13 Best Places to Visit in Peru

Are you looking for the best places to visit in Peru? Here are some reasons why you should travel to this beautiful country.

The most visited tourist attraction in Peru is the famous Inca Ruins! But if you want to explore Peru beyond Machu Picchu, you’ll find some inspiration in this post.

Discover the Sacred Valley, fly over the Nazca Lines, watch the sunset in the desert oasis of Huacachina, hike to the Rainbow Mountain, and visit the Peruvian Amazon.

If you’re wondering what to do in Peru, here are the best places to visit in Peru.

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Best places to visit in Peru

1. Machu Picchu

One of the best things to do in Peru is to visit Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous attraction in Peru.

Take a day trip from Cusco and explore the ancient Inca Ruins, which are even more beautiful than it looks in the pictures!

Did you know that Hiram Bingham rediscovered the Lost City of the Incas on 24 July 1911?

Wondering how to visit Machu Picchu?

There are a few ways to get to Machu Picchu, and the best of them is the iconic train ride from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes town. Alternatively, hike the Classic Inca Trail.

If you want to make the most of your trip to Peru, we recommend spending one night in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu).

Then visit the Inca Ruins at sunrise and enjoy one of the most magical experiences of your life in Peru.

Recommended post → Ultimate Peru Itinerary

2. Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain

Palccoyo Mountain is one of the best places to visit in Peru and a must-do in South America.

To get to Rainbow Mountain, you first need to get to Cusco. From Lima or Arequipa you can travel to Cusco by bus or plane.

There are two beautiful rainbow mountains in Peru, so if you’re in a limited time in Cusco, you’ll have to decide which one to visit. Both rainbow mountains can be reached on a day trip from Cusco.

Palccoyo Mountain is located at 4,900 meters above sea level. The whole Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain hike will take about 1.5-2 hours.

Read our → Guide to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain

Are you spending limited time in Peru but want to make the most of your visit? Book the best 6-day Peru Tour, including a visit to Machu Picchu.

3. Sacred Valley

One of the most incredible places in Peru is the Sacred Valley. It is famous for its unique attractions, historic towns, and important archaeological sites.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a beautiful place close to the Urubamba River.

Wondering what to do in Sacred Valley, Peru?

Walk around the Chinchero Ruins, enjoy the best view at Ollantaytambo, visit the Maras Salt Mines, buy Peruvian souvenirs, and explore the Moray Terraces.

You can easily take a day trip from Cusco and explore the Sacred Valley sights on your own or join a guided tour.

For the perfect experience, book the best of Cusco in 3 days or choose an epic 4-day tour.

Recommended post → How to Visit Sacred Valley

4. Huacachina

Are you looking for more places to visit in Peru? Huacachina is a unique desert oasis in Peru, surrounded by the highest sand dunes in South America.

The most popular things to do in Huacachina are the dune buggy tours and sandboarding.

Make the most of your visit and book a combined tour of Huacachina and Paracas through Viator. This tour is one of the most reviewed, so you will not be disappointed.

The iconic viewpoint offers the most beautiful view of the desert oasis of Huacachina. It takes 15-30 minutes to reach the top, and the way down is even faster.

When climbing the sand dunes, especially during the day, bring enough water, wear a hat, and use sunscreen.

Keep reading → How to Visit Huacachina Desert Oasis

5. Peruvian Amazon

The Amazon covers a vast area of South America. Most parts of the rainforest are located in Brazil, with the rest in other countries such as Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.

One of the most important places on our planet is the Amazon Rainforest, as to help stabilize the climate and is home to hundreds of thousands of different plants and animals.

For the best experience, we recommend visiting during the dry season from May to October.

Most people spend 3 days 2 nights, or 4 days 3 nights exploring the Peruvian Jungle and the Amazon River.

Since it is a must-see destination in South America, we had to add it to our list of top places to visit in Peru.

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6. Paracas

Paracas is one of our favorite places in Peru. This small port town is home to the beautiful Ballestas Islands, also known as the “Poor Man’s Galapagos”.

It is a popular destination in Peru, so you can’t miss it on your Peru Itinerary.

The best thing to do in Paracas is a boat trip around the Ballestas Islands. Take a boat tour and enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife watching.

Book your tour of the Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve.

The “Poor Man’s Galapagos” is home to many animals, such as Humboldt penguins, sea lions, humpback whales, Peruvian pelicans, and seabirds.

During your tour of the Ballestas Islands, you can admire the magnificent Paracas Candelabra (Chandelier).

