Machu Picchu, the UNESCO-listed wonder, deservedly steals the show on Peru’s postcard racks and travel brochures. However, the adventure doesn’t stop when you hang up your hiking boots. There is a land beyond the walking trails, filled with fascinating cities, windswept beaches, and wild jungle. From spotting sloths in the Amazon Rainforest to catching your first wave off the western coast, here are the best things to see and do in Peru.
Things to do in Lima
Peru’s coastal capital is a metropolitan masterpiece, full of great food and people-watching Pisco spots. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the nearby beaches are perfect for day-trippers wanting to surf, swim, or simply sit on a sun lounger.
1. Go surfing in Peru
Beaches in Peru are some of the best in the world for beginner surfers. Punta Hermosa, south of Lima, is home to several surf schools. The waves are fairly forgiving on this stretch of coast so if you just want to see if surfing is for you, this is a good place to dabble. Failing that, you could surf your way through a seafood platter at the many fish restaurants. Just don’t combine the two in quick succession.
2. Gorge on local street food
It’s easy to eat well in Lima. Every corner you turn there are vendors selling superfood snacks. Pick the stall with the most limeños (locals from Lima) and you can’t go wrong. Got a sweet tooth? Try Picarones — a doughnut made from a local squash and sweet potato topped with a spicy syrup. If fine dining is more your thing, Lima has a ridiculous number of Michelin-starred restaurants.
3. Browse boutiques in Barranco
Barranco is the trendy neighbourhood in Lima, full of art galleries, bohemian bars and inviting shops. Huge graffiti-style murals loom over you as you mosey through the pastel streets. The whole district is an exhibition of local arts and crafts. Often referred to as Lima’s Soho, it’s a must-wander for any trip to the Peruvian capital.
Our Lima Day Tour: Highlights and Insiders adventure takes you to Barranco via plenty of mouth-watering food stalls. It’s an easy way to ensure you see the best of the city while mentally bookmarking where you’ll have your final meal before flying home. There’s coffee tasting, bone-lined cathedrals, and plenty of plazas for Pisco sours.
Things to do in Cusco
A gateway to old lands, cobblestoned Cusco is the jumping off point for new adventures. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, you’ll find nods to the ancient civilization everywhere you look, even in the chocolate shops.
4. Do the Machu Picchu trek
Yes it’s an obvious one. But you’ve got to do it. It’s one of the wonders of the world for crying out loud. Travelling in Peru without Trekking the Inca Trail would be like visiting a chocolate museum and not tasting any chocolate. More on that later. Climbing through ancient cloud forests, deserted villages, and winding mountain stairways, the journey to the sacred site is just as incredible as the destination. Plus, you’ll have a dating pic that says ‘well-travelled, adventurous, cultured’ — the golden trifecta of online profile pics.
5. Make your own chocolate
Ever wanted to be Charlie in the chocolate factory? Well, stop holding out on that golden ticket and get yourself down to the chocolate museum in Cusco. There are bean to bar chocolate making workshops, tasting sessions and, of course, you can learn all about the history of chocolate. Just don’t do an Augustus Gloop and end up in one of the pipes no matter how hard it is to resist.
If you’re travelling Peru with kids, our Peru Family Experience is the perfect blend of activities fit for all generations. As well as an Amazon jungle stay, you’ll also visit the Chocolate Museum where you’ll learn how to make your own sticky sweet dessert.
6. Ruin a good day in the Sacred Valley
Set in the Andean Highlands, Peru’s Sacred Valley was the agricultural, spiritual and political hub of the Inca Empire. Translation: there are a lot of ruins. It’s a wonderland for adventurous history buffs. The ancient terrace towns of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Moray are hidden within a stunning landscape that even the most weary hiking legs won’t be able to resist.
Things to do in Arequipa
Arequipa is an old colonial capital with beautiful baroque buildings and pretty plazas. Framed by three volcanoes, you’re going to ‘lava’ the setting and the day-tripping adventures on offer.
7. Get deep at Colca Canyon
Did you know that Peru hosts the world’s second largest canyon in the world? Think of the echoes… echoes… echoes. Yes, it’s great for hiking but you could swap those walking sticks for a lifejacket and go white water rafting. Don’t be put off by the giant Andean vultures circling above – they’re only there in the event that something bad happens.
Visit the Colca Canyon on our Peru: Ancient Cities & the Andes tour. You’ll go to a condor spotting viewpoint and a nearby hot springs — perfect for soothing those sore hikers’ legs.
8. Embrace your Peruvian hipster in San Lazaro
Just a few steps from the central plaza, San Lazaro is Arequipa’s oldest and most charming neighbourhood. Its narrow cobbled alleys are now home to microbreweries and trendy coffee spots, perfect for watching the sun set over the town’s mountainous backdrop.
