Peru: 10 Must-See Places

Peru, although a very popular tourist destination and therefore often crowded, is truly fascinating. Don’t be misled by the idea that “where there’s a lot of tourism, it’s not worth it because it’s too standard.” Peru is absolutely worth it, and it is one of the most beautiful countries in all of Latin America. It would take months to discover it all, but based on a simpler itinerary we’ve tried to condense into this article the landscapes and sights we love most. So here goes...

What to see in Peru: 10 things not to miss
 

1) Machu Picchu

Well, we couldn’t help but put it first. A must-see stop at one of the 7 wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. Not just to see, but to fully enjoy! In recent years it has been overrun by waves of tourists, but let yourself be carried away. It’s worth it.
 

2) Arequipa

Arequipa is called the “White City” of Peru because its houses were built with white volcanic stone, much of it coming from Misti, the imposing volcano that towers over the city. It’s a მშვიდ and pleasant city! We like it; it relaxes us.
 

3) Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon is the deepest canyon in South America and the second deepest in the world (3,270 meters / 10,728 feet). Even more interesting than the canyon itself (which from above doesn’t even always look like a canyon) is what lies within it, such as “Cruz del Condor,” where you are almost guaranteed to see condors gliding in flight, as well as tiny villages and scenic viewpoints.
 

4) Lake Titicaca

The town of Puno is an excellent base for exploring Lake Titicaca. This great lake, which Peru shares with Bolivia, sits at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,467 feet), and it is the highest navigable lake in the world! It is home to peoples such as the Uros, descendants of the Inca. Another interesting feature of the lake is its famous Floating Islands, which we’ll talk about in the next section!
 

5) The Uros floating homes

As we were saying, the floating islands! In the heart of Lake Titicaca lies a dense network of floating islands. These are not natural islands, but structures built by the people who have lived here for generations: the Uros. The inhabitants of these islands have a very distinctive social organization: everyone makes their own clothes (and knitting is an exclusively male activity, while women take care of spinning and weaving), and they use different elements of clothing (skirts, pompoms, hats, etc.) to show their social status within the community (married, engaged, single, person in office, former office-holder, and so on). We tell you more in this article.
 

6) Cusco

From Puno you head north to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire and today an absolute must-see. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. There is so much to see here: the great Hatun Rumiyoc area with the famous “Twelve-Angled Stone,” the ceremonial center of Qenqo, the Inca archaeological site of Tambomachay with its aqueducts, and much more. From here you can continue on to Aguas Calientes, the departure point for Machu Picchu, or to the Rainbow Mountains.
 

7) Paracas

Paracas is spectacular! It features majestic rock walls, eroded over time by the water.
In the Inca language, Paracas means “sandstorm.” Its name is truly fitting and perfectly describes a typical situation in Paracas: crazy winds that blow sand everywhere. 

8) Rainbow Mountains

Vinicunca Mountain, the most colorful mountain in Peru. It is a few hours from Cusco and is known by many names: Vinicunca, Colorada, Rainbow Mountain. It’s incredibly colorful and truly one of a kind. The trek to reach it is quite demanding. You go above 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) in altitude, and the final climb is a tough one! But once you reach the top, the reward is enormous.
 

9) Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the valley of the Urubamba River in the Peruvian Andes, near Cusco and Machu Picchu.
 

10) Nasca

The Nasca Desert is... a mystery! A truly fascinating mystery. This is where you’ll find the famous geoglyphs: 13,000 lines forming around 800 designs. Among these figures, you can recognize stylized animals such as condors, whales, monkeys, and spiders.

Well, if we’re talking about Peru, you can’t miss number 9 on the list of things you absolutely have to try. Maybe the best of all. And that is our PERU TRIP. Take a look!