The 10 best destinations in Peru

Arts & Culture Hot List Lifestyle Retreats & Relaxation
Arequipa and Colca Valley
The city of Arequipa is also known as the "White City". Its historical center has been recognized as Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity by the architecture of its beautiful colonial constructions in white sillar, emphasizing its large houses, churches, temples and monasteries like Santa Catalina. It is surrounded by a beautiful countryside with towns with beautiful landscapes. From here you can visit the famous Colca Valley and the Colca Canyon, protected natural areas such as the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve and the Lagunas de Mejia National Sanctuary. In its mountains and snowy peaks, its pampas or its rivers are excellent scenarios for adventure sports. It is an ideal destination to visit colonial monuments, living cultures and to do outdoor tourism enjoying adventure, nature and biodiversity. Arequipa has one of the best kitchens in Peru.
 
Chiclayo
The City of Friendship. Chiclayo is fortunate to be the gateway to the most recent and spectacular archaeological discoveries such as the Lord of Sipan in Huaca Rajada, the Lord of Sican in Batan Grande - Bosque de Pomac Historical Sanctuary, the Valley of the Pyramids of Tucume and the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum. Thanks to this, Chiclayo becomes the second destination, after Cuzco, for the archaeological and historical interest it generates. Chiclayo is the city of witches, healers and esotericism. Also in the circuit of beaches you will be able to appreciate the millennial caballitos de totora in Pimentel or Eten the 2nd eucaristical city of the World. Three natural protected areas ideal for nature lovers and bird watchers. It has one of the best kitchens in northern Peru.
 
Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Inca Trail
"The Archaeological Capital of America"; constitutes the biggest tourist attraction of Peru and the most visited. Cuzco was the largest city and capital of the Inca Empire, then was taken by the Spanish conquerors. Today it shows an architecture that fuses the Inca style with the Spanish one. Its people proudly preserve their customs and traditions. A must see is the mystical and enigmatic Machu Picchu the sacred city of the Incas that the conquerors never knew and that was discovered to the western culture in 1911, to reach it also through the most famous walk the Inca Trail. Cuzco, like Machu Picchu, for its historical value and beauty has been considered a World Heritage Site. The Sacred Valley of the Incas, Choquequirao, the Manu National Park and many other fascinating places are waiting for you.


 
Iquitos and Amazon River
The Amazon Rainforest. An ideal place for nature tourism and biodiversity lovers and for those who wish to feel an intimate contact with the virgin nature of the Amazon rainforest. From Iquitos you can take a cruise on the Amazon River or stay in the lodges and hostels located in the middle of the jungle to explore the jungle and the most daring and adventurous can reach the protected natural areas, highlighting Pacaya Samiria and Allpahuayo Mishana, with exuberant fauna and flora, ideal for bird watching, you can also make contact with the natives of the Amazon or learn about the rites of ayahuasca.
 
Lake Titicaca and Puno
Puno is located in the heights of the Andes, on the shores of Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world inhabited by the Uros and with wonderful landscapes. On the islands of Amantani and Taquile you can have the experience of sharing life with the natives and do experiential tourism. Land of the legendary Aymara people and the Tiahuanaco Culture. Puno is the folkloric capital of Peru. The festival of the Virgin of Candelaria celebrated in February, is an extraordinary opportunity to live the traditions of the people of Puno. It offers an excellent alternative for archaeological tourism, living cultures and biodiversity.
 
Lima
The capital of Peru, a great metropolis, the gastronomic capital. In general this is the gateway to the country. You will be able to enjoy and to know its historical center with beautiful colonial constructions declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity by UNESCO; the best museums of Peru, some archaeological pre-Hispanic places emphasizing Caral, also Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity. Lima offers a great variety of cultural shows, folklore, nightlife centers, luxurious casinos, gambling houses and enjoy the famous Peruvian cuisine and gastronomy. Ultramodern malls for shopping and handicraft markets. Excellent beaches south of Lima for surfing or relaxing, horseback riding and shows of the famous Peruvian Paso horse.

Nazca - Nazca Lines
In the desert sands. A unique place in the world, full of mystery and mysticism, with wonderful shapes of immense figures and lines of spectacular perfection. The work of a very ancient Peruvian civilization, the Nazca Lines, a place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can also visit the archaeological complexes of Cahuachi, Estaquería, Chauchilla, Cantayoc and the geoglyphs of Palpa.
 


Paracas
On the shores of the Pacific Ocean. An excellent ecological destination for nature and bird lovers, the Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands. It also offers historical and cultural attractions with archaeological remains of the Paracas Culture. It is a good alternative to spend excellent moments of rest and relaxation in excellent hotels facing the sea. For those who love water sports such as windsurfing, diving, deep-sea fishing and do not discard to know its arid deserts and have an adventure in buggies by its impressive dunes and for surfers the waves of San Gallan Island.
 
Tambopata
The Amazon Rainforest. Natural paradise in the Peruvian Amazon, the garden of Eden. The Tambopata National Reserve is located between the basins of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers, it has an area of 274,690 hectares. The richness of its biodiversity is incalculable, scientists have already registered 632 species of birds, 1,200 species of butterflies, 169 species of mammals, 205 species of fish, 103 species of amphibians and 67 species of reptiles. The vegetation is typical of tropical regions, the best macaw clay lick in the world, wonderful jungle landscapes. Ideal area for bird watching and ayahuasca rites. Accessible through Puerto Maldonado.
 
Trujillo
The Capital of Spring, a city of the old colonial lineage, very close to Chan Chan, capital of the Chimu nation (13th century), one of the largest cities in the world built in mud, declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Equally important are the archaeological sites of the Huaca del Sol y la Luna and the El Brujo y la Dama del Cao complex. An excellent destination for historical-archaeological tourism, horses of step. Chicama excellent scenario for surfing.