^{Photo Credit: Tierras Vivas}

Huayllay Stone Forest in central Peru is wild. It’s this huge high-altitude plateau, way up at almost 14,000 feet (4,200 meters), covered in massive rock formations that look like they’ve been sculpted on purpose.

Some look like animals, others like people or mushrooms or castles. It’s kind of like nature’s version of a surreal art gallery.

The coolest part? It’s not crowded. Hardly anyone goes there, especially compared to the big-name spots in Peru.

You can just wander around on your own, scrambling up the rocks, taking in crazy views, and spotting shapes in the stones. People have nicknamed a lot of them, but half the fun is coming up with your own.

You’ll probably see some llamas and vizcachas hopping around, maybe some highland birds too. And if you're up for it, you can camp there, just know it gets seriously cold at night.

There are some hot springs nearby, which hit the spot after a long hike in the thin mountain air.

It’s not the easiest place to reach, about five or six hours from Lima, but if you’re into weird landscapes and having a place mostly to yourself, it’s totally worth the trip.

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