Northern Peru is a vast and almost untouched region that’s largely overlooked by most visitors to the country. The area is rich in archaeology and history, home to a number of pre-Inca sites such as Chan-Chan, the world’s largest clay-built city as well as surprisingly beautiful beaches that are ideal for surfing and whale watching. The colonial town of Chachapoyas, or Chacha as it’s known locally, is renowned for its bustling markets, friendly atmosphere and close proximity to the ancient ruins left behind by the Chachapoya civilization. The true adventurer will delight at the chance to travel into the interior to view archaeological sites still being uncovered and catalogued, such as Kuelap and the funerary complex of Revash.