Handpicked by a Peru Local Expert, we bring you our guide to 'Icon places to see in Peru'.

Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary Machu Picchu is an Incan city surrounded by temples, terraces, and water channels, built on a mountaintop. It was built with huge blocks of stone joined to each other without any mortar. Today it has been designated cultural heritage of humanity in recognition of its political, religious, and administrative importance during the age of the Incas. 1. Gene...More info

Nazca lines and geoglyphs On the vast pampas of Nazca Jumana, mysterious lines and geoglyphs form geometric patterns as well the figures of animals, anthropomorphic beings, and plants, among others. But their outlines can only be recognized clearly from the sky aboard small airplanes. Despite numerous studies, the lines are an enduring 2,000-year-old mystery that neither time, nor the region's ...More info

Arequipa One of the principal cities in the south of Peru, Arequipa is known as the 'White City' because many of the buildings have been built from 'sillar', a white stone that comes from enormous quarries formed by the lava of volcanoes that watch over the city Arequipa's history spans centuries and has been lovingly preserved, particularly in the Historic Center. To walk through the ...More info

Gocta Waterfall The Gocta Waterfall is an incredible 771 meter (2,529 feet) high waterfall. At one point, it was considered the third highest waterfall in the world, and is now considered as being in fifteenth place. La Chorrera, as it has been dubbed by locals, was discovered in 2002 by the German explorer Stefan Ziemendorff, who stumbled upon it while exploring sarcophagi located on the other...More info

Sacred City of Caral - Supe The Sacred City of Caral represents the origin of Andean culture, and it is the most ancient civilization in the Americas, with historical roots reaching back more than 5,000 years. The Caral complex significantly a variety of structures, most notably the six pyramids with their circular plazas. Based on archaeological findings such as tools and artifacts, it has bee...More info

Cusco: Cusco and the Sacred Valley In Cusco, the various agencies specializing in adventure tourism have diverse tracks which lead from the city to nearby archaeological sites. Another very interesting track, leading through the circular paths of Moray, travels through Salineras de Maras before descending into the Urubamba Valley or Sacred Valley. A cycling adventure has also been designed thro...More info

Cusco Birthplace of the world Seductive, striking and natural, Cusco's history lives in its streets, squares, valleys and towns. with the wisdom of the ancient Peruvians in an ecological environment. Captivating landscapes such as the Sacred Valley, where the mountains are clothed by terraces. Cusco Pictures villages where the past forms part of the present. Cusco really is the bir...More info

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu A 39-kilometer trekking and camping trail. The longest trail starts in Pisacucho (km 82) on the Machu Picchu railway. The trail crosses through different ecosystems, colossal archaeological sites and terrain rich in flora and fauna, before arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel. A track leads off from this trail to Salkantay (6,271 masl). To take part in this excursi...More info

Ancient Lima Lima has been officially designated an Ancient City in recognition of its pre-Hispanic past. There is evidence of buildings more than 4,000 years old that were abandoned and which the later Lima and Ichma cultures (1100 to 1450 A.D.) transformed into enormous temples in addition to channeling the water that flowed through the city in canals known as 'acequias'. The site of...More info

Arequipa: Colca Valley The vastness of Colca exceeds the canyon's depth (4,160 meters). The broad and verdant valley, where the condor lives and reigns, is ringed by high mountains. The attractions of the Colca valley are many and varied, including walking, hot springs and the towns with their beautiful churches. Colca Valley Above all, the great natural setting offers various trail...More info