9. Climb Chachani Volcano
Another jewel in the well-studded crown of Peru’s trekking hotspots. Dormant Chachani is widely considered as one of the easiest 6000-metre mountains in the world. At the top, the breathtaking views of Arequipa and surrounding volcanoes make the leisurely ascent well worth it.
Things to do in Iquitos
Another superlative — Iquitos is the biggest city in the world that can’t be reached by road. It’s a jungle metropolis, only accessible by river or air. Mostly used as a launchpad for boat trips into the Amazon, things can also get pretty wild in the plazas.
10. Journey into the Amazon Jungle
Take a canoe into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest and spend a few days under its canopy. Our tours, led by expert naturalist guides, introduce you to the wildest corners of the jungle. Myriad species of monkeys and birds provide the soundtrack, you just keep your eyes peeled for caimans and harmless river dolphins.
Our Amazon Riverboat Adventure takes you on daily river excursions with plenty of stops to experience the jungle up close. You’ll learn about local traditions in Pacaya Samaria National Reserve and go on night safaris to places like Piranha Creek. Keep those limbs inside the boat!
11. Visit the floating markets of Belén
Built on the Itaya River, the floating market town of Belén is the place to come for weird and wonderful Amazonian produce. When the water levels are high, rent a canoe and make your way from hut to hut. You’ll find everything from bottled hallucinogenics to high-protein insects. The chaos usually begins at 7am so set your alarm.
Things to do in Huaraz
One of the most beautiful spots in Peru, Huaraz is surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Less trodden than the typical trails, there’s plenty of stunning landscape for everyone.
12. Seek out mountain lakes in Peru’s hiking capital
Huaraz hosts some of the most beautiful trails in the world. Ice blue lakes, glacial peaks, uncrowded viewpoints — there’s breathtaking beauty in every direction. For an unguided day hike, try Lake Churup. It’s about an 8 hour round trip and, if you like cold water swimming, pack your swimsuit!
13. Spot condors in Huarascan National Park
As well as being home to hundreds of glaciers and electric blue lagoons, Huarascan National Park is also a haven for Andean condors, pumas, and spectacled bears. The condor is the largest bird of prey in the world with a wingspan of 3.2 metres, that’s two Tom Cruises! Shouldn’t be too hard to spot.
Things to do in Ica
Ica isn’t where the ‘ick’ originated. No. Far from it. It’s home to stunning sand dunes, mysterious earth-etchings and abundant national parks.
14. Go birdwatching around Isla Ballestas
The Ballestas Islands are the place to get spotted if you’re a South American seabird. Take a boat around the island’s caves and rocky outcrops and you’ll spot Peruvian pelicans, cormorants, and Humboldt penguins. If you’re lucky you might even see dolphins and sea lions. Wear a hat because there will be thousands of guanay cormorants — and where there’s guanay, there’s guano, which doesn’t make for a pleasant boat ride back.
15. Soar over the Nazca lines
The Nazca lines are a group of geoglyphs carved into the soil of the Nazca Desert. Depicting mostly animals and plants, these huge 2000-year-old drawings and their significance are still clouded in mystery. One thing is for sure though, their creators had talent. To appreciate the artistry, the sketches are best seen from above.
16. Go sandboarding in Huacachina
The thing about surfing is that it’s too wet. And snowboarding is too cold. If only there was a type of boarding that was neither wet nor cold. Good thing that the desert oasis of Huacachina has the answer. Simply climb a rideable dune, strap yourself in and start sandboarding. The best bit is that it doesn’t even hurt when you inevitably stack it…over and over again. If boarding down huge walls of sand isn’t your thing, do it in a dune buggy!
If that sounds like your jam, our Peruvian Coast: Seafood, Sandboarding & Dune Buggies tour takes you to the sandy paradise of Huacachina. Plus, you’ll cruise around the Ballestas Islands and get the chance to fly over the Nazca Lines.
Things to do in Puno
Sitting on the serene shores of Lake Titicaca, Puno is considered Peru’s folkloric capital, full of mysticism and cultural tradition. From here, you can explore every corner of the lake and embed yourself in Peru’s old ways.
17. Overnight on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca
Did you know that Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world? Another Peru superlative. The lake’s man-made islets are home to the indigenous Uros people who built these islands from roots and reeds as a way to escape the Inca Empire more than 500 years ago. Today there are over a thousand people living on these islands, a microcosm of old world culture and tradition. Spend a night on the lake and completely switch off from modern civilization.
The best way to see the islands is by kayak. Our Peru Multisport tour invites you to paddle all around the Unos, Taquile and Amantani islands, taking in the serene lake from all angles. You’ll get the chance to stay and stargaze in a local village before kayaking back to Puno for some well-earned ceviche.
So there you have it, 17 fun things to do in Peru. From the highest lakes to the most famous treks, Peru is a land of superlatives. It’s where outdoor adventure goes hand in hand with history and culture. Just pack your walking boots with the thickest soles and make sure you acclimatize when you arrive because Peru is figuratively and literally breathtaking.
