Peru attractions

The active Chachani Volcano, near Arequipa in southern Peru, is known amongst the climbing set as one of the world’s easiest 20,000-foot (6,075-meter) climbs. Still, reaching the summit is considered an intermediate to challenging two-day climb. At the top, marvel at the sight of the Pacific Ocean and the spectacular Andes mountainscape.

The arid shoreline of northern Peru has been the historic site of thousands of years of civilizations. Empire in Trujillo has risen and fallen like the sand dunes along the coast. Essential cultural artifacts and artistic relics are still being discovered in this unique coastal desert, many of which are on display at the National University of Trujillo Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History.

The Pre-Columbian Art Museum (Museo de Arte Precolombino) in Cusco shines a light on the culture and art of the ancient civilizations of Peru. This extensive private collection features artifacts from the Moche, Nazca, Chimu, Chancay, and Inca peoples, including pottery, jewelry and sculptures dating as far back as 1250 BC.

Rising to the east of Machu Picchu, Putucusi Mountain is the perfect off-the-beaten-track escape from the crowds. With forested slopes and near-vertical cliff faces, hiking to the summit requires a moderate level of fitness, but the 3.5-hour round trip excursion on steep rock steps and wooden ladders offers spectacular aerial views over the magnificent ruins and the town of Aguas Calientes.

Take a deep dive into all things chocolate at the interactive ChocoMuseo in the center of Cusco. Learn the history of cacao production, watch expert artisans craft chocolate from bean to bar or take a workshop to learn how to make your own chocolates and truffles under the direction of master chocolatiers.

Located along Trujillo's central Plaza de Armas, this striking royal blue colonial mansion offers a rare glimpse into the political history of the city. Magnificently restored, its courtyards and rooms are furnished in the ornate style original to the early 17th-century, with a small collection of gold and ceramics from the Chimu and Moche empires.

Built in 1966, Brüning National Archaeological Museum houses 1,500 remarkable artifacts from pre-Hispanic and pre-Inca cultures of Peru. Fascinating exhibits include those on indigenous arts and crafts, such as textiles and jewelry, as well as ceramics, pottery, weapons, tools, masks, and a room filled with gold objects.

If you’re looking for an elegant alternative to hiking the Inca Trail, take the luxurious Belmont Hiram Bingham train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. In the style of a 1920s Pullman carriage, the 84-passenger train is the crème de la crème of railway options going to the ancient citadel.

The Andean region of Cusco is renowned for its textiles, which have been made according to ancient weaving traditions for more than 2,000 years. The Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC) is a non-profit organization that was founded in order to aid the survival of these Cusqueñan textile traditions—head there to drink in bright patterns and feel the softness of alpaca wool, and watch indigenous weavers at work.

Holding sentinel alongside the Lima Cathedral along Plaza de Armas, the Archbishop’s Palace is a shining example of 1920’s neo-colonial architecture. Carved cedar balconies hang above the doors of the spectacularly intricate façade, while inside, light filters through a stained-glass ceiling onto sweeping marble staircases. It’s certainly a regal home for the city’s Archbishop and the country’s Cardinal.

Commonly known as “The Venice of the Amazon,” the floating town of Belén near the outskirts of Iquitos offers a unique cultural experience. A boat ride through the market of Belén will give you a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the locals. A shantytown of modest thatch-roofed homes, restaurants and bars sit atop balsawood foundations, Belen is one of Iquitos’s top tourist attractions.

Set in an early-20th-century mansion in the middle of Lima’s Barranco district, Dédalo Arte y Artesanía offers a wide range of high-end, eclectic items from local designers and artisans. Individual stores showcase the city’s talent, with unique jewelry, contemporary Peruvian art, colorful blown glass, and much more.

Towering over the Historic Center of Arequipa and backed by the imposing Mt. Misti volcano, the Basilica Cathedral is a photographer’s dream. The colonial structure, which dates back to the 14th century, has survived natural disasters including fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions and is the most important Catholic church in the city.

Covering more than 2,000 square miles (3,350 square kilometers), the landscapes of Paracas National Reserve span desert and ocean. The terracotta cliffs overlooking the Pacific are a spectacular sight, while the rich diversity of wildlife also inspires wonder—time your visit right and you can spot Humboldt penguins, humpback whales, sea lions, and Peruvian boobies.

