How to Spend 24 Hours in Lunahuana, Peru

If you come during Peru’s summer months of December through March, when the country gets the most rain, the river that runs past the town gets pretty epic and has some of the best rapids anywhere in the country. The river has sections from class five to three and is perfect for beginners and experts alike. There are a number of tour operators in the area with plenty of experience and quality gear. Whether it’s your first time or your most recent time, river running is always fun. It’s a great idea to do this in the morning when the sun is not as strong, and you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the town.

After you’ve conquered the river, you have to keep the adrenaline spiked so that you won’t crash. Ziplining is the perfect way to keep the adventure going in Lunahuana. The lines here are some of the best and most state-of-the-art in all of Peru. The company has five full lines that cost around 100 soles (US$30) to use and cover over 1.5 miles (2,500 meters).

After an adventure-filled day, you’re going to want to sit down and chill, which is where the pisco and wine tasting come in. The area further south of Lunahuana has some of best pisco and wine in Peru, and there a couple of vineyards near Lunahuana that offer artisanal wine and pisco tasting in a relaxed atmosphere. The vineyards aren’t as crowded as the ones you’ll find in Ica, which makes them more personable and relaxing, the perfect way to spend your evening.

If you can’t wait until Cusco to check out some Inca ruins, or you’d rather skip some of the more adventurous options on offer, look no further than the Incahuasi ruins on the outskirts of Lunahuana. The site is largely overlooked and offers most visitors a crowd-free look at a mostly intact Inca ruin. The ruins were once an Inca military base and date back to the 15th century. You can rent bikes and ride to the ruins, or take a taxi.