15 Cool Places To Visit In Peru
(1) Machu Picchu
The site’s excellent preservation, the quality of its architecture, and the breathtaking mountain vistas it occupies have made Machu Picchu one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world today. The site covers an area of 80,000 acres (32,500 ha). In 1911, Yale University professor, Hiram Bingham III, visited the site and published its existence for the first time.
When Bingham discovered the site he was actually searching for in Inca’s last capital, Wilcamba, before his final defeat at the hands of the Spanish in 1572. An empire builder, Pachaiti embarked on a series of conquests, which would eventually see the Inca evolving into South American territory, extending from Ecuador to Chile.
The emperor’s residence appears to be far from the other aristocratic residences in the southwest part of the site. A building today called “Temple of the Sun” is adjacent to it. It appears to have been established with military objectives in mind although Machu Picchu does not have a wall, minor entrances and there is no evidence that there is a battle.
(2) Cusco
This charming and historically rich city is definitely one of the most memorable places you have ever set foot for. The high climate of Cusco has a gradual season and intermittent temperature change with the rainy season and dry season. The mountainous geography of the Cusco region has a variety of microclimates, with vast differences in temperatures.
Usually, as the altitude rises, the temperature drops. Rainy seasons are unpredictable, although heavy rains are usually brief and episodic. The highest rainfall is usually in January and February. The Inca civilization began to develop as a city-state in 1200 AD. The Spanish conquest recorded after Inca oral traditions recalls Manco Capac as the first Inca king.
Santo Domingo Church encircles one of the most influential Inca ruins of Cusco, the Coricancha or Temple of the Sun. The original Inca built walls were 10 feet (3 m) high. A visit to the planetarium Cusco is an opportunity to learn about the Inca constellations and the southern night sky. If the weather allows, you can observe the star-studded sky at Cusco through the telescope.
(3) Lake Titicaca
A sacred site for many ancient civilizations, it is shared by two countries, Bolivia and Peru, both providing unique tourist attractions and cultural experiences. Lake Titicaca has developed a reputation as one of South America’s top tourist attractions thanks to its unique beauty. Lake Titicaca is famous for its deep blue beauty.
It is easily accessible from Cusco via La Paz via Copacabana in Bolivia and Puno in Peru. The lake is at the northern end of the Altiplano Highlands of the Andes Mountains. The city of Puno is the best place to stay on the Peruvian shore of the lake. The city is easily accessible from other attractions such as Peru’s Machu Picchu or Cusco.
The Peruvian part of the lake is located in the Puno Department and the Puno and Huainan Provinces. The locals also keep alpacas, lamas, flocks of sheep and cows. The lake is reared by 27 tributaries, melting glaciers and rain water. The area around Lake Titicaca has over 180 ruins of ancient monuments that belonged to civilizations.
(4) Inca Trail
According to Inca Trail regulations, there is a cap of 500 people (including capers) to start the trail per day. It is advisable to lock in your journey at least three months before departure. A four-day trek along the Inca Trail leads you to the discovery and entrance of this magnificent site. The Inca Trail is one of the only trails that lead you to the top entrance.
The Inca Empire built a vast network of roads across the Andes, and covered Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, as well as various routes to Peru. The route typically takes travelers about four days to complete. There are several tour operators who lead four-day, three-night journeys along this section of the trail.
Expecting to arrive at sea level and trek through the Andes to 4,215 meters (13,828 ft) above sea level for four days is not only difficult, but can also be dangerous to your health. Many tour operators start first day segments at KM82 or Picchu, though some start at KM88. The elevation at the beginning of the hike is about 2,600 m (8,530 ft).
(5) Lima
The capital of Peru is located in the central coast, along the Pacific Ocean. It has more than 8 million people, made up of different breeds of the world. Lima is a city with great cultural diversity that is why it has a large number of museums. Another relevant subject is its culinary art which has been recognized around the world over the years.
In Lima you will find everything that you are looking for in the form of cultures, adventures, beaches, food, entertainment and everything you can imagine. Known for the variety of dishes made with products of taste and quality. Lima’s cooking is a fusion of ancient Peru with ancient cooking traditions, with important inputs from culinary traditions brought from Africa.
