All destinations
From Cusco's Inca core (Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, San Blas) to the Sacred Valley villages, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca and the gateway cities Lima and Arequipa
Must-visit destinations
Arequipa
Architecture lovers drawn to the white sillar colonial centre, Travellers wanting a gentle altitude stop before Colca or Cusco
Cajamarca
Standing in the room where Atahualpa was held for ransom, Seeing the Cumbemayo pre-Inca aqueduct and rock forest
Chachapoyas
Visiting Kuélap fortress with or without the cable car, Hiking to Gocta, one of the world's tallest waterfalls
Chiclayo
Lord of Sipán and Tumbas Reales museum, Túcume pyramids and Pómac forest
Colca Canyon
Wildlife travellers who want to see Andean condors in flight, Trekkers wanting a multi-day canyon descent
Cusco
Travellers acclimatising before Machu Picchu or high-altitude treks, History travellers wanting layered Inca-on-colonial architecture
Huacachina
Dune buggy and sandboarding at sunset, One of South America's great visual spectacles
Huaraz
Multi-day treks in the Andes, Day hikes to turquoise glacial lakes
Humantay Lake
Acclimatised travellers wanting a rewarding short hike, Photographers chasing the turquoise glacial water
Inca Trail
Travellers who book months in advance, Hikers wanting Inca ruins along the route
Iquitos
Multi-day Amazon river cruises, Jungle lodge stays with guided wildlife walks
Kuélap
Exploring the largest pre-Columbian stone complex in the Americas, Riding the cable car above the Utcubamba valley
Laguna 69
Day hikers who have already spent 2-3 nights at altitude, Photographers after the Cordillera Blanca's most famous turquoise lake
Lake Titicaca
Travellers wanting a homestay with an island host family, Anyone who wants to see the Uros reed islands with realistic expectations
Lima
Food lovers seeking world-class ceviche and Nikkei cuisine, History buffs exploring Huaca Pucllana and Larco Museum
Machu Picchu
First-time visitors wanting the classic Inca citadel, Photographers chasing the postcard terrace view
Máncora
Year-round warm water swimming and surfing, Humpback whale watching (July to October)
Nazca
Seeing the Nazca Lines from the air, Chauchilla open-air cemetery
Ollantaytambo
Travellers boarding the train to Machu Picchu the next morning, Inca history fans wanting the best-preserved town and fortress
Paracas
Ballestas Islands wildlife boat tour, Paracas National Reserve desert coast
Písac
Photographers after the valley's most dramatic terraced ruins, Market shoppers timing the Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday trading
Puerto Maldonado
Quick Amazon add-on from Cusco (35-minute flight), Tambopata jungle lodges with naturalist guides
Puno
Travellers using Puno as the base for Uros, Taquile and Amantaní, Anyone crossing overland between Cusco and Arequipa or Bolivia
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
Acclimatised travellers with at least two prior days at altitude, Hikers comfortable with a short but very high-altitude walk
Sacred Valley
Travellers who want to acclimatise lower than Cusco before altitude treks, Inca history fans visiting Pisac and Ollantaytambo terraces
Salkantay Trek
Trekkers who missed Inca Trail permits, Hikers wanting big mountain scenery and a Machu Picchu finish
Tambopata National Reserve
Macaw and parrot clay licks (collpas), Lake Sandoval and giant otters
Trujillo
Moche and Chimú archaeology, Coastal day trips to Huanchaco
More to explore
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
Travellers who want the first morning buses to the citadel, Anyone arriving on a late train who can't reach the gate same day
Ausangate
Experienced, well-acclimatised trekkers, Travellers wanting wilderness over photo stops
Ballestas Islands
Wildlife photography from a boat, Humboldt penguins and sea lion colonies
Barranco
Travellers wanting Lima's most atmospheric neighbourhood for an evening out, Street art and gallery enthusiasts
Chan Chan
World's largest adobe city and UNESCO site, Chimú friezes and royal ciudadela architecture
Chavín de Huántar
Seeing one of the Andes' oldest ceremonial centres, Exploring underground stone galleries and the Lanzón
Chinchero
Travellers wanting to see real alpaca weaving start to finish, Sunday market shoppers after textiles and produce
Chivay
Travellers on a two-day Colca Canyon tour needing an overnight base, Anyone who wants to soak in natural thermal hot springs
