The most amazing places to visit in Peru: coast, highlands and jungle! From Inca ruins to the enigmatic Nasca Lines, through the immense Amazon: welcome to Peru, a country of a thousand adventures!
How much time should you allow for visiting Peru?
For a first trip, a couple of weeks are essential to visit the most famous destinations: Lima, the Ballestas Islands, the Huacachina Oasis, the White City of Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu.
Lima, the City of Kings
Lima is the first stop on your journey through the quintessential Andean country. It is right here that your visit to the Land of the Incas begins. A cosmopolitan capital and the cradle of Peru's famous cuisine, Lima has deservedly earned the title of Gastronomic Capital of Latin America. Limeño cooking has been shaped by Andean, European, African and Asian traditions. This cultural mix has given rise to a unique culinary style that draws on an endless variety of ingredients.
Lima sets the trends, fashions and architectural styles that influence the rest of the country. Full of colonial riches, visible above all in the historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1988. Walking from Plaza San Martín to Plaza Mayor, you can admire the famous Balconies of Lima, the opulence of the Viceroys, the Archbishop's Palace, the City Hall and Pizarro's House, now the Government Palace where Peru's President resides today.
Lima is also modernity, a modern cultural hub and the only capital in South America located on the seafront. This lets our visitors stroll along the Costa Verde or cycle along the pier. Lima is a destination not to be missed!
Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands
Located just 3 hours from Lima in the Ica region, the Paracas National Reserve is home to one of Peru's most important marine-coastal ecosystems. A tour to Paracas should always include an excursion to the Ballestas Islands to spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, dolphins, flamingos and pelicans. The visit continues with an exploration of the Paracas Nature Reserve, home to the beaches of Lagunillas, La Mina, Mendieta and Playa Roja. Paracas is today one of the favourite destinations for Lima's own residents as well as European travellers. A few kilometres away, from the Pisco airport, small aircraft can also take you flying over the Palpa Lines and the Nasca Lines.
The Huacachina Oasis: relaxation, sun and Pisco!
The Huacachina Oasis is pure adrenaline! Its dunes are the setting for endless route combinations for lovers of dune buggies and sandboarding. Less daring visitors can choose between a stroll for a romantic sunset or a spectacular sunrise. The colours of the desert will stay in your heart. The Ica experience continues among the Pisco wineries. Sipping a Pisco Sour, a Chilcano or a straight pisco... it depends on your taste... relaxation is guaranteed.
Mystery in the Desert: the Nasca Lines and the Pyramids of Cahuachi
The ancient and enigmatic hieroglyphs found in the Peruvian desert near the towns of Nasca and Palpa are a genuine mystery for archaeologists and experts in pre-Hispanic civilisations. There are various theories about their purpose, but none can be considered official.
Impressive in their scale, they can only be seen from the air, on the daily overflights available from Nasca. Mystery, adventure and archaeology: Nasca is unmissable on a first visit to Peru.
The visit to Nasca is rounded off with an excursion by buggy or conventional vehicle to the ceremonial Pyramids of Cahuachi. A sacred site of the Nasca culture, Cahuachi is the most imposing archaeological site on the entire southern coast of Peru. A link between the ceremonial centre of Cahuachi and the Nasca Lines is highly likely.
Arequipa, the enchanting volcanic land
Sillar, the white solidified volcanic ash quarried from around the city, will welcome you to the most Spanish-feeling city in all of South America: Arequipa La Blanca!
Known as the White City for the fascinating baroque-style buildings in its historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000, Arequipa enjoys sunny weather all year round and blue skies that invite you to stay several days to admire the beauty of its monuments, snow-capped peaks, volcanoes, deep canyons and renowned Arequipeña cuisine.
With over 500 colonial-style buildings, the historic centre of Arequipa reaches its peak splendour within the perimeter walls of the Santa Catalina Monastery. Opened on 2 October 1580, the Monastery housed the daughters of the city's most illustrious families with a religious calling. It was during this era that European and Andean culture merged in the harmonious expression of white sillar arches, giving rise to Arequipa's mestiza culture.
A visit to Arequipa should always include a stop at the famous picanterías: from La Benita in Characato, to La Lucila in Sachaca, to Caucau, to Nueva Palomino in Yanahuara, to the popular La Capitana.
Trekking and Living Culture: the Colca Canyon
Located in the province of Caylloma and reaching 4,160 metres, the Colca Canyon is considered the fourth deepest in the world. Despite this, the Colca Canyon is easily accessible, and from Chivay a series of day trips depart for the Cruz del Cóndor to spot the Andean Condor. In the Colca Valley, visitors can enjoy various adventure sports, horseback excursions and ethnic tourism experiences.
Inside the Canyon there are several trekking circuits among the most popular in Peru: the trek to the Sangalle Oasis, the one to Llahuar and Fure, San Juan de Chuccho and Tapay. Accessible and extraordinary circuits in close contact with local communities, a must for trekking lovers!
