The Wonders of the Northern Coast of Peru

The New York Times has recommended Peru's northern coast in its annual tourism supplement ranking sites that travelers should experience. For 2015, Peru's northern shore made the list, including the towns of Trujillo, Chiclayo, and the surfing mecca of Cabo Blanco. Here, you get some of the world's best waves, amazing seafood dishes, and ancient sites such as the pyramids of the Lord of Sipán.

For Peruvians, the city of Trujillo along the Pan-American Highway is famed for its cheap, fresh, and delicious ceviche and other seafood delicacies, as well as for Huanchaco beach resort. It's the cradle of the side-stepping Peruvian Paso Horse. For the archeologically-inclined, there are a number of sites dating back to the Moche and the Chimu. Among them is the adobe city of Chan Chan, a former imperial capital that ultimately fell to the Incas, and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

The obligatory stop in Chiclayo is the Lord of Sipan tomb and the Royal Tombs of Sipan museum to see the riches which were unearthed at the grave. Often referred to as the Tutankamon of the Americas, it was one of the most spectacular archeological discoveries in the western hemisphere and draws a large number of visitors to Chiclayo. While in town, one can also visit the ruins of Tucume in the Valley of the Pyramids, take a ride on Peruvian Paso horses through the Pomac dry forest, search for the Andean spectacled bear in the Chaparrí Reserve, and browse the snakeskins, herbs, potions, amulets, and shark jaws of the Witch's market. Make sure to add the city's iconic arroz con pato, rice with duck, to your to-do list as well.

Another popular stop on the northern coast along the Pan-American highway is the small beachtown of Máncora, which booms during the holiday season and Peruvian summertime. Dotted with fish shacks and tuk tuk moto-taxis, its bonfires and surfing are legendary. If you've been trekking through the Andes and paddling through the Amazon, Máncora is a nice spot to simply relax, where you can get a table and chairs brought to you on the beach along with your food. During the Humpback breeding season, you can even go on whale-watching excursions.