Peru attractions

Due to its position near the imposing Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, it’s easy to overlook the small yet perfectly formed Church of the Society of Jesus (Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús). The church’s facade pays homage to the churrigueresque style typical of 16th-century Spanish churches, while its interior is dominated by an intricate altar smothered in gold leaf.

Sometimes referred to as the other Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is undoubtedly one of the least-visited Inca sites in Peru due to the difficult 2-day hike required to reach the ruins. The feat, however, is richly rewarded: The ancient site, which translates as the Cradle of Gold, is remote and spectacular and framed by Andean peaks at every angle.

The pre-Columbian adobe Huaca Huallamarca pyramid is a startling sight, rising among the modern high-rises of Lima’s San Isidro district. Also known as Pan de Azucar (Sugar Loaf) after the rounded farmlands that once covered the ruins, the pyramid served as a burial temple for the Lima Culture, who lived here circa 200–500.

In the upper Amazon basin, in the heart of the Chachapoyas region, the bi-level Gocta Waterfalls(Catarata de Gocta) tumble from a dizzying height of 2,529 feet (771 meters). They are approachable by hiking or horseback riding. Known only to locals until 2002 when a German explorer discovered it, the falls are a relatively new attraction for visitors to Peru.

Standing strong in Lima’s Plaza de Armas (aka Plaza Mayor), where Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro established the city in 1535, the opulent Municipal Palace (Palacio Municipal de Lima) has been fantastically rebuilt and restored many times over. Today the neo-colonial administrative center has an elaborate French Renaissance interior.

The Planetarium Cusco is one of the most unique planetariums in the world. Housed in a humble Andean adobe home, the family-run planetarium sits on a Cusco hillside amid the archeological site Saqsayhuaman and the Llaullipata ecological reserve. From this wonderful locale, you can explore the mysteries of the universe as told through the eyes of the Inca.

El Brujo Archaeological Complex offers a fascinating look at Peru’s pre-Inca Moche culture. More than 2,000 years ago, the Moche people ruled over a sprawling empire along the coast in the Chicama Valley. Archeologists are only now beginning to unearth the secrets of their civilization.

ChocoMuseo Miraflores invites chocolate lovers to tour a factory to learn about the history and process of making chocolate and watch master chocolatiers handcraft chocolate delights. For a more immersive experience, sign up for a fun, informative workshop to learn how to transform cacao beans into your very own chocolate bars and truffles.

The Museum of Andean Sanctuaries offers an intimate glimpse into the ancient history of the Andes Mountains. After watching a short video that puts the museum’s cultural relics into context, visitors can wander the atmospheric rooms, which are filled with artifacts discovered during a significant Andean excavation.

Peering strategically over the lush Utcubamba Valley, this pre-Inca fortress is the largest stone ruin site in the New World, with 10-times more stone than in the Giza Pyramid. Encircled by a stone wall soaring 60 feet (18.2 meters) high, the vast archeological complex includes some four hundred buildings, which in the city’s heydey accommodated thousands of residents.

This research and conservation center inside the Peruvian Amazon caters to photographers, research teams, and wildlife enthusiasts who want to experience the untouched jungle, while working to employ local people and allow visitors to access the Amazon sustainably and in harmony with nature. Naturalists lead educational walks through the rainforest to view hundreds of species of unique plants and animals.

Located in Iquitos, the Manatee Rescue Center is a sanctuary where orphaned and injured manatees receive care and protection until they’re strong enough to be released back into the rainforest. Visitors get the chance to interact with the animals, feed them, and learn about the challenges of this endangered species through an educational tour.

Home to 26 pyramids built over 1,000 years ago—with one, the Huaca Larga, being the largest pyramid ever built in the world—Túcume might be the most fascinating site that most people have never heard of. Though heavy rains have reduced these ancient behemoths to dusty mounds, important archeological discoveries continue to be made in the burial chambers below.

A fine example of Arequipa’s sillar stone architecture, Sabandía Mill (Molino de Sabandía) was built in 1785 as the first mill of its kind. The mill still operates today, attracting visitors with its historic status. Peppered with weeping willows and cacti, the tranquil grounds surrounding the mill are a favorite among picnickers.

