25 Must-See Places In Peru

Located on the Peruvian coast, Chimbote began as a humble fisherman’s village in the 1800s with a population of less that 800. Today it is the source of 75% of Peru’s fish cultivation, and the population now weighs in at over 300,000. You will probably catch a scent of fermenting fish on the wind, but it’s worth it for the breath taking ocean views. The sea is dotted with mountains, creating a jagged blue-green horizon. Chimbote is located in a desert, but its climate is comfortable due to the Humboldt Current. The weather is perfect for a stroll through Chimbote’s central plaza. In the evening catch the sunset with a visit to the Malecón, Chimbote’s seaside esplanade, and witness the many fishing boats returning to the harbor.

View Tour >>

Located in central Peru, Tingo María is the capital city of Leoncio Prado Province. Its nickname is ‘the Door of the Amazonia’ and it was thought to be unreachable until the late 1930s. Today it is largely known for coffee production and a tropical climate. It is located in the Huallaga River Valley at the base of the limestone mountain range called La Bella Durmiente, or Sleeping Beauty, because it looks like a sleeping woman. There is the University in Tingo Maria that specializes in forestry, and the nearby Tingo María National Park is certainly worth a visit, offering a taste of the lush secondary forests of the Amazon and featuring the Cueva de las Lechuzas, or Cave of the Owls.

View Tour >>

Founded by the Spanish all the way back in 1538, Tarma is located in the Peruvian altiplano, or highlands. It is considered one of Peru’s most welcoming cities for travellers though it might be difficult to get here with the high altitudes. It is surrounded by crumbly brown mountains and situated just on the cusp of the jungle. This makes it a great home base if you’re thinking of coming to Peru to explore the central Amazon. The gorges of Tarma were once home to the Incas, and their settlements remain, albeit not as fully restored as those of Machu Picchu. As a result of Spanish colonization, much of the architecture in the region features red roofs and white plaster walls, in 19th century fashion.

Urubamba is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, at the base of the mountain Chi’qun. In Quechua, the name means ‘flat land of spiders’. This may sound like a scary name, but in actuality Urubamba is a great place for first timers in Peru. Its moderately high altitude makes for a good place to get acclimatized to the highlands. The town is also known for its high quality ceramics. We recommend that you make your visit during June when the El Señor de Torrechayoc is on. This festival brings an influx of visitors, and costumed dancers perform in the streets as part of the celebration. Urubamba is also located near many famous Incan ruins.

View Tour >>

Miraflores is one of the most upscale districts of Lima. It is located on the picturesque coastal cliffs of the Pacific. Miraflores is one of the major cultural centres of Lima, featuring a theatre, museums, and art galleries. It is a great tourist destination as it is host to acclaimed hotels like the five star Miraflores Park Hotel. There is also a myriad of boutiques, restaurants, bars, clubs, and pubs. Larcomar is a particularly popular spot to grab food, bowl a few rounds with friends, or catch a movie in Lima’s most state-of-the-art cinema. There are many beautiful parks in Miraflores too, including that of the Miraculous Virgin where you can behold the extraordinary Church of la Virgen Milagrosa.

View Tour >>

Ica is a desert oasis that produces astronomical amounts of produce right in the middle of the dunes of the Atacama. It is only a few kilometres from the pristine Huacachina Oasis, which is certainly worth a visit. Ica is even the nation’s largest wine producer, as well as producing Pisco brandy. Unfortunately, Ica suffered a lot of damage during the 2007 earthquake. Many buildings are still undergoing repairs, and Ica’s beautiful cathedral was condemned. Still, Ica is home to the Museo Regional de Ica, which houses multiple mummies and pre-colonial artefacts. It is also near Nazca where you can see the famous Atacama Desert drawings.

View Tours >>

Puno is located near Lake Titicaca and the site of 41 floating islands still inhabited by the indigenous Uros people. Puno is also a highly commercial city with a lively, progressive population. It is a place where the past stands firm amidst the present, as you bear witness to colonial architecture, and many wear the region’s traditional colorful garb. You can also find lots of textile made in authentic styles out of alpaca and llama wool as well as traditional Peruvian instruments for sale like the wooden siku. There is an air of festivity in this town as it is considered the folkloric capital of Peru. Catch some of this cheer in any of the local bars.

View Tours >>

Aguas Calientes is located at the bottom of a large gorge below the legendary Machu Picchu. This small town found its origins in the early 20th century with the construction of the Peruvian Railway. The pueblo is otherwise geographically sectioned off from surrounding areas because of its proximity to soaring mountains, cloud forests, and the Willkanuta River. It is perhaps the pristine nature of this place, however, that makes it so stunning. Additionally, the town gets its name because of the ample hot springs that can be enjoyed here. The ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, which reside only about an hour and a half walk away, are worth making a trip through the elements arrive in Aguas Calientes.