Gocta Waterfall
Hiking through Andean cloud forest to a 771 m waterfall, Spotting cock-of-the-rock and other cloud-forest birds
Historic centre of Cusco
First-day visitors who need a flat, low-effort outing while acclimatising, Architecture travellers reading Inca foundations under colonial façades
Historic Center of Lima
History travellers who want the Spanish colonial story of Lima, Architecture fans drawn to baroque churches and balconied facades
Huacas de Moche
Moche archaeology and polychrome friezes, Travellers based in Trujillo
Huayna Picchu
Hikers wanting the aerial view down onto the citadel, Travellers comfortable with exposed, steep stone steps
Ica
Pisco and wine bodega visits (Tacama, El Catador), Gateway to Huacachina oasis
Llanganuco Lakes
Acclimatising gently before Laguna 69 or Santa Cruz, Travellers wanting big mountain views without a hard hike
Manu National Park
Travellers seeking the wildest, least-developed Amazon in Peru, Birdwatchers (over 1,000 recorded species)
Maras and Moray
Photographers after the cascading white salt ponds, Inca history fans intrigued by the Moray terrace laboratory
Miraflores
Travellers wanting a safe, walkable base in Lima, Food lovers targeting world-class ceviche and Nikkei restaurants
Nazca Lines
Light-aircraft flight over the geoglyphs, The roadside viewing tower (budget option)
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
Flooded-forest (várzea) wildlife watching, Pink and grey river dolphins
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
Travellers short on acclimatisation time, Families with children or older travellers
Pastoruri Glacier
Standing near a glacier without technical climbing, Seeing the rare Puya raimondii bromeliad in flower
Qorikancha
Travellers fascinated by precision Inca stonework, History buffs who want the clearest Inca-versus-Spanish layering in Peru
Sacsayhuamán
History travellers wanting the empire's most monumental stonework, Photographers after panoramas over Cusco's rooftops
San Blas
Craft buyers wanting genuine workshops over mass-produced souvenirs, Photographers chasing the rooftop and viewpoint panoramas
Taquile Island
Travellers interested in traditional Andean textiles, Anyone combining Taquile with the Uros islands on a lake tour
Urubamba
Travellers wanting a low, central base to sleep and acclimatise, Anyone needing real services — pharmacies, ATMs, supermarkets
Off the beaten path
Callao Monumental
Street-art and mural enthusiasts, Travellers who want a non-touristy slice of greater Lima
Chincha
Afro-Peruvian music and dance in El Carmen, Haciendas and their layered history
El Brujo and the Lady of Cao
Moche archaeology beyond the headline sites, The Lady of Cao and the Museo Cao
Huaca Pucllana
Travellers wanting an archaeology stop without leaving Miraflores, History fans curious about the pre-Inca Lima Culture
Huanchaco
Watching reed-boat fishermen at dawn, Learning to surf a long left-hand break
Pachacámac
Archaeology and ancient history enthusiasts, Travellers with a spare half-day between Lima and the south coast
Pisco
Bus transit point on the Panamericana Sur, Nazca Lines flights from San Andrés airport
San Pedro Market
Budget travellers after a S/10-15 set lunch, Food lovers wanting fresh-blended juices and Andean produce
South Valley: Tipón, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas
Travellers who've done the Sacred Valley and want somewhere quieter, Engineering and archaeology fans (Inca water systems, Wari city)
Tambomachay, Qenqo and Puka Pukara
Travellers doing the classic Cusco ruins circuit, Anyone wanting an acclimatisation-friendly half-day of sights
Tarapoto
Waterfalls (Ahuashiyacu, Huacamaillo) and natural pools, Alto Mayo Protected Forest and birdwatching
Tumbes mangroves and Puerto Pizarro
Birdwatching and mangrove ecology, A boat trip through tidal channels
Most-booked experiences in Peru
Whichever destination you choose, these are the activities travellers book most.
Cusco: Machu Picchu + Tourist Train + Entrance Ticket
From Cusco: 4-Day Inca Trail Guided Trek to Machu Picchu
From Cusco: Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Day Trip
Cusco: 5-Day Salkantay Ultimate Trek to Machu Picchu
Cusco: Pisac, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo Small Group Tour
Humantay Lake Tour from Cusco
From Nazca: 30-Minute Flight over Nazca Lines
Huacachina: Sandboarding and Dune Buggy Tour at Sunset
Lima: City Tour, Larco Museum and Huaca Pucllana