Lake Titicaca, Peru's natural heritage
Since time immemorial, Lake Titicaca has been one of the most important centres of Andean culture in pre-Hispanic times. Lake Titicaca has had a mystical impact on the society of present-day Puno. Andean mythology tells that the world was born here. Here were born the founders of the Inca empire: Mama Ocllo and Manco Cápac. Legend has it that they emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca and walked all the way to Cusco, where they began the legend of the Incas.
Lake Titicaca is certainly one of the main tourist attractions of Peru as well as Bolivia. It is, after all, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,812 m above sea level), with depths of up to 281 m across its roughly 8,300 km² of surface area.
To discover the secrets and character of ancient Peru, we recommend sailing across the lake to the community of Amantaní and spending a day with a local family to see how, well into the 21st century, these communities live as jealous guardians of their ancestral traditions.
A visit to Lake Titicaca would not be complete without a stop at the Floating Islands of the indigenous Uros people. The Uros, or the Kingdom of the Totora reed, which is used to build the islands, for medicinal purposes, and as part of their cuisine.
Finally, we recommend an excursion to Taquile, an Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage site for its textile art since 2005. Did you know that to marry on Taquile you must be an expert weaver? Have you ever seen a man walk and weave at the same time? Discover it for yourself by visiting Taquile!
The Imperial City of Cusco
The political, administrative and religious capital of Tahuantinsuyo, Cusco was the most important city of pre-Hispanic Peru. Cusco's importance peaked in the 15th century when the Inca Pachacútec redesigned its urban layout, right up until the arrival of the Spanish. The Spanish kept the Inca layout, on top of which buildings, temples and noble houses were built. One of the most striking examples is the Temple of Santo Domingo at the Qoricancha, or Cusco Cathedral at Quishuarcancha. Once the property of the Inca Wiracocha, it was one of the most important buildings during the Inca period.
During a visit to Cusco, you shouldn't miss the Sacsayhuamán fortress, the bohemian neighbourhood of San Blas and the beating heart of present-day Cusco: the San Pedro market.
Cusco is also gastronomy, and around the Plaza de Armas you'll find top-level restaurants such as Limo, Calle del Medio and Inka Grill. At weekends, we instead recommend visiting the Saylla area to try the famous cuy al palo (spit-roast guinea pig), chancho al horno (roast pork) and Cusco's signature dish, chiriuchu.
Excursions to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek, the Inca Jungle, the Palcoyo or Rainbow Mountain trek and trips to Manu Park in the Amazon all depart daily from Cusco. In short, Cusco is the nerve centre of organised tourism in Peru!
The Sacred Valley, land blessed by the Sun God
Unrivalled natural beauty: the Sacred Valley was the garden of the Incas and remains a blessing for present-day Cusco. The Sacred Valley is an enchanting place where many foreigners have stayed to live forever, captivated by the beauty of the Urubamba mountain range, the Vilcanota River, and above all the feeling of peace and harmony you breathe here.
A tour of the Sacred Valley generally requires at least two days to visit the Maras Salt Pans, the Inca agricultural park of Moray and the Chinchero market. Other unmissable stops are the fortresses of Ollantaytambo and Pisac. The Sacred Valley is full of trekking experiences such as Huchuy Qosqo, or cycling from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, as well as culinary experiences such as the Pachamanca or a refined lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari.
Machu Picchu, Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity
Well, we have arrived at the pinnacle of your trip to Peru: Machu Picchu. The Llaqta, or Inca City, of Machu Picchu needs no introduction and is today one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.
We recommend visiting Machu Picchu via the classic 4-day Inca Trail or the more accessible 2-day Inca Trail & Machu Picchu. Arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is a thrilling experience, made even more mystical by the lush Amazonian cloud forest.
The classic visit to Machu Picchu, on the other hand, is best done in the early morning slots. The climb up Huayna Picchu is unmissable, and for the more daring, so is Machu Picchu Mountain. Machu Picchu also offers luxury train experiences such as the Hiram Bingham service or Inca Rail's The Private service.
Machu Picchu, Peru's pride and World Heritage Site, awaits you!
Touching the sky: Rainbow Mountain!
Do you want to touch the sky...? Well, yes, in Peru it's possible, with a legendary trek to Vinicunca, commonly known as Rainbow Mountain or the Mountain of Seven Colours. Inaccessible until recently, Rainbow Mountain revealed itself in all its splendour only a few years ago, a result, sadly, of melting glaciers.
The trek to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley is legendary, an unmissable excursion that has rightfully become part of the classic Peru tour circuit.
The trek takes around 4 hours round trip, and you can make use of the local communities' horse and mule rental services for those who find it difficult to cover the entire route due to the altitude reached at the summit: 5,100 metres above sea level... an unmissable bit of madness on your trip to Peru.