From once-buried pre-Hispanic ruins to sky-high mountaintop cities filled with history and culture, lush jungles, gastronomy, and friendly locals, Peru will amaze all your senses simultaneously. Add to that its affordable prices, and you will want to add these best places to visit in Peru to your bucket list!
Peru At a Glance
- Capital: Lima
- Currency: Sol
- Population: 33.85 million (2023)
- Continent: South America
- Languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara
- Religion: 92% Roman Catholic
- Climate: semi-arid coastal desert, tropical Amazon rainforest, high Andes
- Famous Food: Cuy (Guinea Pig)
12 Lima
Many people fly into Lima solely as a stopover to get to more sought-after destinations in Peru, such as Machu Picchu or the Amazon. But with a history predating Colonial occupation, Lima itself is worthy of spending an extra day or two. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Lima is the third-largest city in the Americas and the second-largest desert capital city behind Cairo in Egypt. Home to one-third of Peru’s population, Lima attractions are plentiful attractions, and the cuisine is delicious.
Click here to read Lima Attractions I Wish Everyone Knew About
Click here to read Paragliding in Lima, Peru
11 Huacachina
Huacachina is a desert oasis and tiny village in southwestern Peru, approximately 5 hours away from Lima. It is one of those places that you never thought could exist in real life. Boasting the largest sand dunes on the continent and a center surrounding the palm-lined green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon, the oasis is said to have therapeutic properties.
According to Peruvian legend, the oasis formed when a beautiful princess was spied bathing in the waters by a local hunter. In shame, she dove into the water and wept in humiliation, creating the oasis as it is today, and cursing the land into sand. It is rumored she still lives at the bottom of the oasis for those bold enough to dive in and look.
10 Pisac
About a one-hour drive from Cusco, Pisac is the city used as the starting point for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The better-known Inca ruins at Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo are spectacular, for sure. But Pisac itself is one of the most colorful and diverse cities in Peru. And with far fewer tourists.
Pisac’s Inca ruins are an architectural marvel. The citadel sits sentry at 9,751 feet above sea level overlooking the village. An undulating, rock-strewn path winds between two deep gorges, exposing stunning views of the curved hillside terraces and the rugged Andes.
Pisac Market is one of the most famous markets in Peru, and while it can be crowded, it’s fascinating to see the indigenous Quechua converge from the surrounding highlands dressed in traditional attire to barter and sell their produce. Do try nticuchos, skewers of grilled meat — usually cow or alpaca heart — dipped in a savory or hot sauce.
9 Lares Valley
Situated amid the imposing snowcapped peaks of the Andes, Lares Valley is a paradise dotted with beautiful glacial lakes and lush valleys. It’s a place where life moves more slowly. The tiny Quechua-speaking communities have maintained their ancestral traditions, farming root crops, grazing llamas and alpacas, and using their looms to create fine textiles.
The Lares Trek is a lesser-known but equally breathtaking alternative to the more well-trodden Inca Trail. The Lares Trek offers opportunities to experience the majestic Andes Mountains, interspersed with the traditional culture of the local Quechua people.
Click here to read Best Hikes in Peru’s Sacred Valley.
8 Cusco
Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this vibrant colonial city, cradled by the rugged Peruvian Andes, is a magnificent fusion of ancient vs. modern. Tourists who travel to South America’s most famous and most visited attraction, Machu Picchu, inevitably start in Cusco but are soon seduced by the well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage city and often stay longer. In fact, many extend their stay to explore the Amazon, Lima, and other incredible destinations in Peru.
Cusco was established at the daunting high altitude of 11,152 feet. The thin air can be a problem for tourists, but the steep, uneven steps around the old town are best explored on foot.
Click here to read 10 Life-Changing Things to Do in Cusco
7 Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia in the Andes Mountains, is the highest (over 12,000 feet) navigable lake in the world. Said to be the birthplace of the Incas, it’s home to numerous ruins and is full of history and culture.
People have occupied the land surrounding Lake Titicaca for centuries, building floating islands from reeds, passing down stories about ancient gods to their children, and following traditions that have stood the test of time.
