What are the best things to see and do in Peru?

If you’re deciding what to do in Peru for a week, allow time to get from one place to the next as well as time to explore. Leave an afternoon open to wander, linger over lunch, or put your feet up after a hike.

1. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

For hikers who want a closer look at Inca history, the classic four-day Inca Trail takes you along the same path used by the Incas 500 years ago to reach Machu Picchu. This experience allows you to discover Inca sites you’d miss if you went straight to Machu Picchu by train. You’ll follow old stone paths, explore the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna, and camp in the mountains. On the final day, you’ll reach the Sun Gate, where a break in the clouds can reveal Machu Picchu below.

2. Explore Lima’s historic center, Miraflores, and Barranco

Some of the best things to do in Lima, Peru’s coastal capital, are easy to enjoy on foot. Start in the historic center, where the Plaza Mayor and the Church of San Francisco give you a feel for the city’s past. In Miraflores, follow the clifftop promenade to Parque del Amor (love park) for views of the Pacific Ocean. Save an afternoon for Barranco’s murals, galleries, and cafés, and cross the Bridge of Sighs while you’re there. These three neighborhoods alone give you a good reason to stay in Lima before heading to Cusco.

3. Explore Cusco and its Inca sites

Walking through the historic center is one of the best things to do in Cusco, Peru, if you want to see how Inca stonework fits into the city today. Start at Qoricancha, then see if you can spot the Twelve-Angled Stone on your way up to the San Blas neighborhood. Outside the center, visit Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay for a closer look at what the Incas built and how they used each site.

4. Spend a day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

You can visit the terraces at Pisac, climb the stone steps at Ollantaytambo, and wander the streets of the Sacred Valley’s towns. To get a feel for everyday life in the valley, browse Pisac Market, watch weavers at work in Chinchero, or visit the salt ponds at Maras. Tours take different routes, so if there’s a stop you’d especially like to see, check that it’s included before you book.

5. See the Nazca Lines from the air

Look down from a small plane, and you can make out a hummingbird, a monkey, and a spider etched into the Nazca Desert. The designs are so large that it’s hard to see their full shapes from the ground. From the air, you can follow each outline and photograph the figures as you spot them. For a closer look at a few of the lines, stop at the roadside observation tower.

6. Visit the islands of Titicaca Lake by boat

Take a boat from Puno to meet some of the families who live on Titicaca Lake. On the Uros floating islands, residents can show you how they build the islands from totora reeds. You can even take a ride on a raft made from the same reeds. On Taquile, go for a walk and take a closer look at the islanders’ handmade textiles. Between stops, you’ll have time to enjoy the views across the lake.

7. Watch sea lions and seabirds in the Ballestas Islands

From Paracas, take a boat to the Ballestas Islands and look for sea lions resting on the rocks or swimming nearby. You may also spot Humboldt penguins, Peruvian boobies, and other seabirds gathered on the islands. You’ll watch the wildlife from the boat, so keep your camera handy. Your guide can point out birds you might otherwise miss against the rocks.

8. Explore the Tambopata rainforest

Walk forest trails with a guide or head out by boat to look for birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. Depending on the trip, you might visit Sandoval Lake or a clay lick where parrots and macaws gather to eat clay. Some excursions head out after dark in search of animals you’re unlikely to see by day. Sightings vary, but learning to recognize a call or notice a branch moving overhead is part of the fun.

9. Watch for condors over Colca Canyon

Visit the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint in the morning for a chance to see Andean condors gliding over the canyon with their wings spread wide. You can enjoy the view without hiking down to the canyon floor. Sightings are never certain, but the lookout gives you plenty to photograph while you wait. Afterward, explore a village such as Yanque or soak in the hot springs at La Calera.

10. Hike the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek takes you to Humantay Lake, past the snowcapped slopes of Salkantay, and down into cloud forest and coffee country. On the five-day route, you can visit a farm, see how the beans are prepared, and taste the coffee right where it’s grown. After several days of hiking in the mountains, you’ll spend a night in Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu.

