Here at Travel Differently, we love Peru. This incredible country offers so much to see and do, so here we’re taking a closer look at the best things to do and the best places to visit in Peru. From the more well-known big hitters such as Machu Picchu and The Amazon Jungle, to the lesser know gems such as hiking the ‘other’ Rainbow Mountain, and immersing yourself into a Misminay community. If you are looking for what to do in Peru, these are our top suggestions for your bespoke trip. Take a look at our tailor-made Peru holidays to get excited about your next adventure trip.
Things to do in Peru
1. Machu Picchu holiday
We can’t talk about what to see in Peru without mentioning of course, Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca City really is one of the wonders of the world. Its an incredible, spiritual, unique and mysterious site that keeps drawing people from around the world. While we don’t love the term ‘bucket list travel’ a Peru Machu Picchu visit is a definite.
You can choose to arrive by train, or take the iconic Inca Trail to the site. Arriving at Machu Picchu for the first time really will be one of those pinch-me travel moments. We always include a private guided tour to Machu Picchu, to give you the best and most bespoke experience. Where possible your guide will avoid the crowds and take you to viewpoints to capture some amazing pictures and the soak up the magical energy. Take your time to meander through the famous Citadel; see the terraces, historic ruins, and local alpacas…all set against the back drop of the imposing Huayna Picchu Mountain.
How to get to Machu Picchu?
You can either take the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo or Cusco, or chose to include the journey in a trek. More on the Inca Trail below…
What is the best month to go to Machu Picchu?
Between April and October. However the wonderful thing about a holiday to Peru, is that Machu Picchu is pretty much a year round destination. There are months which are more popular, mainly April to October as this is dry season. Peak travel months are June and August, and the crowd numbers will be at the highest then. If you can travel outside of these months you will have a quieter Machu Picchu holiday.
How to book Machu Picchu?
Our Peru experts here at Travel differently will arrange your entry ticket to Machu Picchu. The site has a limited number of daily tickets available, which we have access to. Its best to book your holiday to Peru well in advance to secure the day and time you prefer. Our team will talk you though your Peru trip, dates and preferences and secure the golden tickets for you.
2. Explore Cusco
Cusco is an incredible city, and a must-visit on your trip to Peru. This Imperial city of the Incas is rich in culture, colours and places to explore. One of our favourite things to do in Cusco is head out with our expert guide to visit the iconic local market. A genuine destination point for Peruvians; here you will see the colours, scents, flavours and traditions of both past and modern Cusco.
Continue to Sacsayhuaman, built with ginormous blocks of stone on the outskirts of the city. Amble through cobbled streets, soaking up amazing views, experiencing the artisan neighbourhood of San Blas. Visit the cathedral and Plaza de Armas, all the while chatting to our friendly local guide who can point out the best places to grab some local cuisine and a Pisco Sour. A dream day in Peru.
How many days do you need in Cusco Peru?
We always suggest a minimum of 3 nights in Cusco. As with all our slow travel holidays, the longer you have on your Peru trip the better. That said, we appreciate time can be limited, so we always suggest a minimum of 3 nights in Cusco. There is so much to do in this fascinating city, you could easily spend a week here and not run out of places to explore.
Is Cusco a walkable city?
Yes, Cusco is an easy city to walk around. We always suggest a walking tour with our guide as the best way to see Cusco. All the main highlights are fairly close together, making a walking tour of Cusco easy and enjoyable. Its also a perfect way to go at your own pace, stop for lunch and a drink to watch the city go by.
3. Visit The Sacred Valley, Peru
One of our absolute best things to do in Peru, is visit the Sacred Valley. So incredible is the Sacred Valley, we often suggest to our guests to leave a week to fully explore this amazing destination. The Sacred Valley stretches between Machu Picchu and Cusco, and is vast and varied in its natural scenery and mixture of cultures and traditions. This is the real Peru.
In the Sacred Valley you will see valleys peppered with unique villages, colourful markets and of course historic Inca ruins. There is so much to do in the Sacred Valley, from active adventures like hiking, to rich and deeply immersive cultural experiences. One of our favourite things to on a Peru holiday, is spend time with a traditional Andean community. The Misminay community live in stunning mountain ranges of the Sacred Valley and offer a warm welcome on this unique tour.
They will show you traditional Andean customs and talk about their way of life and heritage. Choose to have a go yourself at cooking, brick making, textile weaving, Quecha lessons or an Andean blessing. This tour embraces our ethos of slow, immersive travel that connects you with local people and surroundings. A genuine and meaningful travel experience not to be missed. Take a look here at how best to include this incredible experience into your own Peru holiday.
