What to see in Peru: 9 must-sees
Discover what to see in Peru: 9 must-see destinations, from Machu Picchu to Cusco. Predominantly UNESCO heritage and natural; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
UNESCO Heritage(4)
Admire the Inca citadel at 2,430 meters above sea level, where hewn stone blends with the Cusco cloud forest and Huayna Picchu peak watches over the valley. Explore its temples and terraces, watch the sunrise over the Urubamba River, and read in every wall the handiwork of a vanished civilization. Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains the most striking testament to the Inca Empire.
Explore the ancient Inca capital, where stone walls hold up colonial churches and 3,000 years of history can be read on every street. You'll climb up to Sacsayhuamán, with its blocks fitted together without mortar, and descend to the Plaza de Armas, the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage city. The site stands as an exceptional testament to a vanished cultural tradition or civilization, and in Cusco that heritage is still visible in its markets, its architecture, and its daily life.
Fly over the Ica desert in a small plane and decipher the geoglyphs drawn 2,000 years ago: 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures, and 70 depictions of animals and plants that can only be seen in full from the air. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area preserves an exceptional testament to a vanished civilization, and its exact purpose remains a mystery that archaeologists continue to debate.
Step into Arequipa's historic center, the White City built of sillar, the volcanic stone that gives its mansions and churches their name and color. Stroll around the Plaza de Armas, ringed by arcades and the cathedral, wander the cloisters of the Santa Catalina Monastery, and head up to the lookouts with views of Misti volcano. This ensemble, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bears witness to a mestizo Baroque architectural tradition that fused European and local techniques through centuries of earthquakes and reconstruction.
Natural(2)
Travel the waters of the world's highest navigable lake, 3,810 meters above sea level, between Puno and the horizon of the altiplano. Board the floating islands of the Uros, built from totora reeds renewed each season, and cross over to Taquile to meet weavers who work as they have for centuries. Watch birds and Andean crops as you walk the paths along the water.
Camp in the valley's villages and set off early to reach Cruz del Cóndor before noon, when thermal currents lift the birds over the abyss. From the viewpoint you can take in the 3,400-meter depth that makes this canyon one of the deepest on the planet. Walk the pre-Inca terraces still farmed on the hillsides and keep an eye out for the high-altitude vegetation, foxes, and vizcachas along the way. Bring warm clothing, water, and sturdy footwear, as the trails drop steeply toward the Colca River.
City(2)
Wander through Lima among the colonial balconies of the Historic Center and the Miraflores boardwalk suspended above the Pacific. Sample ceviche at markets like Surquillo, cross the Plaza Mayor beside the cathedral and the Government Palace, and head down to Barranco for its colorful houses and the Bridge of Sighs. Winter fog blankets the hills while Nikkei and Creole restaurants confirm why Peru's capital stands as South America's gastronomic benchmark.
Follow the mountain road to Chachapoyas, capital of Amazonas, where the mystery of those who built Kuélap, the stone fortress that dominates the Utcubamba valley, still lingers. From the city, set out the next day for Gocta Falls, one of the tallest in the world, surrounded by bromeliads and Andean cock-of-the-rock birds. On the main square, colonial balconies frame markets where you can sample local cheeses and high-altitude coffee. The Karajía sarcophagi and nearby lagoons complete a journey that blends hiking, archaeology, and the living heritage of the Chachapoya people.
Intangible Heritage(1)
Stop in the Sacred Valley, between Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Moray, and explore the Inca terraces that still yield corn and potatoes with terrace-farming techniques in use to this day. Buy wool textiles dyed with cochineal at Pisac's Sunday market and admire the concentric circles of Moray, an ancient agricultural laboratory. Talk with the communities that pass their legacy down from generation to generation, and understand why this valley of the Urubamba endures as intangible heritage of Cusco's living culture.
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