The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a special group that helps countries promote travel in ways that are good for both people and nature. One of their most interesting projects is the “Best Tourism Villages” list. Each year, they choose the best villages worldwide.
These villages let travelers experience culture, nature, and history. It’s a sustainable, exciting way to do so. And guess what? This year, from the world’s 55 villages, five amazing villages from Peru made it to the list! Let’s explore why they are so special and what makes them awesome places to visit this 2025.
What is the UNWTO?
Before we dive into these wonderful Peruvian villages, let’s learn a little about the UNWTO. The UNWTO is an organization that works to make tourism better for everyone. They focus on protecting nature, celebrating culture, and helping communities grow in a way that’s good for the planet.
By highlighting these special villages, the UNWTO encourages people to travel responsibly and discover places that have rich stories to tell. Now, let’s meet the five Peruvian villages that made it to the UNWTO’s prestigious list. These towns are not just places to visit—they’re places to experience the real heart of Peru!
Maras – The Salt Village of the Sacred Valley
Maras is a charming village in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the Cusco region, about an hour and a half from Cusco city. At an altitude of 3,300 meters (10,827 feet), it offers breathtaking views of mountains and the lush Sacred Valley.
Maras is famous for its beautiful salt ponds, where the local community manages over 3,000 salt pools. From a distance, the shimmering salt looks like a snowy mountain landscape, which makes Maras a delightful stop for travelers.
Why Maras is special:
Maras is famous for its salt mines, but it is also a place full of history. In the Inca Empire, they valued the salt here and used it for food preservation, religious rituals, and trading. The Incas’ methods still work on the Maras terraces as people still use spring water from the mountains to fill the ponds.
People harvest the salt by hand, with the help of generations-old knowledge passed down through the locals. Besides the salt mines, you can find the Moray ancient inca lab, a fascinating site where the Incas used the circular terraces there to experiment with farming techniques.
Besides that Maras is a great base for exploring the Sacred Valley, recently it has become a worldwide stargazing spot. Recognized as the first “Starlight Place” by the Spanish Starlight Foundation, Maras has begun to develop astrotourism as a unique offering.
This innovative tourism segment complements traditional community-based tourism, allowing visitors to explore the Inca worldview through astronomy. For these and more reasons, you should include Maras in your trip list.
Maras Trivia: The salt from Maras is not just regular salt—it’s rich in minerals and is often used in gourmet cooking!
Quinua – A Village of History and Tradition
Located also in Peru’s highlands, Quinua is a small village full of history. This peaceful village is most famous for its role in the Battle of Ayacucho, one of the most important battles in the struggle for Peruvian independence.
More than 200 years ago, in 1824, Peruvians fought and won a key battle here against Spanish forces. Today, Quinua honors this victory with monuments and statues of the brave soldiers. The most popular is a gigantic obelisk honoring this special moment.
Why Quinua is Special:
Quinua welcomes tourists to enjoy a wonderful chance to dive into the daily life of the region. You can join fun activities that include traditional crafts workshops, local cooking classes, and guided tours of the Wari archaeological complex. These experiences help you to connect with the area’s rich history and culture.
The stunning natural beauty of Quinua also adds more fascination to its charm. As a visitor, you can explore guided hiking routes through breathtaking landscapes like the Pampa de la Quinua, the Loro Canyon, and the Usquwillca Forest.
These trails are a great way to discover local plants and animals. This region promotes responsible tourism with exciting mountain biking trails that offer an adventure that respects the environment and shows off Quinua’s stunning scenery.
Quinoa Trivia: Quinua is known for its pottery, and the intricate designs often feature symbols from Peru’s Andean culture. You can bring a piece of beautiful handicrafts to your home as a souvenir!
Leymebamba – Hidden in the Amazon’s Embrace
Leymebamba is a town located in the stunning cloud forests of the Amazon region. This small village is not just surrounded by greenery, it also houses one of the most important recent archaeological discoveries. In the nearby cliffs, researchers found mummies of the ancient Chachapoya who lived in the area long before the Incas.
