Traveling to Peru: the main destinations

Peru offers extraordinary and immensely varied destinations. This section walks you through the main ones, and offers tourist information and practical tips to help you plan your trip to Peru.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is obviously the symbol of Peru, and the flagship destination for most travelers. It will no doubt be the climax of your trip, and we can promise you won’t be disappointed: its reputation is entirely justified.

Aside from the beauty of the archeological site in its stunning semi-tropical backdrop, Machu Picchu offers more varied options for those who have a little spare time. For example, hiking up to the top of Huayna Picchu, for a splendid view across the site, or walking over to the “Inti Punku” Sun Gate. Find out more about Machu Picchu…

Cusco

Cusco is an unmissable stop on your Peruvian tour. If the Imperial City was the center of the world for the Incas, today Cusco is without a doubt the touristic center of the country, and a highlight of your trip to Peru along with Machu Picchu. The city isn’t only the most beautiful in Peru: it is a city of unique charm, which combines ancient Inca walls in perfectly carved stones and constructions of colonial Hispanic architecture. Find out more about Cusco…

Arequipa

Arequipa is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru. Nicknamed the White City because of the white volcanic stone which makes up its historical buildings, it is a charming colonial city. Its climate is sunny almost all year long and it is located at a medium altitude (2300 meters), which makes it an ideal stop before the high altitudes of the Andean plateau. Arequipa’s fascinating selection of hotels and restaurants make it one of the most pleasant destinations along your tour. Find out more about Arequipa…

Colca Canyon

Presented as the « deepest canyon in the world », the Colca Canyon has set itself apart throughout the years as an unmissable destination in Peru. Apart from the grandeur and beauty of the landscapes, the Colca Canyon is also famous for its thermal sources and its condors, which can be observed in flight sometimes from barely 30 feet away. Those who are keen on mountain hiking can also do a several-day trek. Find out more…

Lake Titicaca

Located between Peru and Bolivia at 12,400 feet above sea level, on the road between Arequipa and Cusco, Lake Titicaca is one of the highlights of any tour around Peru, or Peru & Bolivia. Apart from its title of “highest navigable lake in the world” and its rather odd name, the appeal of Lake Titicaca lies in its grandiose landscapes, and the encounter with the rural life of the Indian Quechua and Aymara communities who live on the banks of the Lake and on its islands. Find out more…

Puerto Maldonado

Puerto Maldonado is the starting point for most stays in the Peruvian Amazon. This city is accessible by a half-hour flight from Cusco, which makes it easy to include a trip into the Amazonian forest at the beginning or the end of your Peruvian tour. Many lodges are less than half an hour away from the city by boat. These lodges offer several-day stays, and you will be able to discover the local flora and fauna during the excursions on offer. Find out more…

Lima

For almost all travelers, Lima is the entrance point into Peru. But the Peruvian capital, which is home to almost a third of the country’s population, is much more than just a crossing point. The city which was once the capital of the vice-kingdom of Peru under the Spanish colony boasts a historical center which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also some relics and important museums on the pre-Colombian era, a renowned gastronomy and many other things which make it an important stop in your tour. Find out more…

Nasca

If you are traveling from Lima to Arequipa along the pacific coast, Nasca would be a natural stop halfway between these two cities. This will be the perfect time to get to know the mysterious and very famous “Nasca lines” in the desert, which have been defying time for over 1000 years. But the small city of Nasca also offers other appealing places to its travelers, such as the Cantalloc underground aqueducts, the Cahuachi pyramidal complex, the Chauchillas cemetery, and the highest dune in the world, at Cerro Blanco. Find out more…

Paracas

A small fishing port and seaside resort 3-4 hours south of Lima, Paracas is a recommendable stop on the journey between Lima and Nasca. Its touristic appeal are the Ballestas Islands, approximately 10 miles from Paracas, which boast a great quantity of sea lions, pelicans and other marine birds. Because of the great variety of this fauna, these islands are sometimes called the “Galapagos of Peru”. Find out more…

Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Urubamba River valley between Pisac and Ollantaytambo is commonly called “The Sacred Valley of the Incas”. Near Cusco, it represents some very fertile agricultural land, where the Incas built different cities such as that of Pisac, or the fortress at Ollantaytambo. With a lower altitude and a milder climate than Cusco, the Sacred Valley is the ideal place to relax, and enjoy some magnificent landscapes and an almost tropical flora. An absolutely stunning destination. Find out more…

Huaraz

This small Andean city is located 250 miles north of Lima at the foot of the White Range. It is a must-see destination for a trek in Peru, and for mountain-lovers. The White Range boasts a great number of “nevados”, in other words: eternal snowy peaks and even some glaciers, including the Nevado Huascarán, the highest summit in Peru, at an altitude of 22,000 feet. Find out more…

Trujillo

The most important city in northern Peru is located on the coast, 300 miles from Lima. Its colonial center is one of the best conserved in the country, and boasts a great number of “casonas” and museums which are well worth a visit. It’s also a city which boasts a number of archeological treasures: the “Chan Chan” and “Huacas del Sol y de la Luna” Chimu and Mochica sites are only a few miles away from the city. With year-round spring weather and the Huanchaco beach nearby, Trujillo is a must-see city during a tour of northern Peru. Find out more…

Chachapoyas

This is without a doubt one of the most interesting regions in Peru. Its main appeal is the Kuelap fortress, which is sometimes compared to a second Machu Picchu, and which is one of the highlights of a tour around northern Peru. But Chachapoyas is also first and foremost a region with magnificent mountain landscapes, both very green and steep. This is where the Gocta waterfalls are located, the highest in Peru and one of the highest in the world. Find out more…

Mancora – Punta Sal

The most beautiful beaches in Peru can be found in the north of the country, in the Tumbes region, near the Equator. Here, the cold Humboldt Current moves away from the coast and makes way for the hot waters of the Niño. The seaside resorts with the best reputations are those of Mancora and Punta Sal. Its climate is tropical and hotels of all types and categories have developed there. What better way of finishing off your Peruvian tour than by relaxing for a few days in the ocean! Find out more…