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Peru✨ 10 best things to do in Peru

Things to do in Peru

1. Explore Machu PicchuWatch the mist lift from the Inca citadel as granite peaks rise all around.
2. Hike the Inca TrailWalk ancient stone paths through cloud forest and passes to arrive at the Sun Gate on foot.
3. Wander CuscoStroll the former Inca capital, where colonial churches sit on perfectly fitted Inca stone walls.
4. Explore the Sacred ValleyVisit terraced Pisac, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the salt pans of Maras.
5. Eat ceviche in LimaTaste the zesty raw-fish dish in the city often called South America's food capital.
6. Fly over the Nazca LinesSee giant geoglyphs of a hummingbird, monkey and spider from a small plane.
7. Visit Lake TiticacaStay with families on islands and visit the floating reed islands of the Uros.
8. Spot condors in Colca CanyonWatch Andean condors glide on morning thermals above one of the world's deepest canyons.
9. Go deep into the AmazonStay at a jungle lodge to spot macaws, monkeys and giant otters near Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos.
10. Hike to Rainbow MountainTrek at high altitude to striped red, yellow and turquoise slopes near Cusco.

Peru🗺️ Where to visit in Peru

Where to go in Peru

• 
  Machu PicchuCusco region · Inca citadelThe iconic mountaintop Inca site, a wonder of engineering and setting.
• 
  CuscoSouthern Andes · former Inca capitalA beautiful highland city of plazas, markets and museums, and the base for exploring the region.
• 
  Sacred ValleyCusco region · Inca sites & villagesFertile valley of Inca ruins, markets and weaving communities at slightly lower altitude.
• 📍
  LimaPacific coast · capitalA historic centre, clifftop Miraflores and Barranco's bohemian streets, plus world-class restaurants.
• 
  ArequipaSouthern Andes · white cityAn elegant colonial city built of white volcanic stone beneath snow-capped volcanoes.
• 
  Lake TiticacaPuno · high-altitude lakeA vast, deep-blue lake at about 3,800 metres with island communities.
• 📍
  Colca CanyonArequipa region · canyonTerraced valleys, traditional villages and condor viewpoints.
• 📍
  HuarazCordillera Blanca · trekkingPeru's adventure capital, with turquoise lakes, glaciers and some of South America's best trekking.

Peru🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Peru

Best time to visit Peru

Peru has three main zones: the dry coastal desert, the highland Andes with distinct wet and dry seasons, and the hot, humid Amazon. Lima is often grey and misty from June to October, while it is sunny there when the mountains are rainy.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Cusco (approximate averages).

Peru🎉 Festivals & events in Peru

• February
  Fiesta de la CandelariaPuno's streets explode with thousands of costumed dancers and musicians honouring the Virgin of Candelaria.
• June
  Inti RaymiCusco re-enacts the Inca festival of the sun at Sacsayhuamán on 24 June.
• May–June
  Qoyllur Rit'iA high-altitude pilgrimage near Ausangate blends Andean and Catholic traditions.
• July
  Fiestas PatriasOn 28-29 July Peru celebrates independence with parades, food and festivities nationwide.
• October
  Señor de los MilagrosLima's huge purple-clad processions honour a revered image of Christ.

Peru🧭 Peru itinerary ideas

How many days in Peru?

Peru🎒 Backpacking Peru – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $30–45 a day

• Long-distance buses are comfortable and affordable, with overnight services saving on accommodation.
• Backpacker hubs include Miraflores and Barranco in Lima, the San Blas area of Cusco, and Huacachina near Ica.
• Eat the menú del día lunch – soup, main and drink – at local restaurants for very little.
• Book Machu Picchu entry and Inca Trail permits well ahead, as numbers are limited.
• Acclimatise slowly at altitude, drink plenty of water and try coca tea.

Peru🛡️ Safety & money in Peru

Emergency: 105 police · 106 ambulance · 116 fire

Peru🛬 Getting to Peru

Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport is the main gateway, with connections to Cusco and Arequipa; land borders link Peru with Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Brazil.

✈️ Cheap flights to Peru: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Peru💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Peru

• Peru is home to thousands of varieties of potato.
• Caral is one of the oldest cities in the Americas, roughly contemporary with Egypt's early pyramids.
• Lake Titicaca is often described as the world's highest navigable lake.
• Colca Canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
• Quechua, the language of the Inca, is still spoken by millions of Peruvians.

Peru❓ Peru travel FAQ

Peru travel questions