Peru is one incredible place! Where to begin? From natural wonders to charming cities, one could easily spend a couple of months in this beautifully diverse country! Here is our list of 10 must-see places to visit in Peru for your South America adventures.
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Best Places to Visit in Peru #1: Machu Picchu
Oh Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world. This is an absolute must for any trip to Peru. But there is so much to know before visiting this site. Leave yourself a few days, as these tours are 3-4 days long.
Machu Picchu is the number one thing to do in Peru.
Huayna Picchu is an extra visit that is connected to Machu Picchu, and the views are unbeatable. If you are going to Machu Picchu. We have a full guide with more details of what to expect, and how to prepare for this magical journey.
Best Places to Visit in Peru #2: Cusco
Cusco is hands down our favorite city in Peru. You could easily spend a month in this amazing place. This city is not only the hub for some great treks (including the famous Machu Picchu), but the old town is extremely charming.
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Cusco is full of endless activities and gorgeous sites. It has stunning ruins, beautiful views, and delicious food. In addition, they have the best markets with handmade goods, making this a place you will never want to leave!
Want to book your bus to Cusco from surrounding cities? Here are a few popular routes:
Best Places to Visit in Peru #3: Huacachina
How many times have you read or heard of the meaning of an oasis? A pleasant source of water and nature in the middle of the desert, where nothing can grow or live. Sounds like it is out of a fairytale, right?. Well, luckily for all of us, you don’t need to take a long trip to the middle of nowhere to find these spots.
Huacachina is just a 9 minute drive (or 48 minute walk if you'd rather go for a quick hike) from Ica, a city in the north of Perú. This small, but beautiful gem is a great place where you can get a great mix of fun and relaxation.
Huacachina is an unbelievable desert oasis.
Here you can ride in a buggy in the dunes, go sandboarding, and hike up to admire the views of this truly magical place. Huacachina is one of the best places to visit in Peru, and certainly a unique one. It can even be visited as a day trip from Lima or Paracas.
Best Places to Visit in Peru #4: Andes Mountains
The Andes mountains are one of the best places to visit in Peru for those nature lovers out there.
Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca are two mountain ranges within the Andes of Peru, that are incredibly breathtaking. Explore along the boundaries of the regions of Ancash, Lima and Huánuco and you will find some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Nestled between these mountains are numerous lakes with the most turquoise waters you can find.
Laguna Paron is one of the most beautiful lakes tucked between the Andes mountains.
You can visit for a couple of days, or weeks here! There are plenty of trekking trips available from Lima and Huaraz. If you are planning to do a long trek, make sure you are well packed with all of your travel essentials. With the high altitudes and changing temperatures, these hikes are no joke.
Laguna Paron, Laguna 69, and Laguna Churup are few of the many different stunning lagoons that you can go to. With limited time, we decided to choose Laguna Paron, and it was one of the most stunning place we've ever seen!
You can actually sign up for long treks that will visit multiple destinations, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Peru.
Want to book a multiple day trek? We found a few to choose from:
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Best Places to Visit in Peru #5: Colca Canyon
Meet the Grand Canyon of Peru! It's actually 4,160 meters deep, making it twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a must do in Perú. But Colca Canyon isn't like any other canyon you may be thinking of. You will be shocked by the amount of nature that you will find all along this beautiful landscape.
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You can reach the Colca Canyon by taking a bus or renting a car from Arequipa, one of the most popular cities in Peru. It is a couple of hours away, and can be done as a day trip or you can spend a night or two.
Unlike the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is full of greenery.
Want to know what you will see in Colca Canyon? While hiking you will pass by several tiny towns until you find one of the canyon’s hidden gems. Sangalle is a beautiful area in the bottom of the Colca Canyon, where you can spend the night and enjoy the pool. Just make sure to get there before it get's dark.
Want to do an organized tour to the Colca Canyon? There are plenty that go from Arequipa:
Best Places to Visit in Peru #6: Lima
As the capital of Peru, it's no secret that this city needs to be a spot on your list. Lima is located in the middle of the country, and is the main hub to get to all different places to visit in Peru, as well as the rest of South America.
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From visiting historical sites, to swimming with sea lions, and finding the best ceviche to dancing the night away, we promise you won't get bored in Lima.
Want to know all the great things to do in the capital city? We have a full guide you can check out with everything you need to know.
Best Places ti Visit in Peru #7: Lake Titicaca
This lake is the highest lake in the world! It is actually shared by both Peru and Bolivia. This massive body of water is 3,232 mi², and is such a cool spot to check out while in Peru.
There are plenty of great towns to visit to enjoy Lake Titicaca. Puno is one of the most popular, and is home to the floating islands of Uros. Take a dip in the water, go kayaking, or take a ride on one of the traditional reed boats.
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Want to book your stay in Puno? Check below for the different options:
Best Places to Visit in Peru #8: Amazon Rainforest
Did you know that 60% of Peru is actually rainforest? Being the second largest portion of the Amazon (after Brazil), it covers 6.7 million km²!
Here you will find all kind of amazing things to do, such as play and feed baby manatees, learn how to use a blow-dart gun and even take a cruise through the river.
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Best Places to Visit in Peru #9: Arequipa
This is with out a doubt, the prettiest city in Peru. The beautiful architecture, rich culture, and delicious food make this a must see for places to visit in Peru, Check out the Alpaca factory, dine in front of the Basilica Cathedral, or try a local treat, queso helado.
Popular routes to Arequipa:
Arequipa is the second biggest city in the country, and one of the most important places to visit in Peru.
Best Places to Visit in Peru #10: Trujillo
This city in the Northwest of Peru is where you will find the largest Incan cities in history. Although the city center itself isn't one to marvel at, the surrounding areas are really worth a visit.
Stay in the small town of Huanchaco for its cute beachy vibes! We also have a complete Trujillo guide for the ins & outs of this city, and the interesting historical sites to check out.
Popular routes to Trujillo:
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Want to know where exactly all the best places to visit in Peru all? Take a look at this map we've created of where all of these great places are located:
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Peru is one of the most diverse countries we've ever seen! It is full of rainforests, deserts, beaches, mountains , ruins, oasis's, and so much more!
These places are definitely worth checking out on your trip to Peru. Want more? Check out our 12 unique places to visit in Peru article!
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