While swimming in Lake Titicaca is possible, it’s not recommended due to the water temperatures between 50 and 57°.
6 Vinicuna
Vinicunca (aka Montaña de Siete Colores and Rainbow Mountain) is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 16,522 feet above sea level. The astonishing natural phenomenon is a geological formation characterized by its vibrant red, green, yellow, and purple stripes, which are the result of minerals deposited in the rock over millions of years.
5 Ollantaytambo
Dating back to the 15th century, Ollantaytambo is one of the best places to visit in Peru. The city was established as the royal estate of Inca Emperor Pachacuti and is one of the best-preserved Inca sites and an example of Inca urban planning. The archaeological site, strategically located in the western Sacred Valley, is the only site where the Incas were successful in fending off the relentless Spanish conquistadors in 1536. The Incas probably chose Ollantaytambo due to its strategic location on a mountain between two valleys. The fortress was built at the top of the mountain, enabling guards to see incoming invaders. Unfortunately, Pizarro returned in 1540 with his army of Spanish conquistadors, who were this time successful in conquering Ollantaytambo.
Click here to read Amazing Things to Do in Ollantaytambo
4 Inca Trail
On the Inca Trail. Photo by Silver Ballon
The Inca Trail is a famous hiking trail in Peru that starts in the Sacred Valley outside of Cusco and ends at the mystical Sun Gate entrance to Machu Picchu. It’s a popular trek, known for its stunning scenery, including mountains, cloud forests, and archaeological sites, and for being the historic path the Incas used to reach Machu Picchu. The hike can take 3 to 7 days to complete.
I wasn’t up for a multi-day hike, but loved the opportunity to hike a part of the scenic path, cutting a stunning swath through the towering mountains, walking on Inca stones, crossing several creeks, passing lush terraced hillsides, heavenly-smelling eucalyptus forests, and stone bridges. You must obtain an Inca Trail permit to hike or walk any part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Click here to read Inca Trail Hike and Other Journeys in Peru’s Sacred Valley.
3 Sacred Valley
The midway point between the popular destinations of Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is an enchanting place in the Andean highlands. Its main tourist attractions are the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Moray.
Visitors can take advantage of opportunities to meet the local people, shop in handicraft and textile markets, interact with the local llamas, and explore ancient hilltop citadels. Don’t miss the cultural experience of partaking in a traditional earth oven meal prepared by locals.
Click here to read 6 Inca Ruins that Are Not Machu Picchu.
2 Amazon River
Since pre-Colombian times, the Amazon has been the source of intrigue for outsiders, from daydreams of riverboat adventures to nightmares of shrunken heads. The largest river by volume, the Amazon is often considered the most dangerous river in the world. My small eco-friendly cruise ship meandered the waterway during the rainy season, quietly gliding through the tributaries and rainforests that are home to an incredible collection of flora, fauna…and unexpected adventure.
Click here to read Adventure on the Amazon
1 Machu Picchu
Everyone knows that the amazing Machu Picchu is one of the best places to visit in Peru!
Often (mistakenly) referred to as “the Lost City of the Incas,” American historian Hiram Bingham is credited with discovering (more accurately exposing) Machu Picchu in 1911, although in truth, there were already some families living in the area. Archaeologists estimate that Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450 for the Inca emperor Pachacuti.
The exact purpose of the remote and sprawling bastion remains shrouded in mystery. One of the recent theories suggests that Machu Picchu was built to be a palatial retreat for Pachacuti, but was abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion so that the conquerors would not find and ransack their cherished citadel. Another theory claims that due to the eight access routes into the city, it must have been an administrative and trading center between the Amazon and the Urubamba Valley and highlands. It is estimated that approximately 1200 people could have lived in the area. Whatever its purpose, Machu Picchu remained “lost” for almost 400 years.
Click here to read Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu
Click here to read Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: Affordable Luxury in the Andes
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Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of AdventureSmth Explorations during part of her stay in Peru, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow
is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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