Nightlife of Lima is full of life. There are many activities and tours to enjoy at night. The most popular discos and bars are at Miraflores, San Isidro and Barrenco. Some locations are open from Thursday to Sunday. The capital Peru has the largest variety of shopping, from boutiques to artisan and antique shops. In Lima, you can find traditional handicrafts from all over Peru.
(6) The Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient landforms located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru, built between 500 BC and 500 AD. Most lines run directly across the landscape, with figurative images of animals with multiple designs such as styling hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, fish, sharks, orcas, lizards, and plants that range between 0.4 to 1.1 km (2.7 mi).
Although some of the local geoglyphs resemble the Paras motifs, most scholars believe that the Nazca Lines were created by the Naza culture. The early Nazi civilization was composed of local chiefs and regional centers of power. Another theory suggests that they were avenues for ceremonial processions, similar to the cause in the Stonehenge landscape in Salisbury Plain England.
The first published mention of Nazca Lines was made by Pedro Cija de Leon (a Spanish conqueror and chronicler of Peru) in his 1553 book. The lines remain relatively obscure from history until the Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xespe opened the lines brought to the attention of the world at a conference in Lima in 1939 while hiking the nearby hills.
(7) Huaraz
Located entirely in the steep-edged Calzone de Huaylas Valley, Huaraz is the focal point of the inland. One day bus ride from Lima or Trujillo only, this is one of the best places in Peru. A market town and as a magnet for hikers, bikers, canoeists and climbers, the city center has an inherently vibrant atmosphere.
The region experiences the best between May and September when the sky is almost always blue. Various festivals take place throughout the year in the city and its surrounding villages. The main festival in the city of Huaraz usually takes place in the first week of February and celebrates Carnival. Huaraz has his own Semana Turica, usually in the third week of June.
The prices of accommodation and restaurants in Huaraz increase significantly during festivals. There are many sightseeing spots within easy reach of Huaraz. Only 7 km north of Monterrey are natural thermal baths and you can explore the inner labyrinths of the dramatic Wilkwane temple. On the other side of the valley, Punta Colon offers spectacular views over the Cordillera Blanca.
(8) The Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley of the Incas was undoubtedly an important region for the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make it a rare and useful combination for the High Andes. It was also a forest route and therefore an area with access to fruits and plants of the tropical lowland.
The Sacred Valley served as a buffer zone, ravaging the raging jungle tribes periodically, protecting Cusco. Most people organize the Holy Valley as a part of the one-day Holy Valley Tour. You will find many tour companies around the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. They offering these tours for these plaza services for between $ 15 and US $ 25.
If you have only one day to travel to the Sacred Valley, you will get the tour facilities well, while the length of the entire circuit is more than 170 km. If you want to do this in a small group, you can hire a taxi for the day. Alternatively you can also travel to the Sacred Valley by traveling by local bus.
(9) Kuélap
The Kuélap Fort is considered to be the largest stone ruins in the New World. Now carefully restored after many years of work, the citadel stands quite high on a hill. Chachapoyas, the main attraction of the region, is among the finest and most influential ruins of Kuelap Peru. Incan buildings and artistic appearances are rare here.
Although sitting on top of a prominent hill, the fort also has an outer wall that reaches a height of 60 feet (18.5 m), protecting more than 400 round houses that were collectively home to about 3,500 people. The entire fort site, including terraces, mausoleums and outer settlements, is around 1,112 acres.
Walking through the chakraview of paths, visitors get a feel for how the fort must have felt to its occupants. Kuélap has incredible power and presence. Tingo is the easiest place to visit the ruins, as well as an attractive main intersection featuring carved bushes in the shape of animals, with a meaningful stoppage.
(10) Paracas National Reserve
The Paracas National Reserve was established in 1975 and occupies 827,800 acres (335,000 hectares) of coastal deserts, some islands and surrounding marine habitats. The Paracas National Reserve is in the Pisco province of Ica region of Peru. On the mainland, the reserve covers all of the Paracas Peninsula and extends about 50 miles (80 km) to the south.
The northern end of the peninsula recedes as Bahia de Paracas or Paracas Bay. El Chaco, the small port and fishing village turned into a resort town, is in the bay just above the northern boundary of the reserve. The Paracas National Reserve’s nutrient-rich waters retain an impressive number and diversity of land and sea habitats.
The Centro de Interpretación de Paracas is adjacent to the Tello Museum and exhibits conservation and ecology. Take a short walk from the main building to a small place in Paracas Bay and catch a glimpse of the fossilized remains of marine life. Near the shore, visitors can see drying jellyfish that form mandala like structures on the sand.
