Peru offers so many spectacular and unique sights that planning a trip may seem exhausting - don’t worry. Here are the sights we recommend to visit in Peru.
Macchu Picchu
Machu Picchu is probably what leads most people to visit Peru. Considered one of the new 7 wonders of the world, it will definitely not disappoint you.
One way to get to Machu Picchu is by train - Inca Rail. You can board in Cusco or Ollantaytambo. The railroad carries passengers across spectacular views of the Sacred Valley landscape. Besides, who doesn’t like majestic train rides?
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, you have to buy a ticket in advance, which helps to regulate the number of daily visits and therefore there is a limited number of tickets available.
You can buy them online on the Ministerio de Cultura website. The ticket page is only available in Spanish.
The weather here can be very changeable - sunny and warm, but in a while foggy and rainy. Don’t forget to dress in more light layers and bring waterproof jackets and gear.
Lake Titicaca
In the Andean faith, Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun. Located between Peru and Bolivia, it is the largest lake in South America and the highest waterway in the world. Lake Titicaca is 3,800 meters above sea level. The deepest part of Lake Titicaca is 300 meters deep and the highest point of the lake lies on the island of Isla del Sol at an altitude of more than 4000 m above sea level. Bright days contrast with cold nights.
The enchanting deep blue Lake Titicaca is a unifying and long-standing home to alpine cultures.
Paracas
Paracas is a beautiful town by the sea.
It is located 4 hours south of Lima and Paracas is flooded with sunshine all year round.
It is home to the Paracas National Reserve, which includes one of the largest protected deserts in America and the Ballestas Islands. The beach has a truly relaxing atmosphere and you will feel even more by watching the sunset along the Pacific coast. Just take a few beers and enjoy the view and enjoy the unique atmosphere.
Nazca, shapes in the desert
Little is known about Peruvian Nazca drawings.
In 1930, some people discovered Nazca drawings as they flew across the Nazca Desert. Then geologists were deeply interested in these drawings and tried to find the secret behind the creation of these permanent geoglyphs.
Geologists believe that these series of geoglyphs were probably made between 400 and 600 AD. The most popular and sensible hypothesis is that the drawings had to be created in people’s religious beliefs as sacrifices to the gods.
There are more than 70 different designs. Some of these drawings exceed a distance of 180 meters and show everything from simple designs and shapes to the characterization of plants, insects and animals.
It seems incredible that such simply made drawings have survived for so many hundreds of years, and some have seen a mysterious element in it. However, there is a natural explanation: the surface is made of stone, not sand, and the climate in the area is such that there is virtually no erosion. In the region’s arid climate, there is almost no rain or wind throughout the year.
Cusco
Cusco was considered the “navel” of the universe and was the capital of the Incas until it was discovered by the Spaniards. When visiting Cusco, you will experience a beautiful mix of Spanish architecture and the Incas. That in itself is worth the trip. This city high in the Andes is without a doubt a city you have never seen before.
Cusco has several historic Inca sites and attractions. There are so many that the city has in fact been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before hiking in the footsteps of the Incas or visiting Machu Picchu, spend a few days exploring Cusco until you acclimatize to the high altitude of the region. Cusco is located 3,400 meters above sea level. Most attractions are a 15-20 minute walk from anywhere in the city center near Plaza de Armas.
Rainbow Mountains
It is a colorful mountain in the high Andes of Peru. In short, the colors were formed by sediments of mineral layers in the mountains, which were exposed to erosion. Rainbow Mountain is a 3-hour drive from Cusco, where day trips have recently become very popular.
Peruvian Mountain Rainbow Mountain, also known as Mount Vinicunca, quickly became a major tourist attraction in Peru, as it was discovered only a few years ago.
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo, an ancient city, has been a famous archaeological site since the Inca Empire and is located near the city of Cusco in Peru. This city was built and founded by the Inca emperor “Pachacuti”. Today it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Peru.
The beautiful city of Ollantaytambo is located 60 km northwest of the city of Cusco in the province of Urubamba, which is part of southern Peru.
Ollantaytambo has become a world-famous tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors thanks to its magnificent buildings, the ruins of the Inca Empire and the possibility of tourism.
Famous destinations in Ollantaytambo are the Incahuatana and Princess Baths, the Temple of the Sun and Mañaracay or the Royal Chamber.
Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán is one of the most amazing buildings or fortresses in the world. It is said to have been built during the Inca rule of Pachacutec in the 15th century.
It is estimated that more than 20,000 men extracted stones from nearby quarries and moved them 20 kilometers to the hill of Cusco.
It is estimated that today Sacsayhuaman retains only 40 percent of its old structure. Nevertheless, the strength has a structure of up to 125 tons.
Sacsayhuaman is located 2 km north of Cusco’s main square. Located at an altitude of 3,700 meters above sea level.
The Sacsayhuaman is open from 07:00 until 18:00.
To visit Sacsayhuaman, you need a tourist ticket from Cusco. Another option is to rent the “City Tour” service.
Huascarán National Park
The national park was established in July 1975; covers almost the entire area of the Cordillera Blanca, which is the highest tropical mountain range in the world.
It has an area of 34,000 hectares with an elevation gain from 3,500 m to the mountains, which exceed 6,000 m (the highest peak is Huascaran 6768 m.)
Deep gorges, glacial lakes and diverse vegetation make it a place of spectacular beauty. It is home to a bear or Andean condor.
Annual precipitation and temperature vary depending on altitude. In the Llanganuco Valley at an altitude of 3860 m the annual rainfall is 120 mm and the average temperature is 7.5 ° C.
In 1977, UNESCO declared the Huascaran National Park as a biosphere reserve, and in 1985 it was declared a natural heritage site.
In the mountains or the national park, you can go hiking or camping, but also climb rocks or glaciers of varying difficulty. It is also a popular destination for skiing or mountain biking.
If you want to visit it, you need a ticket.
The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán
Huascarán mountain peak in Andes in the west of central Peru. The top of the snow-capped mountain rises at an altitude of 6,768 m above sea level in the Cordillera Blanca, east of the Peruvian city of Yungay. It is the highest mountain in Peru and is popular with climbers and tourists. In 1962, there was an avalanche that destroyed several villages and killed about 3,500 people. In 1970, a serious earthquake caused landslides that buried 10 villages and most of Yungay; tens of thousands of people died in one of the worst natural disasters of the 20th century.
