Best Places to Visit in Peru

Are you ready to discover Peru and fall in love with the adventure and excitement you can find there? Maybe you are looking for the best places to go in Peru or where to find the best Peruvian food? After visiting Peru several times, with plans to return, I've compiled a list of my must see spots for your Peruvian vacation. As always, I love to focus on immersing yourself in the culture and Spanish language while traveling abroad. These are my tips for planning your journey to experience the wonder of Peru.

This post includes:

Where to start in Peru

Must see places in Peru

• Lima

• Tambopata Natural Preserve, Puerto Maldonado

• Cusco and Sacsayhuaman

• Sacred Valley, Pisac Market, Ollantaytambo

• Machu Picchu

• Puno

• Lake Titicaca

Where to start in Peru

There are two main international airports in Peru, located in Lima and Cusco. I like to start in Lima. Lima is centrally located, has a variety of places to stay (many with wonderful views), and has some of the best food in Peru.

Must see places in Peru

Lima

Definitely check out the Miraflores area of Peru for shopping and eats. Don't forget to sample the drinks in Miraflores!

Tambopata Natural Reserve, Puerto Maldonado

No trip would be complete without seeing the Peruvian Amazon! Puerto Maldonado truly is a jungle paradise. I suggest you tour the Amazon Basin both by water and by hiking to really explore the flora and fauna. There's nothing quite like the sounds of the jungle and its inhabitants, and here you will learn all about them.

Cusco and Sacsayhuaman

Yes, some people really do pronounce it "sexy woman!

After taking time to adjust to altitude change, Plaza de Armas is the destination for restaurants, shopping, historic architecture, and a cultural experience. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and you can see portions of the ancient Great Inca Square today, mixed with Spanish churches and mansions.

Sacred Valley, Pisac Market, Ollantaytambo

The Ollantaytambo fortress of the Incas is one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the Americas. The Inca terraces and megalithic structures impart a powerful sense of a bygone era.

Machu Picchu

No trip to Peru is complete without visiting Machu Picchu. I highly recommend that you follow in the footsteps of the Incas and take an Inca trail hike to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. This is a wonderful way to see and feel what the Inca experienced when living there hundreds of years ago. This mystical place stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting.

Puno

A trip from Cusco to Puno allows you to visit ancient pueblos, temples, and churches along the way. It is known for being one of the most scenic routes.

Lake Titicaca

At 3856 meters above sea level, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The best way to experience Lake Titicaca is to take a nice ride on the little handmade reed boats around the floating villages. “Taquile Island” on Lake Titicaca is a great place for views of the lake and to see the typical houses inhabited by Quechua natives. Have lunch at one of the local restaurants before catching a motorboat back to Puno.