It is a mystical, giant sand sculpture nearly 2,000 years old and similar to the Nazca Lines.

Recommended post → Best Things to Do in Paracas

7. Cusco

Why should you visit Cusco? Cusco is one of the best places to visit in South America and the most visited destination in Peru.

It is the perfect base for day trips to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake.

In Cusco, you can try delicious local food, get an insight into Peruvian life, visit Sacsayhuaman, and buy Peruvian clothes.

Getting around in Cusco is easy, and most attractions are within walking distance.

Plan your Cusco Itinerary to go slow on the first day, with a comfortable pace to discover the city.

It was our favorite place in Peru, where you can easily spend 3-5 days exploring the best attractions.

Book a multi-day tour, including Machu Picchu.

8. Nazca Lines

Are you looking for unique places to visit in Peru? The still mysterious Nazca Lines are a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the must-see attractions in Peru.

The Nazca Lines are at least 2,000 years old, and more than 70 geometric shapes are recognizable from above, such as the spider, monkey, hummingbird, tree, cactus, etc.

On the way to Arequipa by bus, we stopped at the famous Nazca Lines, which was a fantastic experience.

From the Nazca Lines Viewing Tower, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape. If you are planning a flight over the Nazca Lines, you should spend a night in Nazca.

9. Arequipa

Arequipa is one of the most underrated places to visit in Peru. But as Arequipa is easily accessible from Lima or Cusco, you should add it to your Peru Itinerary.

Arequipa, also called ‘White City’, is well known for its beautiful architecture, volcanoes, stunning valleys, and delicious cuisine.

Wondering what to do in Arequipa, Peru?

Visit Mundo Alpaca, take a day trip to Colca Canyon, enjoy the beautiful panoramic view from Yanahuara viewpoint, and wander around the Santa Catalina Monastery.

Good to know
Arequipa is the perfect place to get used to the altitude of 2,335 meters before heading to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Read our → Arequipa Guide

10. Lake Titicaca

A visit to Lake Titicaca is a popular thing to do on every Peru and Bolivia trip. Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world.

It is a beautiful natural wonder that attracts tourists from all over the world.

Add at least 2 extra days to your trip to Peru and visit the traditional floating villages, explore the beautiful places, like the Uros Islands and Taquile Island, meet the locals, and take a boat tour on the turquoise lake.

From Arequipa and Cusco, you can easily reach Puno by bus or plane. Or experience the iconic train journey in Peru and travel from Cusco to Puno by train.

Join a multi-day tour that includes Lake Titicaca.

11. Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon is one of the best places to visit in Peru, and you can take a day trip from Arequipa to Colca Canyon.

The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world and is well worth a visit.

You can enjoy a short visit (1-day tour), or if you have more time in Peru, you should book a 3-day Colca Canyon trek.

The entrance fee to Colca Canyon is 70 Soles (19,5 USD).

TIP
Book the best Colca Canyon tours via Viator, where you can get great prices.

We recommend spending one night in Arequipa before going to the Colca Canyon hike to acclimatize to the altitude.

12. Lima

Did you know that Lima is one of the most underrated destinations in Peru? But Lima is one of the best places to visit in Peru.

Most people only take short sightseeing in Lima, but we recommend staying for 1-2 days to discover the sights.

Are you spending limited time in Peru but want to make the most of your visit? Book a multi-day tour, including Machu Picchu.

Wondering what to do in Lima, Peru?

Stroll around the Miraflores and Barranco neighborhoods, shop at the Indian Market, relax in the Parque Del Amor park, and explore Huaca Pucllana.

Lima is the perfect place to go paragliding or surfing, so if you have more time, you should try these fun activities.

Recommended post → Best Things to Do in Lima

13. Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

The Rainbow Mountains are the best places to visit in Peru.

In the past, the Peruvian Andes were always covered in snow and ice! But due to climate change, the glaciers have melted, revealing the colorful Vinicunca underneath and becoming the most popular destination in South America.

It was first discovered around 10 years ago. These intense colors are the result of different types of minerals (iron, manganese, etc.).

Most people visit the iconic Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, which is truly beautiful but always crowded and challenging to hike because of the altitude.

Book your Cusco Rainbow Mountain Tour.

Therefore we recommend going to Palccoyo Alternative Rainbow Mountain as it is less crowded and much easier to hike.

See also → Palccoyo vs Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

Where to Stay in Peru

We hope our list of places to visit in Peru will inspire you to travel to this beautiful country. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

13 Best Places to Visit in Peru