Best travel experiences in Peru

If you are looking for inspiration or just to get a feel of the country, check out these top experiences when travelling in Peru.

01 - 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.

Peruvian family walking in local market © Julieta Gonzalez Checchin/Shutterstock

02 - Kuelap

The ruined citadel of Kuelap is one of the most fascinating archeological sites in the Andes.

© Ludmila Ruzickova/Shutterstock

03 - Lagunas de Llanganuco

The deep blue of these lakes in the Cordillera Blanca changes with the weather.

© Peto Laszlo/Shutterstock

04 - Huacachina

The sacred healing lagoon Huacachina, ringed by palm trees and hidden among massive sand dunes, draws sandboarders and dune-buggy riders from all over the world.

© Pavel Svoboda Photography/Shutterstock

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05 - Uros islands

One of Lake Titicaca’s many treasures, the man-and-woman-made floating villages on the Uros islands have existed in the lake since Inca times.

© Rafal Cichawa/Shutterstock

06 - Andean agricultural terraces

These mountainside terraces in the magnificent Cotahuasi and Colca canyons give evidence of the impressive organization of pre-Conquest native societies.

© Shutterstock

07 - Trujillo

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Though it doesn’t attract the hype of Lima or Cusco, Peru’s third city Trujillo charms with its colonial architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

© Christian Vinces/Shutterstock

08 - Ballestas Islands

Often called the Peruvian Galapagos, the Ballestas Islands islands located off the coast of Pisco are teeming with bird and marine life.

© Don Mammoser/Shutterstock

09 - Try Ceviche

Peru’s national dish is a refreshing treat – fresh fish soaked in lime juice and chillies.

© Christian Vinces/Shutterstock

10 - Rainforest canopy walkways

Peru’s jungle can be viewed at its best from the Amazon’s longest tree-top canopy walkway, reaching 35m above ground at the Amazon Explorama Field Station.

© Christian Vinces/Shutterstock

11 - Reserva Nacional Paracas

Just a few hours out of Lima, Paracas is a coastal wildlife haven, boasting some fantastic beaches alongside archeological sites.

© Michael L. Demmons/Shutterstock

12 - Cordillera Blanca

The glacial scenery of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range is among the finest and most accessible on the planet.

Hiking in Peru, Cordillera Blanca © Pavel Svoboda Photography/Shutterstock

13 - Arequipa

This white stone city of Arequipa, beautiful and intriguing, is watched over by the awesome, ice-capped volcano of El Misti.

Arequipa Church with the Misti Volcano Behind on sunset, Arequipa in Peru © JorgeAndres/Shutterstock

14 - Ayacucho

Bustling streets, impressive churches, passionate religious processions and unique artesanía make the Andean city Ayacucho a standout.

© Jess Kraft/Shutterstock

15 - Sacsayhuaman

The zigzag megalithic defensive walls of the Inca temple-fortress Sacsayhuaman are home to the annual Inti Raymi Festival of the Sun.

© SL-Photography/Shutterstock

16 - Chavín de Huantar

Dating back over 2500 years, the large temple of Chavin de Huantar has many striking stone carvings and gargoyles, both externally and within its subterranean chambers.

Chavin de Huantar temple complex, Ancash Province, Peru © Mark Green/Shutterstock

17 - Puerto Belen

A frenetic, floating jungle port that has been called the Venice of the Peruvian jungle.

© Unai Huizi Photography/Shutterstock

18 - Go surfing in Mancora

Peru’s most popular surfer hangout Mancora features gorgeous beaches and buzzing nightlife.

© Shutterstock

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.

High view of the pyramids of Tucume in Lambayeque - Peru © Carlos Sala Photography/Shutterstock

20 - See the Nasca Lines

Take a helicopter tour to get the full impact of the intricate symbols of the Nasca lines, etched into the deserts of southern Peru.

© Shutterstock

21 - Colca Canyon

Twice the size of the Grand Canyon, the enormous Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, is also one of Peru’s biggest destinations.

© Shutterstock

22 - Machu Picchu

With mysterious temples and palaces nestling among hundreds of terraces, this fabulous Inca citadel is awe-inspiring.

© tsuchi/Shutterstock

Travel advice for Peru

Find even more inspiration for Peru here