Lima is rife with fascinating museums, covering all manner of specialization, from history and archeology to art and anthropology. The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History, in the Pueblo Libre district is a cultural space covering all bases. Housed in an old colonial mansion, the cultural space is the oldest state-run museum and features the country’s largest collection, with over 100,000 artifacts.

Located in Lima’s historic center, Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas is best known for housing a famous venerated Cristo Moreno oil painting. Created by a freed Angolan slave, the artwork survived a 1655 earthquake that leveled churches and homes, killing thousands. Its resilience and perceived power to heal is legendary.

The Inca prized gold, silver, and gilt copper, but never used them as currency. They were worked into symbolic and decorative totems symbolizing Inca culture and ceremonial worship. This privately-owned museum displays over 20,000 pre-Columbian artifacts including historic weapons like the gleaming sword of Francisco Pizarro.

Dominating the Plaza de Armas in Iquitos, this 2-story building seems delicate and elegant in the midst of the otherwise rough jungle town. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the so-called Iron House was forged in Belgium and shipped to the Amazon where it was reconstructed piece by piece during the height of the rubber boom.

Jockey Plaza is one of Lima’s biggest, newest, and most popular shopping malls. The bi-level American-style outdoor shopping complex in the Surco neighborhood offers over 400 small boutiques hawking well-known international brands, and popular South American department stores.

Historically, Chiclayo is an epicenter for the gathering of shamans and healers. Within the Witch Market’s cluttered and odiferous alleyways, healers hawk everything from dried snakes and monkey skulls to pieces of Andean condors, and you’ll find all manner of exotic herbal remedies and exotic cures, including hallucination-inducing cacti and frog juice promising virility.

Characterized by a Romanesque steeple, Recoleta Convent provides a pocket of tranquility in the midst of the Historic Center of Arequipa. As well as boasting traditional sillar (white volcanic rock) cloisters, the convent has a museum of Amazonian artifacts—which include preserved jungle animals—and a library with more than 20,000 books.

Sabandía is marked by rural plains, rolling hills, and historic landmarks, making this southern Arequipa province in Peru a draw. Among the highlights are the district’s traditional shops and restaurants, and the chance to see the Sabandía Mill, built in 1621 with the region’s signature white volcanic rock (sillar) and populated by animals such as alpaca and peacocks.

Stretched out over an entire block, the lovely El Carmen complex includes a church, a Carmelite convent and a museum that includes the most important collection of colonial art in Trujillo. Its white facade, punctuated with bright red trim is a colonial masterpiece, a fitting home for the baroque and rococo paintings inside.

Located in the heart of Trujillo’s historic center, this cathedral (aka the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary), brightly painted yellow with white wedding-cake piping and twin bell towers, is a stalwart representation of the city’s colonial past. Highlights are its noteworthy altarpieces and religious paintings in the cathedral’s art museum.

The reason why Arequipa is known as is the "White City" is because many of the area's buildings have been constructed using the volcanic rhyolite stone sillar. Take a guided tour along the Sillar Route (Ruta del Sillar) to learn about this distinct material and the skilled workmanship used to carve it, as well as seeing some impressive sillar sculptures.

Tacama Vineyard (Hacienda Bodega Tacama) has been making wine and traditional Peruvian pisco since the 16th century, making it one of the oldest wineries in South America. You can wander among rows of lush green vines, visit the cellar to learn more about the production processes, and sample special varieties of pisco and white wine during a tasting session led by a sommelier.

With 19 acres (8 hectare ) of neo-classical gardens dotted with pagodas and sculptures, Parque de la Reserva is a welcome pocket of greenery, located in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima. The parks’ star attraction is the Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Mágico del Agua), in which 13 interactive fountains are choreographed to classical and Peruvian music and lasers.

Mundo Alpaca is dedicated to all things alpaca, showcasing why the creature has such an important role in Peruvian society. Visitors can interact with the complex’s resident alpacas and llamas, watch weaving demonstrations, and learn about what goes into making alpaca wool into finished products.

Even though it’s estimated to have formed more than 20 million years ago, the Canyon of the Lost (Cañón de los Perdidos) in Ica was only discovered in 2011, so it’s still one of southern Peru’s best-kept secrets. Erosion has created a rippled effect on the edges of the canyon and also carved out rock formations reminiscent of animals and objects.

Located in the Tambopata National Reserve in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, Sandoval Lake (Lago Sandoval) is a beautiful body of water fringed by dense foliage. It's known for its biodiversity and features a huge variety of avian species and wildlife, while many come here with high hopes of spotting some of the giant otters that call the lake home.