11. Hike to Humantay Lake

The trail from Soraypampa climbs to Humantay Lake, where turquoise water meets the slopes of a snowcapped peak. At the top, take a breather and photograph the lake with the mountain behind it. You can leave Cusco and be back the same day, making this a good way to see part of the Salkantay route if you have limited time. Some stretches are steep, so set a comfortable pace and take breaks along the way.

12. Hike to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley

At the Vinicunca viewpoint, you can see the bands of color that run across Rainbow Mountain and learn how they formed. Continue into the Red Valley, and you’ll see entire hillsides in shades of rust red. Look for llamas and alpacas grazing along the trail. If you want to visit both places, check the itinerary when you book, since some tours stop at Rainbow Mountain.

13. Try sandboarding on the dunes of Huacachina

If you’re looking for cool things to do in Peru, try sandboarding in Huacachina oasis. An instructor can show you how to position yourself on the board and control your descent. If you’re unsure about standing up, you can lie on your stomach for the ride down. Climb back up for a view of the lagoon surrounded by dunes, and stay until sunset to photograph the desert in the evening light.

14. Hike through the forest to Gocta Waterfall

From the village of Cocachimba in Peru’s Amazonas region, follow the forest trail to Gocta Waterfall. Stop along the way to look for birds and listen to their calls. You’ll hear the rush of water grow louder before you catch sight of the falls through the trees. Bring a rain jacket and wear shoes with good grip for the wet trail.

15. Take a multi-day trek to Choquequirao

If you enjoy long hikes and want to explore Inca sites beyond Machu Picchu, consider the classic trek to Choquequirao. You’ll descend into the Apurímac Canyon, climb the far side, and camp along the way. Once there, give yourself time to explore the plazas, ceremonial buildings, and terraces. Look closely at the terrace walls. White stones set into the darker rock form figures of llamas.

More things to enjoy in Peru

Between hikes and sightseeing, leave time for a local festival or a meal. Each region has dishes and drinks worth trying while you’re there.

Traditional festivals and celebrations in Peru

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Peru, check which festivals fall during your trip. You might catch a traditional dance competition, join a procession, or meet artisans at a craft fair. Use this calendar to choose where to go and when.

Before you plan a visit around a festival, check the schedule for the year you’ll be traveling. Some dates change from year to year.

Peruvian drinks worth trying

Try a cold glass of chicha morada with lunch, order a pisco sour, or warm up with an emoliente on a cool afternoon. There’s plenty to choose from, whether you drink alcohol or not.

• A pisco sour blends pisco, lime juice, sugar syrup, and egg white, with a few drops of Angostura bitters. It’s both tart and sweet.
• Chicha morada is a nonalcoholic drink made with purple corn, fruit, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s served cold with meals.
• Inca Kola is a sweet, bright yellow soda you can try with a plate of Peruvian food.
• Emoliente is a nonalcoholic drink made with barley, flaxseed, and herbs. It’s usually served hot, especially in the morning or evening.
• Chicha de jora is made from sprouted, fermented corn. It contains alcohol and has a slightly tart flavor
• Masato is an Amazonian drink made from fermented cassava. Its flavor and alcohol content depend on how it’s prepared.

Traditional Peruvian dishes to try

At each stop, ask what’s cooking at the local market or which dish a restaurant is known for. These specialties are a good place to start.

Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Peruvian Amazon

In some communities in the Peruvian Amazon, traditional healers lead ceremonies with ayahuasca, a plant brew they consider sacred. People may take part seeking spiritual insight or emotional healing, and some describe having visions during the ceremony.

If you’re considering a ceremony, take time to learn about the tradition and its risks. Ask about the setting and the qualifications of the people leading it before you decide whether to take part.

The best time to visit Peru

The coast, the Andes, and the Amazon have different climates. The best time to visit depends on where you want to go and what you’d like to do there.

• The dry season from May to September is usually the best time to hike in the Andes, explore Cusco, and visit Machu Picchu. There’s less rain and you’re more likely to get clear skies.
• The rainy season from November to March brings more frequent showers and greener hillsides in the Andes. There are generally fewer visitors, though the weather can affect some hikes.

Frequently asked questions about the best things to do in Peru