The sights of Peru are some of the most mysterious on Earth. This country holds many stories of ancient Inca settlements, located in picturesque places on top of the majestic Andes.
Peru’s views deserve special attention: craggy mountains covered with wild jungle, home to the cutest llamas and the largest birds on the planet. In addition to them, the country has other amazing sights, such as the colonial architecture of the city of Cusco or the deserts of the Paracas Peninsula bordering the Pacific Ocean.
I tell you what Peru is famous for and where to go for the stunning views and amazing nature of the Latin American country.
Cuzco
It is a whole open-air museum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient Inca capital is considered the starting point to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, so it is advisable to stroll through the colorful streets of the city before going to other places.
Cusco’s main square is also home to another shrine, the Church of the Society of Jesus. For 10 soles you can climb up to the observation deck, from where you can see the historic center of the city.
Cusco was the heart of the ancient state of Tahuantinsuyu and later the first capital of Peru. Here it feels as if you are in Spain. This is because many buildings were built by colonists directly on the foundations of Inca structures. Expressive churches and monasteries are considered architectural monuments. Walk around the central square of the city, where many Baroque and Plateresco buildings are concentrated. It is also home to its hallmark, the 16th-century Cathedral.
Today, tourists can look into the numerous museums of Cusco and see the ruins of the huge fortress of Sacsahuaman, as well as the ruins of the Intihuatan observatory and the school for children Yachahuasi. In addition to these, the city has preserved the walls of temples inside the monastery complex built on the site of the Golden Court.
How to get there: There are airplanes from the capital of Peru to Cusco, the trip will take two hours.
Ollantaytambo
The ancient city was founded during the Inca Empire around the 15th century. Today, at an altitude of 2,792 meters, people still live among the rocks covered with lush green vegetation.
You can notice the different architecture of the buildings, as they were erected in more than one era. Dozens of granite blocks are scattered on the territory of the city, which did not have time to be used for construction, as the place was conquered by the Spaniards. Among the sights are the ruins of an ancient settlement on the hills. These are the palace of Inca Emperor Pachacuti, the Temple of the Sun, granaries and other buildings.
You can stop by any day of the week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
How to get there: Ollantaytambo is 60 kilometers from Cusco, from where you can reach in an hour and a half by public transport.
Machu Picchu
No guidebook to Peru is without the most visited attraction in South America. It is a mysterious imperial residence and sanctuary of the Inca Indian tribe, surrounded by the cliffs of the longest mountains on Earth.
The ancient town on the cliff is more than VII centuries old – the date of foundation of the settlement is considered to be the XIV century. However, it was not destined to exist for a long time, and after about 100 years the inhabitants left the place. It remains a mystery to scientists why the city was deserted. The ancient settlement was found only in the XX century at an altitude of almost 2500 meters above sea level, and in the early XXI century it was recognized as a new wonder of the world.
Here you will see dozens of dwellings made of blocks without using concrete. They are erected on different levels and as if a ladder descends from the slope, which ends at the abyss. In addition to them on the territory of Machu Picchu partially preserved squares, walls, stairs and temples, where once the Incas conducted rituals. Today you will be able to walk along the historical paths, overgrown with colorful greenery, where llamas wander along with tourists on the terraces.
A ticket here costs $59 dollars. You can buy it online for the time from 6:00 to 14:00. Buy tickets in advance, as they may be sold out a couple of weeks before your trip. You’ll be offered several routes, one of which includes climbing the mountain. Choose a route depending on your fitness, as some of them lead up the slopes. The most scenic views are on route 1 and 2.
How to get there: There are trains from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (three hours). Upon arrival, it is about six kilometers by local bus to Machu Picchu.
Pisac
Another ancient city of Pisac is an Inca citadel in the sacred valley of Valle Sagrado, where the Urubamba River flows. It was built of stones around the 15th century, but a century later it was destroyed by the Spanish. Today, only ruins remain of the once prosperous settlement, which is located next to the modern homes of the locals.
The steep mountainsides are lined with agricultural terraces, which were conceived by the Incas as an irrigation system.
At an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level you can see towers, necropolises with mausoleums and sarcophagi and the ruins of a temple where the sacred stone “Intihuatana” still stands. The Incas believed that it was associated with the sun.
You can get into the ancient city any day of the week from 8:00 to 16:30. Entrance costs about 70 soles.
How to get there: From the capital of Peru you will have to fly to Cusco, from where there are buses to the town of Pisac.
Maras Salt Mines
Another historical attraction in Peru is located in the Urubamba River valley at an altitude of about 3,000 meters above sea level. It is a cascade of several thousand terraces, which are divided into reservoirs. From the side, they resemble huge bee honeycombs. The Incas once created them to collect salt. Small pools are filled with water from the nearest hot spring, which, evaporating, leaves behind minerals. One such well collects up to 150 kilograms of salt per month.
In winter, the pools resemble countless swamps. Therefore, it is better to come here in summer, when the local landscapes are mottled with white and brown shades.
Today, the tanks are owned by families living in villages nearby. Local ownership is inherited from generation to generation. You can visit the Maras salt mines for 10 soles from 9:00 to 18:00.
How to get there: From Cusco you can take a shuttle bus to Ollantaytambo. Ask to stop near the turnoff towards the salt mines. From here it will be about two kilometers to walk.
Chan-Chan
This is another ancient city on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded around the 9th century by the Chimu Indians as the capital of the Chimu Empire. It is believed that it was one of the largest settlements on the continent, as it had about 100,000 inhabitants. Around the 15th century it was conquered by the Incas and even later destroyed by the Spanish.
