With its incredible diversity and world-famous lost city Machu Picchu, Peru is one of the most popular countries in South America. Myself, I travelled through Peru for 2 weeks a couple of years ago. During this trip I visited various places like Lima, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and of course Marchu Picchu, undoubtedly the most popular place to visit in Peru. Unfortunately, I had just 2 weeks to visit everything I wanted to see during this trip so I had to choose my plans wisely. In this article, I give you some travel tips and show you some wonderful places you definitely have to visit during a trip to Peru.
Lima
Lima International Airport is one of the most importants airports in the region and chances are high that your actual Peruvian trip will start here. Myself, I arrived at Lima International Airport on a LATAM flight from New York on a Saturday morning in November. So far, the only way to reach the city center of Lima or Miraflores is by bus or taxi. However, a light rail connection is under construction.
With many good restaurants and its beautiful coast to enjoy sunsets, Miraflores is a popular place to stay for tourists. This place is much quieter than the busy historical center of Lima and a perfect place to start day trips or a biking tour like I did.
Lima has a decent public transportation system which can take you to the historical center in about 30 minutes. The main square called “Plaza de Armas” is surrounded by beautiful old buildings and definitely worth a visit. Lima is one of the biggest cities in South America and although it is not the most popular place in the country, you easily can spend a few days here.
Besides of its beautiful architecture, Lima is also known as the culinary capital of South America. Ceviche, made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, is a popular fish dish in the whole region and definitely worth a try. Another popular Peruvian snack is called Picarone. This is mainly served as dessert and It tastes like a sweet potato. Pisco Sour is a popular alcoholic drink in Peru, definitely try it out!
Cusco
About 2 hours flying from Lima lies Cusco, mainly know as the starting point for a trip to Machu Picchu. Don’t skip Cusco itself as the city has many beautiful places too. Be prepared for altitude sickness, especially when arriving by plane and wake up the next morning. Coca leaves are usually the best way to lower the pain.
Lake Titicaca
Between Peru and Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 ft. (3,800 m). The lake is mainly known for its floating islands. Boat trips to these island start in Puno, a touristic town where most of the hotels in this region are located. So nice to meet the local people here and see their way of life. Some companies even offer the possibility to tourist to cross the border to Bolivia.
Arequipa
Arequipa is the second biggest city of Peru and often called the City Of Eternal Spring. Arequipa has a better climate, mainly because the city lies at just 7,670 ft. (2,370 m) above see level which is significantly lower than Cusco and Puno. When walking to the streets, I more felt being in Europe because of the beautiful architecture. The city is also known for its Santa Catalina monastery, a colorful place to walk through which is definitely worth a visit.
Colca Canyon
Arequipa is also the place to start your tour to the Colca Canyon. Get up early as mornings are best to spot Condors here. The drive to the Colca Canyon takes about 3-4 hours from Cusco and the views here are truly amazing. With a depth of 10,730 ft (3,270 meters), it is one of the deepest canyons in the world. There are plenty of shops and markets here as this is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Peru. Also hot springs can be here. And of course, a visit to the Colca Canyon isn’t complete without a picture with a Condor:).
Machu Picchu
This is undoubtedly the most popular place to visit in Peru: Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city that has been destroyed when the Spanish came and introduced their culture. There are different ways to get to Machu Picchu. The first one is by train from Ollantaytambo, a town close to Cusco. This is known as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The second way to reach Machu Picchu is by doing the Inca trail.
Both ways require an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. I will mention of other tips and recommendation on how to visit Machu Picchu in a later blog post. I recommend to visit Machu Picchu at least 2 days as there is a lot to see here. You also have to be lucky with the weather. Some days it can be cloudy and other days beautiful pics can be made.
For those who like a bit more adventure, I also recommend to visit Huayna Picchu. This is the tallest point of the whole area and the views are truly amazing! However, this isn’t for people with fear of heights. Some serious caution has to be taken here and climbing to the top is at your own risk.
General Travel Tips
- For Accommodations, always check Airbnb and Hotels Combined for the best price options
- For specific tours and to know what’s around, always check Get Your Guide and Viator.
Bottom Line
In this blog posts I mentioned some travel tips and places for a visit to Peru. As you have seen, Peru is a very diverse country and has a lot of things to offer. I certainly like the capital Lima with its delicious Peruvian foot. I especially loved my visit to the Colca Canyon and of course Machu Picchu which was definitely the highlight of my trip.
Of course this is only a small selection of all the beautiful things that Peru has to offer because there is so much more. I have not yet visited the Amazon, not to mention the Nazca Lines and cities like Ica and Piura. I see this as a good reason to come back in the future. I was very impressed during my first visit to Peru.
ALSO READ: Travel Tips For Lembongan And Cenigan Island
Have you already visited Peru or have you planned a trip? Is there any particular place you would like to visit? Let me know in the comments below.