(11) Colca Canyon
Among travelers, the valley is famous for seeing the huge Andean condor. The hike is not the maximum depth of the valley because the hiking trail does not begin at the top of the highest peak surrounding the valley. You are looking at a height of less than 1200 meters from top to bottom of the hike.
There are a number of travel agencies that offer Colca Canyon trekking in Arequipa. There is no need to book in advance as the tour does not have a limited number of visitors. After hiking the Colca Canyon, you can enjoy a bath in one of the many natural hot springs. There are dozens of trekking routes in Cola Canyon.
If you start trekking from Cabanaconde, it is worth visiting the Tourist Information Center. The Mirador Cruz del Condor is the most popular point of view of the valley. The earlier you are there the more likely there are fewer other audiences around you. These days it is a popular spot, and most mornings will actually have more tourists here.
(12) Arequipa
A wealthy city with a population of about 800,000, Arequipa has a rather different attitude than the rest of Peru. This confident image originated in the nineteenth century when the city found itself prosperous behind the wool trade with England. Characterized by the arched interior terrace, the architectural beauty of Arequipa dates primarily from the colonial period.
The architectural design of Monasterio de Santa Catalina, a convent complex that encloses the entire world within its thick walls, is perhaps the city’s main appeal to travelers. You can visit the charming suburbs of San Lazaro, Yanahuara and Kema, the latter being particularly famous for dramatic views of the valley.
The magnificent countryside around Arequipa rewards a few days of exploration, with some exciting and adventurous possibilities for city trips. Most people visit these sites on an organized tour with a tour company in Arequipa. If you are ready to deal with the additional hassle, you can visit the sites by very cheap public transport.
(13) Chan Chan
The ancient capital of the Lushu Empire, Chan Chan is the largest clay architectural complex in America. Spread over 12.5 square miles (20 sq km) across the Riziwani landscape of the Moche Valley in northern Peru, it is a masterpiece of ancient urban design. This reflects a clear hierarchical program construction through rigid zoning and differentiated use of living spaces.
The archaeological site has been a center of research and conservation for many decades and is also a place for education, recreation and tourism. As a huge archaeological site near one of Peru’s most populous cities, urban encroachment and illegal farming have steadily strengthened the remains of fragile soil.
The city was established in one of the lowest coastal deserts in the world, with average annual rainfall less than a tenth of an inch. The days of Chan’s glory ended around 1470, when the Inca conquered the city. They disbanded the Chimu Empire and brought many of Chan Chan’s artisans to their capital, Cusco, 600 miles southeast.
(14) Manu National Park
More than 30 indigenous groups from at least half a dozen cultures inhabit Manu National Park, such as the ancient peasants including Machiguenga and Piro, and nomads Mashco Piro and Yaminahua who despise contact with the modern world. Such an elusive Mashu Peiro that nobody really knows how many there are.
Most of estimated 2,000 indigenous people who live within boundaries of Manu are present on primitive hunting, gathering and fishing. There are many tour companies that start trips to Manu and last from three days to a week or more. The travel route is to drive from Cusco to the Sacred Valley and then climb 3,990 meters above sea level.
The road then descends into the beautiful, colonial village of Acjanaco Pass 3,900 meters with great views over the Manu and southern Andes mountains. Near Pensacola, the road ends and one has to take river transport to reach Boca Manu, where three rivers meet. Permanent structures are not allowed in this part of the park, but at night There are well-organized tent camps.
(15) Huascaran National Park
With an expansion of 340 thousand hectares, Huascaran National Park is an area protected by the state of Peru located in the Cordillera Blanca, the most tropical mountain range in the world. This protected natural area, a marvelous location for many adventure sports such as trekking and mountaineering activities.
At 158 kilometers long from north to south and 34 kilometers from east to west, the park has over 300 glacial lakes, 660 glaciers, deep valleys above the Quechua region and 41 rivers. From which it is formed The region is one of the most important parks in the country which has hydroelectric potential. This natural heritage is famous for hosting 16 snow-capped peaks in its region.
Today it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the reserve area. A large area of paradise in the world is still Huascaran National Park. It has important hiking and mountaineering circuits where you can enjoy the magnificent landscape, nature and amazing culture of the villages.