The uniqueness of Chan Chan lies in its structures: they are all built of stones and clay. Both palaces, temples and dwellings have been found here. Many surfaces depict fish and the sea, as the locals deified water and considered it the source of life. For this reason, the diet of the Indians consisted mainly of fish and vegetables. The facade of the central palace also features the city’s largest mural, a drawing of waves. Scientists believe that this is a message to descendants about the imminent end of the world.
Entrance to the archaeological site costs 10 soles, a guided tour costs about 60 soles. The attraction can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. On Sunday, Chan Chan is open until 17:00.
How to get there: The attraction is located near the city of Trujillo, which is more convenient to reach by airplane. From the airport to Chan Chan can be reached by cab in 10 minutes (six kilometers).
Lake Titicaca
Peru is home to the highest altitude lake in the world. Titicaca is hidden in the Andes at an altitude of 3,811 meters above sea level. It is so large that the mountains in the vicinity are not even visible here. The reservoir occupies an area slightly smaller than the size of Cyprus – 8300 square kilometers. It is the largest freshwater lake in South America.
The Mirador Del Condor, located in the city of Puno at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters above sea level, offers a spectacular view of the beautiful countryside. A long staircase of more than 600 steps leads up to the top.
The winding coastline of Titicaca creates beautiful places in Peru and Bolivia, as part of the reservoir belongs to this country. The natural monument includes numerous peninsulas and bays, as well as dozens of islands where there are ruins of ancient settlements.
A unique attraction of the lake is the floating reed islands. They are built by the Uru people who live in these parts. The locals welcome tourists with joy, feed them with reed hearts, take them on boat rides and sell souvenirs made of this plant.
How to get there: It is more convenient to get to the port city of Puno. The nearest airport is in Juliaca, from where it is better to get to the lake shore by shuttle bus in an hour.
Paracas
Here, terracotta-colored dunes meet vast blue waters. It is a picturesque peninsula with a national park of the same name, which is known for the desert bordering the Pacific Ocean.
The reserve has become home to many rare animals: flamingos, pelicans, penguins and harbor seals. Tourists here are organized jeep and boat trips to wild beaches, as well as exciting excursions to the main attractions of Paracas: ancient aqueducts and ruins of Inca settlements. Other activities in Paracas include diving and snowboarding on the sand.
You can also see the Andean Candelabrum, a geoglyph in the form of a giant trident depicted on the rock. Its origin remains a mystery to this day.
The fee at the entrance to the national park is 11 soles. Tours mainly depart from the town of the same name, but you can also follow by rented car, motorcycle or bicycle.
How to get there: Paracas can be reached from Lima by public transportation in about four hours.
Colca Canyon
It is one of the deepest canyons in the world, its depth reaches 4160 meters. The canyon is more than 100 kilometers long. It is great to come here to see the largest birds of prey in the world. The picturesque canyon is home to a population of condors, also called the masters of the Andes. Their wingspan is more than three meters.
You can climb up to the Cruz del Condor observation deck, which is about 3,800 meters above sea level. From there you can see the unique mountain landscapes of the canyon. The cries of the huge condors soaring over the canyon are breathtaking.
There are also hiking trails that lead through colorful villages, farming terraces, hot springs and other local attractions. And the mountain plateau is also a veritable oasis of palm trees surrounded by glaciers and cliffs.
Entrance to the canyon area costs about 70 soles, but it is free to get here in the afternoon. Come in the morning, when you can see a beautiful haze in its depths. Also, at this time there is a better chance of seeing condors.
How to get there: First you have to fly to the city of Arequipa, from where there are buses to Chivaya. Here it will be possible to take a tour to explore the valley.
Tukume
It is a 12th century archaeological site surrounded by a carob forest. The huge complex consists of 26 clay pyramids with serrated ridges that reach 40 meters in height. They were erected by the predecessors of the Incas, the Lambayeque Indians, but later the Chimu and Inca also lived here.
Each structure boasts a courtyard and storage areas, as well as living quarters. The tops of the structures served as sites for rituals and sacrifices of local tribes. The most impressive pyramid here is Huaca Larga, which is about 700 meters long.
There is also a museum on the grounds that features an exhibit of archaeological finds.
The pyramid complex is open daily from 8:00 to 16:00. A ticket costs about 12 soles.
How to get there: From the capital of Peru you have to fly by plane to the city of Chicailo (1 hour and 15 minutes on the road), and then take a shuttle bus to the pyramids (about 40 minutes on the road).
Travel Tips
1. Try local dishes on your trip: ceviche (a raw fish appetizer), lomo saltado (roast veal in soy sauce), pachamanca (a meat dish with vegetables cooked over charcoal), causa limenja (salad with jacket potatoes, shrimp, tuna, and turkey), and picarones (spicy doughnuts).
2. As a gift to your loved ones from Peru, you can bring various items made of alpaca wool: hats, socks, sweaters and ponchos. Also look out for Peruvian flutes, pottery, woodwork, traditional Pisco vodka and chullo hats.
3. Machu Picchu is reached by the famous Inca Trail, a long walking route of 39 kilometers. It starts at the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo and passes through beautiful Peruvian countryside: exotic forests and majestic mountains. Along the way you will see monumental ruins and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an ancient civilization.
4. Most of the sights are high up in the mountains, so bring warm clothes with you on your excursions.
5. Natural and cultural monuments in Peru are to be viewed under the scorching sun for more than one hour, so be sure to apply a cream with SPF 50+ before going out.
