Peru Guide
Things not to miss
1 Arequipa
• This white stone city, beautiful and intriguing in its own right, is watched over by the awesome, ice-capped volcano of El Misti.
2 Trujillo
• Though it doesn't receive the hype of Lima or Cusco, Peru's third city charms with its colonial architecture and surprisingly cosmopolitan atmosphere.
3 Colca Canyon
• Twice the size of the Grand Canyon, the enormous Colca, one of the deepest canyons in the world, is also one of Peru's biggest destinations.
4 Ballestas Islands
• Often called the Peruvian Galapagos, these islands located off the coast of Pisco, are teeming with bird and marine life.
5 Huacachina
• This sacred healing lagoon, ringed by palm trees and hidden among massive sand dunes, provides a focus for sandboarders and dune buggy riders from all over the world.
6 Paracas National Reserve
• Just a few hours out of Lima, Paracas is a coastal wildlife haven, boasting some fantastic beaches alongside archaeological sites and a museum.
7 Huaca Pucllana
• This ancient adobe pyramid, complete with recreated scenes, rises out of the desert soil in what is today a relatively affluent Lima suburb.
8 Pisac Market
• Andean markets serve as true community hubs – not to mention excellent places to sample local goods and produce – and Pisac's thriving morning market is one of the best.
9 Puerto Belén
• A frenetic, floating jungle port that has been called the Venice of the Peruvian jungle.
10 Shipibo tribal arts and crafts
• Dressed in their traditional skirts and colourful seed jewellery, the women of this tribe travel all over Peru to sell their unusual and beautiful craft goods.
11 Máncora
• Peru's most popular surfer hang-out features gorgeous beaches and thriving nightlife.
12 Hiking the Inca Trail
• Culminating at Machu Picchu, this is one of the most popular and eye-opening trails in the world.
13 Kuelap
• The ruined citadel of Kuelap is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the Andes.
14 Sacsayhuaman
• The zigzag megalithic defensive walls of this Inca temple-fortess are home to the Inti Raymi annual sun festival.
15 Nasca Lines
• Take a helicopter tour to get the full impact of these intricate symbols, etched into the deserts of southern Peru.
16 Ayacucho
• Bustling streets, an unusual quantity of churches, highly passionate religious processions and unique artesania make this Andean city a standout.
17 Machu Picchu
• With mysterious temples and palaces nestling among hundreds of terraces, this fabulous Inca citadel is awe-inspiring.
18 The Archbishop's Palace
• Restored in 1924, the palace is typical of colonial Lima, particularly the elaborate woodwork of the upper storey balconies.
19 Valley of the Pyramids
• Over twenty adobe pyramids built by a pre-Inca civilization surround a sacred mountain at Túcume in the northern deserts.
20 Uros Islands
• One of Lake Titicaca's many treasures, these man-and-woman-made floating villages have existed in the lake since Inca times.