How high is the Sacred Valley compared to Cusco?
The Sacred Valley its at 2000 -3000 meters, and is a great place to acclimatize at the start or your Peru holiday. It sits lower than Cusco, so we suggest starting here for 4 or 5 nights to get used to the altitude.
Should I stay in Cusco or The Sacred Valley?
100% stay in the Sacred Valley if you want to include this in your Peru holiday. We suggest basing yourself in one of the beautiful boutique lodges in the Sacred Valley. This will give you more time to explore all the valley has to offer, and ensure money from your holiday goes right into the heart of the local community.
4. Hike the ‘other’ Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain in Peru is famous for its Instagram-worthy colours and stripes. Whilst visually impressive, we prefer to suggest a really cool, less visited option. As our name suggests, we like to Travel Differently. The truly impressive Mount Palccoyo is a fantastic alternative to the often over-touristed Rainbow Mountain in Peru, and we think our guests will love it.
After being picked up by your private guide in Cusco and driven around 3 hours through unreal Andean scenery, you arrive at the small town of Combapata to start the journey to the mighty Palccoyo ‘coloured Mountain’. Learn about why the mountain has such unique colouring, hike to the stone forest at the breathtaking Mount Ausangate snow peak viewpoint. Ensure you have a good camera on your Peru tour, as this will be one of the highlights. Our expert guide will make sure you go at your own pace, soak it all up and have enough time to really appreciate this amazing sight.
Why is Rainbow Mountain Peru colourful?
Rainbow Mountain and its equally colourful alternative Palccoyo Mountain get their distinctive colouring through the presence of minerals and sediments. These have built up over millions of years, resulting in the stunning layered look of reds, yellows, purples and greens. A unique thing to see on your holiday to Peru.
5. Peru Amazon Tours
The Amazon Jungle is one of the best places to include in your Peru holiday. Perfect for those who love outdoor adventures, hiking wildlife, birds and feeling like an Amazonian explorer. The Amazon in Peru has some incredible eco lodges and sustainably minded accommodation to stay in, placing you right into the heart of the action, while also ensuring where you stay is helping to preserve this delicate eco-system.
The Guardian recently featured one of our Peru holidays which includes an incredible stay at Hacienda Concepcion Lodge, which is a perfect base to see monkeys, turtles, parrots and caiman. Spend your days exploring the jungle by foot and boat, always keeping an eye out for lesser spotted creatures.
One of the best things to do in the Peruvian Amazon is the visit a Macaw clay link. This is how you really Travel Differently.
This unique adventure lasts around half a day and really is one of the most stunning wildlife sights in the world. Due to nutrients found in the soil of the cliffs (most likely salt) the lick attracts hundreds of birds ranging from Macaws to Mealy Parrots. The thick jungle is suddenly filled with loud distinct Macaw screeches; a unique and memorable wildlife experience. Something really different and authentic for your family holiday to Peru.
What are the best months to visit the Amazon in Peru?
May-September are the best months to visit the Peruvian Amazon. Hiking conditions are better, wildlife sightings are greater, and those pesky mossies’ will be far less.
What is the best month to cruise the Amazon River?
June to November are the best months to book a Amazon River Cruise, due to water levels. There are a number of boats to choose from; luxury Cruse ships to more wildlife focused basic boats. Speak to our Peru experts to talk through the options.
6. Guided Cycling in Peru
At Travel Differently, we think one of the best ways to see a country, is on the back of a bike. One of the most unique experiences in Peru, is to take a cycling adventure of Maras and Moray. Get away from the crowds and really see these iconic sights differently. Start with your professional cycling guide in Moray. Moray is a incredible amphitheater of circular terraces that connects us to the ancient intricate engineering of the Inca civilization. Explore on foot then have your safety briefing, learning about your bike and the route ahead.
There are few ways to do this exciting tour, dependent on your fitness levels; be it a leisurely ride along country trails near Huaypo Lagoon, or if you prefer a challenge, descend trough Inca salt mines. Whichever you opt for, you pass through the imposing Plaza of Maras to soak up Inca traditions and life.
A thrilling day out exploring the gems of the Sacred Valley, combining nature, history and biking. A well deserved delicious lunch and a cold beer awaits you after your bike ride. If you love active trips, we can include this amazing bike ride through Peru into our Peru Active Adventure holiday. Just speak to our team to run through how best to fit this in.
7. Best food of Peru…Lima
Lima is widely thought of as the foodie capital of Peru (if not South America, shhh don’t tell Buenos Aires) Lima is an exciting and vibrant city to include in your Peru holiday, great for culture, architecture and of course food. Restaurants in Lima regularly feature in the ‘worlds best’ ranking, and its easy to see why.
