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If you want to learn everything to know about Peru travel for a trip to visit Peru and where to start this trip we have curated the top need to know facts about the 10 places you must visit in Peru. Let’s jump right in and get you ready for this trip!
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Visas for Peru
The maximum time you can stay in Peru as a tourist is 180 days in a Calendar year from the date of your entry. This applies to everyone, whether you entered with a tourist visa for Peru or with a visa waiver. That being said, there are many other options to legally stay in Peru as a digital nomad. You can read about different visa types for Peru and how to stay longer, here.
Top 10 Places That You Must Visit in Peru
Machu Pichu
Machu Pichu, the most famous Peru destinations of the Inca ruins in South America, is probably undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in Peru. As touristy as it might be, this forgotten city in the heart of the Andes, is a must.
Many tourists choose on their Machu Picchu trip to hike the scenic Inca Trail for four days, which ends at Machu Picchu. You can also choose not to hike, and take a train or bus to get there.Cajamarca
Cajamarca is the site that has been a witness to historical events that defined the end of the Inca empire by the Spanish. This is where the Spanish conquistador Pizarro was able to eventually capture the Inca Emperor Atahualpa and later execute him.
It has an intricately carved Baroque cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, and the beautiful Ventanillas de Otuzco and Combayo. You can also visit the remains of two pre-Inca necropolises to learn everything to know about Peru.
Nazca Lines
The mysterious Nazca lines, on the edge of the Chilean Atacama, are an unusual sight that will blow your mind. These are centuries-old petroglyphs and markings carved out of the rolling pampa, that can only be seen from the air.
Cusco
This UNESCO world heritage city is by far my favorite for Peru tourism. You can explore the plaza de Armas, the whitewashed cottages of Barrio de San Blas, the wall of Incas as well as other touristic attractions like Saqsaywaman close to it.
Arequipa
Spread out over the highlands of the Huayco Uchumayo, set in the shadow of three mighty volcanos, this metropolis is the birthplace of Escuela Arequipena, where many Spanish colonial churches have been built with the traditions of Peruvian building to create the unique architectural look.
Floating Islands in Lake Titicaca
Known to be the highest navigable lake ever, Lake Titicaca has been home to the Uros Floating Islands (Islas Flotantes), where Uros Indians live on islands made of reeds since the time of the Incas. You can take a boat tour to these islands and get a sense of their traditional way of living on the sparkling blue waters of the lake surrounded by mountains.
Puerto Maldonado and the Amazon
Barely a half an hour flight from Cusco, Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. You can see all kinds of wildlife starting from monkeys to caimans, capybara, parrots, and piranhas.
Peru Travel tip: Two national parks called the Reserva Nacional Tambopata and the Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene can be reached on a boat from Puerto Maldonado.
Ica and the Sand Dunes at Huacachina
Known to be the oasis town of Peru, Huacachina is a small picture-perfect resort town on the outskirts of Ica. It’s located around a lagoon surrounded by huge sand dunes, some of which reach 1,000 meters in height. When people ask what to do in Peru , This is what people think of. A lot of backpackers come here to try sandboarding and enjoy the landscape in dune buggies.
Mancora
While Peru’s beaches are not as popular as its neighbors like Brazil or Ecuador, it is full of stunning beaches up north. Close to the Ecuadorian border, Mancora is a surfing paradise with warm waters and friendly waves. It’s also a party town with lively restaurants and bar scene.
Lima
Founded in the 1500s, the capital city of Peru is often treated as a pit stop for a lot of tourists. But in truth, Lima has a lot to offer. Its historic center with Plaza de Armas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a great food scene as well. There’s a throbbing nightlife scene in the streets of Miraflores and Barranco. And you can always escape to the beaches that line the coast to the north and south of the city and is a must for what to visit in Peru.
What To Expect in Lima, Peru
Everything to Know About Peru Transportation
Everything to know about Peru – Buses are the preferred mode of transportation in Peru for intercity travel. Most of these buses are really comfy and cheap. On some longer journeys that last more than six hours, you will be provided a meal and comfortable seat that converts to a bed.
However, if you want to fly, the flight tickets are not that pricey. I flew with LATAM and Viva Air Peru, and they both turned out to be pretty good experiences.
Inside the city, you can take colectivos, these white minivans that would take you everywhere cheaply. There are taxis available if you’re traveling Peru with Kids as well. In some big cities like Lima, you can take an Uber.
Everything to Know About Peru Trip Expenses
Truth be told, a Peru trip is one of the least expensive countries in South America, right after Bolivia. Taxi fares range from $2 to $3. Depending on where you eat, a meal can cost upwards $3. If you choose to stay in hostels, a night can cost close to $10 or more. Out of all the places I have been to in Peru, Lima is a little more expensive than others. But you can still save money by eating in restaurants where the locals eat and taking colectivos to go to places.
Food You Must Try in Peru
Peruvian cuisine is one of the tastiest cuisines in South America, and probably all over the world. All the dishes are made with a unique fusion of local spices and ingredients. Frankly, when it comes to food, I have never had one bad experience.
My favorite has always been the ceviche. There are cevicherias all around Peru that serve classic ceviches of fish as well as of chicken, mango, avocado, and a lot more. Causa or potato casserole made with spices blended with tuna or chicken is another popular dish. Another dish that I fell in love with is Arroz con mariscos or rice with seafood.
I would say that you must try every Peruvian cuisine you can. Peru for you will never disappoint.
Is Peruvian Food Delicious?
Author Bio
Deb is a writer and traveler who backpacked and lived in Latin America for a long time. He runs an initiative called The Visa Project, where he and other writers write about their first-hand experience about the process of getting different visas, extending them, and visa guides. The idea behind this initiative is to have updated information about visas in one place and make travelers/ex-pats visa smart. I and others try to keep it updated as much as possible to be in sync with changing visa norms.
Here is the Facebook page for The Visa Project:
https://www.facebook.com/thevisaproject
You can also check my writings on Medium:
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