The 19,511-foot (5,946-meter) Mt. Alpamayo soars above the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of northern Peru, with a frozen, fin-like summit that climbers revere as one of the world’s most lovely. Getting to the top is a serious, multi-day undertaking, for which you’ll need advanced mountaineering skills, but the trek pays off with sweeping views over the peaks stretching to the horizon in every direction.

As the epicenter of the Wari empire (550 to 1100 AD), the ruins of Piquillacta represent the culture’s administrative center and give clues to the pre-Inca culture’s unique organization, agricultural, building, and burial practices. Within its multi-storied adobe-brick walls and geometrically-designed terraces, look for the unusual turquoise figurines found inside graves.

Founder's Mansion (La Mansión del Fundador) dates back to the 17th century, when the Spanish first colonized Peru. Characterized by white volcanic rock painted warm pastel colors, the grand building once belonged to the founder of Arequipa and now attracts visitors with its antique furniture, colonial-style decor, and artwork imbued with Inca symbolism.

The family-run and privately owned Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates animals that have been ill-treated or victims of poaching. Visitors can tour the grounds and meet some of the rescued animals, such as pumas, Peruvian hairless dogs, alpacas, and llamas, as well as the gigantic Andean condor.

Trujillo’s Plaza de Armas is where modern Peru began. The city was founded—and the square created—in 1534 when Spanish conquistadors pushed through the continent in search of silver and gold. In 1820, nearly 300 years later, Trujillo's Plaza de Armas was where Peru announced its independence from Spain.

Rising more than 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) above sea level in northern Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range, Pastoruri Glacier is a vast ice wall with towering peaks for a dramatic backdrop. It’s a rare tropical glacier—and one that’s melting very quickly. While it remains a top destination for visitors to Huaraz, part of the experience is seeing how climate change is transforming the ice in real time.

Temple of the Dragon (Huaco el Dragon) is an immaculately preserved Chimú temple just outside Trujillo. The pyramid-shaped adobe structure features intricate frieze murals depicting rainbows, dragons, and figures that have valiantly stood the test of time. Less known than other Chimú sites, this anti-seismic temple is an engineering marvel.

El Misti is a soaring stratovolcano near Arequipa, popular with experienced trekkers and climbers. From the 19,101-foot (5,822-meter) above sea level summit, peer over the peaks of neighboring volcanoes. The volcano features a symmetric conical shape, characteristic of rotating layers of lava and debris from eruptions. El Misti’s last eruption was in 1985.

Huanchaco, a sleepy coastal suburb of bustling Trujillo, is known for its long slow waves and is one of the best surf spots along the Peruvian coastline to learn how to ride a wave. Stroll along the town’s oceanfront promenade, watching fisherman come in with their catch on traditional reed boats called caballitos de totora.

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.

After the fall of the Moche Empire circa 700 AD, the inhabitants of the Lambayeque region formed a culture now known as Sicán. Exceptionally skilled in metallurgy as well as a unique form of ceramics, the Sicán metal workers are credited with bringing the Bronze Age to northern Peru. Their incredible ceramics, metal work, and tombs are displayed here.

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.

Between bohemian Barranco, glitzy Miraflores, and the fishing village of Chorrillos, the Surco district is a part of Lima that is well off the tourist trail, though rife with captivating attractions. Surco has manicured gardens and a grand central square guarded by the baroque Iglesia Santo Apostol, and Museo Oro del Peru, which features a vast collection of gold objects.

Admire one of Lima’s—and Peru’s—most beautiful architectural buildings, the San Pedro Church (Iglesia de San Pedro). This 17th-century edifice was built during Peru’s colonial period and has been administered by the Jesuits since 1638. The ornate church features Moorish-style carvings, baroque altars, and glazed tiles.

The Sachaca District is most famous for the Mirador de Sachaca, a 5-story tower that offers panoramic views of the city and the snow-capped El Misti volcano. The neighborhood’s food is another highlight: Sachaca has earned a reputation for its picanterías, traditional restaurants serving local dishes to the strains of live Creole music.

Here, 36 pyramids built by the Sicán people are spread out over 23 square miles (69 square kilometers) of forest. Their heavily eroded peaks rising above the branches of the dryland forest, these pyramids have housed some of the greatest archaeological finds in the history of northern Peru.xa0Climb to the top of a 1000-year-old pyramid for a panoramic view.