Peru is far more than just Machu Picchu; it’s a country full of incredible diversity and hidden treasures.
From vibrant coastal towns to vast desert landscapes, and remote mountain villages, Peru offers an endless array of experiences. While the iconic Machu Picchu is a must-see, there’s so much more to uncover. Exploring Peru is a journey through history, culture, and stunning natural beauty, from the bustling streets of Lima to the serene Sacred Valley. Every moment in Peru is unforgettable, and here are ten places you should visit and activities you should try when travelling in Peru according to Llama Travel, a Peru holidays specialist sending people to Peru since 2002.
1. Prepare a ceviche in Lima
If there’s one reason to visit Lima, it’s the food. Recently, Peruvian cuisine has gained international attention, with Central in Lima voted the world’s best restaurant, and many others in the top 50 list. Thanks to diverse ingredients like world-class seafood, colourful corn, and tropical fruits, Peruvians have always enjoyed excellent food.
For a more immersive experience, consider trying the flavours and aromas of Peruvian food through a half-day cooking class in the heart of Lima, Peru’s gastronomic capital. Before the class, you’ll explore a vibrant food market brimming with colourful produce from the Andean, Amazonian, and coastal regions of Peru. Then, you’ll move on to the kitchen, where, during the cooking class, you’ll prepare and devour a three-course meal of traditional Peruvian dishes. Alongside this feast, you’ll gain all the knowledge needed to recreate the recipes at home and enjoy ceviche as often as you’d like.
2. Explore the Inca capital of Cusco
Start by discovering modern-day Cusco with a visit to the bustling San Pedro Market, a local market where you can sample exotic fruit and soak up the colours, flavours, smells and traditions of Cusco, then get sent back in time when visiting Cusco’s most interesting ancient Inca sites. See Qorikancha, the Inca temple of the sun, and explore the incredible citadel and fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which stands above the city – the location for a vital battle between the Incas and the Spanish Conquistadors.
3. Take the famous four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas
Abandoned by the Incas, untouched by the conquistadors, and rediscovered in 1911, Machu Picchu is one of the world’s great wonders, combining stunning archaeological ruins with breathtaking mountain scenery. Remaining well-preserved, the site was never found or looted by the Spanish.
You can explore this iconic “lost city” by taking the famous four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a popular trek, crossing high mountain passes and ending at the iconic ruins. Part of an extensive network of Inca trails, it offers stunning scenery, from 4,200m peaks to cloud forests. The trail also provides historical context for Machu Picchu, with ruins along the way revealing its connection to other Inca sites. The trek is beautiful, with diverse flora and the chance to spot condors, but it’s not a secluded walk, so expect incredible views, but not solitude.
4. Climb Machu Picchu Mountain
The main area of Machu Picchu is compact, and a three-hour tour covers it nicely. However, the site offers more than just the main ruins. Our favourite part is the climb up Machu Picchu Mountain, which, though challenging, rewards you with the best views. The trail begins 15 minutes from the entrance and is steep but well-maintained. As you ascend, stunning views of the ruins and the Urubamba River unfold, especially near the summit. The climb takes 1.5 to 2 hours, with a 600-metre vertical ascent, so good fitness is required. Don’t forget to take plenty of water and snacks for the hike, you won’t regret it!
5. Stay overnight in the magical Sacred Valley
Soak up the magical atmosphere of the Peruvian countryside with an overnight stay in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Relax in the gardens of your beautiful hotel in the heart of the valley. Visit the salt evaporation ponds of Maras, the amphitheatre-like terraces of Moray and the Andean community of Misminay, and discover why the Sacred Valley was known as ‘the breadbasket of the Incas’.
6. Board the Train to Lake Titicaca
Watch a panorama of changing landscapes from the comfort of your first-class carriage that takes you from Cusco to Lake Titicaca. Riding aboard the Titicaca train, enjoy a sumptuous three-course meal and watch from the open-air balcony of the observation car as the scenery changes from rugged mountains to rivers and vast open plains.
7. Stay in a remote lodge in the Amazon Rainforest
The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, home to remarkable vegetation, birdlife, and wildlife. Its inaccessibility has left much of the jungle untouched and pristine. Staying at a jungle lodge is a fantastic way to experience the Amazon in comfort, with accommodations built from local materials. Expert English-speaking guides lead excursions through the forest, along rivers, and lakes. Llama Travel offers three lodge options, catering to different comfort levels and regions of the Amazon, ensuring a memorable and immersive jungle experience. Visit the remote Tambopata Research Center, deep in the primary rainforest, to witness the world’s largest macaw clay lick, where hundreds of macaws and colourful parrots gather to ingest the clay.
8. See condors fly over the Colca Canyon
Overlooked by two of Peru’s highest volcanoes and surrounded by stunning landscapes and beautiful snow-capped ranges, the Colca Canyon is one of the greatest, and the second deepest (after nearby Cotahuasi Canyon), canyons in the world. A trip to the Colca Canyon is an unmissable adventure with impressive varieties of flora and fauna, green valleys, mighty rivers crossing the Andes and thousands of impressive pre-Inca terraces all to be discovered. Most impressive of all, watch the giant Andean condors rise on the thermals and glide by only metres away.
9. Try a Pisco Sour overlooking the Pacific Ocean
When we think of Peru, we think of the classic Pisco Sour, which is considered the country’s national drink. Made from Pisco, the local grape brandy, egg white and lemon juice, you’ll likely be offered various pre-dinner glasses during your time there. But watch out – they’re stronger than they taste!
10. Visit Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa
Undoubtedly one of the most interesting colonial buildings in Peru, the convent was shrouded in secrecy until the majority of it was opened to the public in 1970. However, a part of the complex is still used by nuns and cannot be visited. The convent is extensive, covering a whole city block, and is often described as a city within a city. The convent has been shaken by the numerous earthquakes to hit Arequipa, and several areas have suffered damage. However, the buildings have been reconstructed, and are a delight to wander around.