.
Some of these are short while others can take days for you to arrive at your destination. Taking the time to hike into the sites is a great way to really get a feel for life in the ancient times when that was the only way to access the area.
Machu Picchu
Of course, Machu Picchu is the best known of the sites and one you will certainly want to have on your list. This is one of the best representations left by the Incas, because the Spanish never made it to this location. Therefore, it did not suffer from the looting and destruction that so many others of their constructions did. The site is massive and sprawling. While you can visit it without a guide, you will certainly get more out of it with a good one.
The site is so impressive that it has been named a World Cultural Heritage Site as well as one of the new Wonders of the World. Although the site is more than 500 years old, it lay abandoned for many centuries, only being rediscovered in 1911 by a Yale scholar.
Getting here can be done by either hiking the 4-day Classic Inca Trail or by the 2-day Inca Trail. Alternatively, you can take the train to the nearby town, Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes. It's best to take the train the night before so that you can go up to the site early the following morning.
Kuelap
The fortress of Kuelap is an archeological treasure from the Chachapoyas culture, who were also known as the Cloud Forest people. This was an advanced people who lived in the tropical jungles of Peru. The ruins at Kuelap were only discovered in 1843 by a local person. Radiocarbon dating indicates that construction on the site began in 6th century AD.
In size as well as impressiveness, the site can compare to that of Machu Picchu. It is believed to have taken around 200 years to finish construction of the stone fortress. Like Machu Picchu, it was not known or conquered by the Spanish although it was occupied up until the early colonial period. Because of this, the remains are more intact than those where the Spanish were present.
The layout of the buildings show that it was built with defense in mind. The main building is circular and one can only access it through a narrow corridor, single file. Towers are also present for greater protection.
There are more than 400 buildings at this site, laying an altitude of around 3000 m. Many of these are decorated, giving further clues about the civilization that left it behind. Climbing up to it can be done in around 3 or 4 hours or one can choose to go by horse. It is situated some 5 kms from a town called Tingo and approximately one hour from Chachapoyas. These are situated in the southwest part of the Peruvian Amazon.


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