View Tours >>

Large volcanic mountains form the scenic backdrop of Arequipa. Much of its predominating baroque style buildings were constructed out of the white volcanic rock from this mountain. Many of such buildings feature intricate carvings. The city faces frequent earthquakes, but the white volcanic rock makes Arequipa’s buildings resilient. The Basilica Cathedral located in Plaza de Armas, the principal square of the town, is notoriously beautiful. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru, is also home to excellent cuisine and harbors a rich history. Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, lies nearby.

View Tours >>

La Rinconada is a Peruvian city high in the Andes. La Rinconada is the highest altitude human settlement on earth; not a place for the faint of heart! It is 5100 meters above sea level and located near the base of a glacier whose name is also La Bella Durmiente. Therefore, it is snowy most of the year with only a brief summer. La Rinconada is close to a gold mine, and many of its 50,000 inhabitants are miners and their families. Despite the inhospitable altitude for those who aren’t used to it, the breathtaking scenery of angular snowy peaks against bright blue skies are positively astounding.

Lima is a must-visit, especially considering the food renaissance that is taking place in the city these days. The “City of Kings” now has two restaurants that rank inside the top 10 in the world, and even the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants stay true to quality Peruvian gastronomy. With beautiful places such as the Plaza de Armas and the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco to visit, Lima has a lot to offer.

View Tour >>

Once you come, you’ll never want to leave – that’s what everyone who has ever been to Huaraz will tell you. With the Cordillera mountain range in its backyard, this mountain town has gained a reputation as the place to go backpacking in Peru. There are seemingly endless options that are sure to amaze.

View Tour >>

The inscrutable stone figures are a must-visit and are only six hours from Lima. Hike high into the Andes mountains and discover the mystery that is the stone faces and figures of Markawasi, but be careful – going from sea level in Lima to the Andes too quickly will give anyone altitude sickness. Remember to take it slow.

This isn’t just another beach town along the coast of Peru. Huanchaco is steeped in history and tradition, which is evident as you take a walk done the boardwalk and see the fishermen in their reed boats dating back to time immemorial.

View Tours >>

The beach capital of Peru, Mancora has everything you want in a beach town: nightlife, surf, sunny skies, and warm weather. With some of the most delicious and fresh food in all of Peru, this town seems to have everything.

View Tours >>

The town itself is small and quiet, but people come here for the hiking. Just two hours outside this mountain town are two of the most spectacular sites in Peru: Gocta Waterfall, hidden in the mountains; and Kuélap, a walled city high in the mountains that was built by the Chachapoyas culture.

View Tours >>

The city of Iquitos, located smack dab in the Peruvian jungle, is one of the more unique cities in Peru. Unreached by any roads, this town has an Amazon vibe that is not found anywhere else in the country, and it makes the perfect launching-off point for exploring the Amazon and for the ayahuasca retreats that take place close by.

View Tours >>

The capital of the Incas is now the capital of tourism in Peru, and for good reason. Cusco is a remarkable city, surrounded by ruins and built on Inca foundations, with fascinating colonial architecture.

View Tour >>

The hippy town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley offers beautiful ruins on top of a mountain and one of the best markets in Peru. You’ll also find all of your shamanic tools here, such as rapé (sacred ​shamanic snuff medicine) and rapé pieces.

View Tours >>

The absolute must-see destination in Peru is, of course, Machu Picchu. It is one of those places that you won’t believe until you have seen it. The Inca citadel in the sky is an architectural marvel that is likely to leave you speechless.

View Tours >>

The small town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley is a perfect example of Inca street planning and design. With narrow cobblestone streets and ruins that cling to the cliffside above, Ollantaytambo will make you feel that you are stepping back in time.

View Tours >>

The highest navigable lake in the world is also home to the Uros people, a culture that continues to live on islands made out of reeds.

View Tours >>

The whitewashed city of Arequipa is home to one of Peru’s most beautiful Plaza de Armas and some of the country’s best food, which is saying a lot. Colca Canyon, which makes the Grand Canyon look small, is only a short ride away.

View Tours >>

The unexplained lines that are etched in the landscape are worth a trip to the Nazca. You can take a short plane ride above the lines so you can make out the shapes and come up with your own theory as to how they were created.

View Tours >>

This desert oasis is only a short ride from Ica. It’s surrounded by rolling rills of sand, and you really do feel as if you are stranded while staying at this tiny pond lake in the Peruvian desert. Take a day trip to explore the sand dunes on ATVs; you can even surf them.

View Tours >>
This article features additional content from Brandon Dupre.