Things to do in  Peru

The lost city of Machu Picchu is the most famous tourist attraction in Peru, if not all of South America. The UNESCO World Heritage–listed collection of temples, terraced hills, and plazas was once the mountaintop citadel of the ancient Inca empire. Although Machu Picchu is now world-famous, questions remain about the mysteries behind its construction, function, and eventual demise.

The indigenous Quechua villages in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Inca provide a view into the past. Inhabited by descendants of the ancient Inca people, these communities—such as Pisac and Chinchero—have preserved handicraft traditions, speak in the original Quechua language, and live in harmony with the mountains they regard as sacred.

If you're visiting Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there’s a good chance you'll pass through the small pueblo of Aguas Calientes en route. This gateway town to Peru’s famous Incan ruins sits nestled in a valley of cloud forest, where a series of natural hot springs gives the town its name.

Perched at the northern end of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Ollantaytambo Ruins were once the administrative center of the Inca Empire. At this well-preserved and partly rebuilt archeological park, learn the secrets of Inca urban planning, admire the ceremonial temple, masterful Inca stonework, and set off on the legendary Inca trail.

South America's most famous trek is an unforgettable way to reach the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Along the way, the four-day trek takes hikers past three Andean mountain passes, Inca ruins, and views of the snow-capped Andes, culminating in a stellar sunrise over Machu Picchu—a UNESCO World Heritage site—from the Sun Gate.

In a remote pocket of the Sacred Valley is an ancient agricultural laboratory. Encircled by terraces and a complex system of irrigation aqueducts, the site’s gigantic natural bowl-shaped hole was once filled with fertile soil, growing more than 250 vegetal species. Resembling an ancient Roman amphitheater, the concentric circles are not only a wonder of science but a vision of beauty.

Between Cusco and Machu Picchu lies the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Urubamba Valley), home to some of Peru’s most interesting pre-Columbian ruins and attractive colonial towns and villages. While many travelers pass through this Inca Empire hot spot en route to visiting Machu Picchu, the valley has become a South America destination in its own right.

Maras, a remote Andean town deep in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, is a favorite of photography buffs and gourmands alike for its famous salt pans (Salinas de Maras). Fixed in geometric shapes on terraced hills, the surreal, photogenic pools were created by the Incas 2,000 years ago, and the mines are still harvested for their pink salt.

The Pisac Indian Market is one of the most popular and picturesque of the indigenous markets in the Cusco region. Travelers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to this mountain town to purchase all manner of textiles, ceramics, jewelry, ponchos, rugs, alpaca and llama wool clothing, Andean instruments, ceramics, and a host of other lovely souvenirs.

The largest and arguably most impressive of the four archaeological ruins on the outskirts of Cusco, Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman) was built by the Incas from massive stones weighing as much as 300 tons. A critical military site in the battle with the Spanish for the Inca empire in 1536, the ruins offer impressive views over the city below.

A cluster of tiny islands off the Peruvian coast, the Ballestas Islands (Islas Ballestas) are often touted as the “Peruvian Galapagos,” famed for their spectacular variety of birdlife and rugged coastline of soaring cliffs, rocky beaches, and remote sea caves. Wildlife you can spot here includes guano birds, penguins, sea lions, and other marine birds, so leave plenty of time to visit if you’re a naturalist.

Located five miles from Cusco, Tambomachay is also known as “the Baths of the Inca”. For the Inca, water was a sacred element, and due to the scattered pools here, historians believe the temple was reserved for Inca royalty. Throughout, the spring waters are masterfully diverted into aqueducts, pools, and stone-carved waterways.

A symbol of both Incan cosmology and their brutal conquest at the hands of the Spanish, Qorikancha (Coricancha) is one of the most important sites in Cusco. The sacred temple—which the Incas created to worship their sun deity and then swathed in gold—was looted and destroyed by conquistadors, who built a colonial church atop the temple ruins.

The swanky beachfront suburb of Miraflores is one of Lima’s most sought-after zip codes. Here you’ll find the city’s best restaurants, shops, and hotels, plus waterfront mansions and high-rise towers. Lovely parks and beaches decorate the area, as well as the ancient ruins of Huaca Pucllana—a pre-Inca temple.

Plaza Mayor, formerly Plaza de Armas, is the heart and birthplace of Lima. The crown jewel of the city, this UNESCO World Heritage–listed square is flanked by many important buildings, such as the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), Cathedral of Lima, City Hall (Palacio Municipal de Lima), and the Archbishop’s Palace (Palacio Arzobispal).