Why Leymebamba Is Special:
Leymebamba’s connection to the Chachapoya people is fascinating. Leymebamba is popular for its museum and the “Laguna de los condores” archaeological complex. The surrounding jungle is a paradise for nature lovers, with countless waterfalls, hiking trails, and wildlife to explore.
This town thrives due to great community-based tourism that blends adventure with culture. You can enjoy guided tours, horseback riding, and homemade meals. Visitors can also discover local families’ traditional crafts and practices.
This friendly approach not only supports the local economy but also strengthens community ties. Leymebamba is committed to protecting the environment, as shown by the Valle de los Chilchos Private Conservation Area, a project that promotes ecotourism and organic coffee.
Among the outdoor activities you can do is watching local flora and fauna, for example, you can see the rare yellow-tailed woolly monkey. If you love ancient civilizations and nature, Leymebamba is a hidden gem and another village worth visiting.
Fun Fact: Leymebamba’s mummies were kept in cliffside tombs, and the discovery of them shocked archaeologists. Some of the mummies are well preserved and can be seen in the local museum!
Sibayo – A Mountain Village Above the Colca Canyon
Sibayo is a small, peaceful village above the famous Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, people also call it “the stone village.” Established in 1776, Sibayo proudly displays its unique architectural charm with traditional stone and adobe buildings topped with straw roofs.
Why Sibayo is Special:
As one of Peru’s “Charming Villages,” Sibayo warmly welcomes community-based tourism. This approach not only supports economic growth but also celebrates its rich cultural heritage. Sustainable and rural tourism blends seamlessly with the everyday lives of its residents.
The village respects its indigenous identity, showcasing traditional crafts and cultural practices. This plan supports social, economic, and environmental sustainability, which makes tourism vital to the community’s development.
Sibayo also highlights its customs, crafts, folklore, food, and unique architecture. This enriches visitors’ experiences and deepens their appreciation for its heritage. Families in the village are actively involved in tourism activities, ensuring that the benefits of tourism lead to shared prosperity for everyone.
Fun Fact: The Colca Canyon is so deep that it’s twice as deep as the Grand Canyon! Keep an eye out for the famous condors soaring above you.
Huancaya – A heartwarming Andean village
Huancaya is a small village in the central Andes, in the Lima department. and it’s the perfect place to experience the vibrant culture of the highlands. You can find this town near the beautiful Chupaca Valley, known for its colorful festivals, traditional music, and friendly locals.
Why Huancaya is special:
Huancaya village is blessed with stunning landscapes and lively cultural heritage. Huancaya is the vibrant heart of the Nor Yauyos Cochas Reserve, where you can find turquoise lagoons, dramatic canyons, waterfalls, and Inca ruins.
If you’re adventurous enough, you can explore lush local plants, like endemic species and floating aquaculture cages. You can glide across the lagoons in a boat, paddle through the water, cast your line for sport fishing, or soar through the air while zip-lining.
Among the must-see spots you can find, there’s the Huallhua Lagoon or the Cabracancha viewpoint. These spots reveal the stunning beauty and rich biodiversity of the region. Currently, Huancaya is on a quest to be crowned a “Charming Village” by Mincetur, Peru’s Tourism Bureau.
This goal can set a standard for sustainable tourism that can preserve heritage while fostering growth. With this honor, Huancaya hopes to attract more visitors and become a destination that cherishes and shares its unique cultural and natural wonders.
Why These Villages Are So Special
These five Peruvian villages—Maras, Quinua, Leymebamba, Sibayo, and Huancaya—are rich in history, culture, and beauty. Each one tells a different story, stories that span from ancient Inca traditions and pre-Inca civilizations to modern celebrations of life and community.
Travelers like you can find the true heart of Peru in these villages: Go away from the crowds and meet friendly locals proud to share their heritage. Also, what makes these villages even more special is their commitment to sustainable tourism.
Your visit will support local communities, and it’ll help preserve their traditions and nature for future generations. So, if you’re planning to visit Peru, make sure to add these five amazing villages to your list. When in Peru, trust in Viagens Machu Picchu for your next trip.
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