Peru

From incredible Inca ruins to towering mountains, from the jungles of the Amazon to the coastal deserts, Peru overflows with beauty and adventure.

Machu Picchu is the first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think of Peru, and for good reason. The world’s most famous Inca ruin is stunning and one of the most amazing sights we’ve ever seen. But there’s plenty more to explore in this remarkable country, from the mountains of the Andes to the Nazca Lines, to the Amazon jungle and Lake Titicaca. And there are also lots more Inca ruins to explore.

Itineraries

Peru Highlights

Peru is best known as a tourist hotspot for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, but the country has so much more to offer. Beautiful cities filled with world-class restaurants, geoglyphs etched into san…

Eat & Drink

MIL – Food Lab and Interpretation Center

This beautiful restaurant sits just above the Inca ruins in Moray and takes its inspiration of experimenting with and expanding use of local Andean products from the ruins below.

Lima Restaurant Scene

We find it impossible to recommend only a few restaurants in Lima. In the past few years Lima has exploded as a foodie destination, hosting some of the best restaurants in the world.

Astrid y Gastón

Astrid y Gaston serves up delicious Peruvian food in a gorgeous 18th-century Lima mansion.

Chicha Cusco

Chicha offers delicious Peruvian cuisine, focusing on local traditions and culture.

Los Uros

The restaurant at the GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca serves up some of the best food in town in a beautiful setting with a great view of the lake.

Cicciolina

One of our favorite restaurants in Cusco, Cicciolina offers delicious Peruvian tapas.

Zig Zag

Zig Zag offers delicious Peruvian cuisine in a charming setting, along with tasty cocktails. We highly recommend the alpaca steaks and the meat samplers.

Mojsa Restaurant

Puno isn’t a great town for food, but Mojsa is one of the city’s better restaurants and is conveniently located right off of the main square. It serves up tasty Peruvian dishes.

Remix Pizzería Resto Café Bar

Whether Peruvian pizza is a unique and tasty twist or a gimmick for tourists is up for debate. But Puno seems to be the capital of this cuisine, and Remix gets some of the best reviews in town. If you’re interested in trying Peru’s take on pizza, this a good place to go.

Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant

This cozy spot offers a selection of local beers, inspired cocktails, pub grub, and more in a neat setting above the Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s main square.

See

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the most stunning places in the world. Likely constructed as an estate for the Incan emperor Pachacuti, the city of Machu Picchu was built in the middle of the fifteenth century. Perched improbably on a plateau among sheer mountains, Machu Picchu is astoundingly photogenic, but it’s even more impressive in person.

Mirador Cruz del Cóndor

This is one of the best spots in the world to see the Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan.

Moray

These stunning Inca ruins feature circular terraced farms set against a spectacular Andean backdrop. The Inca used the varying levels to experiment with agriculture at different elevations and humidity levels.

Parque Arqueológico Pisac

The Inca ruins at Pisac are quite impressive. The main city sits on the crest of a hill, with terraces lining the slopes below.

Larco Museum

Housed in a Lima mansion, this museum focuses on pre-Inca artifacts from all over Peru. It does an excellent job of surveying and explaining pre-Inca cultures.

Ollantaytambo Sanctuary

A truly impressive ruin of an Inca city, including numerous terraces, an unfinished temple, and irrigation systems.

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is a massive Inca citadel perched in the hills above Cusco. It’s a paradigmatic example of Inca architecture, with enormous stones expertly cut to fit together without mortar.

Santa Catalina Monastery

Founded in 1579 by a wealthy window to house the second daughters of wealthy Spanish families, Santa Catalina Monastery is a city within Arequipa. With beautiful colonial architecture, winding cobblestone streets, beautiful rooms, and ornate plazas, it’s one of Arequipa’s top sites.

Maras Salt Mines

These salt mines have been operating in much the same fashion since pre-Inca times. A nearby hot spring feeds the mines with warm water, which flows through pools colored brown, pink, and white.

Do

Lake Titicaca Cruise

Cruise on Lake Titicaca to see this beautiful ancient alpine lake and learn about the people who live there. Pick a cruise that takes you Uros and Taquile Island.

Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)

Despite the over-tourism, Rainbow Mountain is spectacularly beautiful, and a great high-altitude hike. Make sure to see the Red Valley as well.

Lake Titicaca Train

The best way to get from Puno to Cusco is PeruRail’s Titicaca Train. It’s about a ten-and-a-half hour ride that winds through spectacular Andean scenery.