Fresh locally sourced ingredients, traditional recipes and methods along with modern twists are attracting not just the best chefs in the world, but those that love foodie holidays. As well as Michelin Star restaurants and renowned places to try local food…be sure to try our street food experience in Lima. Along with our private food guide, this unique tour takes you into the history of Lima through its flavours. Walk through the historic center discovering fascinating stories and recipes that make this city the food capital.
On this street food private tour, discover 14 flavours with a Peruvian soul. Learn the mix of Chinese and African influences, trying delicious bites along the way. End in the beating heart of Lima’s cuisine scene, the main market. Full of colour aromas and atmosphere, sample some of the best street food in the world.
What is popular food in Lima, Peru?
Ceviche ceviche and more ceviche! Lima is the best place in the world to try the freshest and most delicate tasking ceviche. Perfect as a starter, or a main course, you will be in serious food paradise if you are a ceviche fan. Give Lomo Saltado a try, which is a stir fry beef. Cuy, or Guinea Pig is a Peruvian classic, as well as Causa; a potato casserole.
8. Lake Titicaca by Kayak
In the past visits to Lake Titicaca in Peru have been heaving with tourists which take away from the authenticity of the experience. However, alongside our fantastic ground team in Peru, we now suggest ways to enjoy Lake Titicaca holidays, better and more responsibly. Lake Titicaca has long been one of the most important and mystical highlights in Peru. Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world (at 3,812 meter above sea level).
Our immersive 2 day private Lake Titicaca tour takes you into the heart of the lake, away from the masses, so you get to see the real cultures and traditions of the lake community. Hop in kayaks and paddle towards the famous floating Islands of Uros. Float past incredibly beautiful flora and fauna, heading onwards to Llachon. Kayak on to Amantani end enjoy a delicious local lunch made from locally sourced food. Jump off your kayak and slip on your hiking boots for a thrilling trek to Pachatata, the centre of Titicaca.
On the second day of this brilliant tour head back out on the lake with your kayak, onwards to Taquile Island. Soak up the cultures sights and sounds, before savouring another delicious lunch and heading back to Puno. This tour is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of Lake Titicaca on your Peru holiday. Travel Differently and do things in a far better way.
What is the best time of year to visit Lake Titicaca?
April to October are the best months to visit Lake Titicaca. Try and avoid the peak tourist months of July and August where possible, but always speak to our Peru experts who can design your tailor-made Peru trip around your preferences.
How many days do you need in Lake Titicaca?
2 to 3 days is great amount of time for introduction to Lake Titicaca. Our cultural immersion and kayak tour is 2 days which is perfect, but if you have time to extend into your Peru holiday time, even better.
9. A thrilling boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, Peru
One of our more unique and unusual Peru tours, is this private boat trip to the beautiful Ballestas Islands. The Islands are home to a specific and diverse range of coastal fauna, and are teeming with sea lions, Humboltd penguins and birds. This trip is perfect for a real change of scenery in Peru.
En route to the islands guests can witness the amazing ‘Candelabro’ Candlestick – a gigantic and mysterious geoglyph carved into the soil. Bring a good camera and some binoculars and strap in for a really unique day of archaeological and natural discovery. If you love bird-watching on your holiday, this unique trip is a must.
What are the best Ballestas Islands highlights?
Birds are the main draw to these mysterious islands. You are likely to see a huge diversity of species during your trip here, including Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian boobies, Inca Terns, Peruvian Pelicans and of course many many penguins.
How do I get to the Ballestas Islands?
You take a boat from Paracas, where your wildlife watching tour takes around 2 hours. To get to Paracas its best to start from Lima, where your guide will pick you up and drive around 3-4 hours. Much like The Galapagos islands, the area is heavily protected and tourists must not step on the islands themselves. Its vital the delicate eco system and wildlife here is protected.
10. Inca Trail Tours
Hiking the Inca Trail is one of the most iconic and memorable travel experiences in South America. The best Inca Trail tour companies will be offering this exciting trek as a private tour, with professional local guides. You will need a good level of fitness, as the difficulty rating of the Inca Trail can change depending on the weather and conditions. On our four day three night Inca Trail trip, you will follow in the footsteps of the Incas as they journeyed to Machu Picchu.
Along the way you will witness the impressive ancient road system the Inca’s constructed in their empire. The trail will fully immerse you into the Andean world. You will learn the history, visit archaeological sites, and experience the varied eco systems and wildlife along the way.
However if you want to avoid the crowds of the Inca Trail and do things differently, we suggest our 5 day four night trip. This unique Peru travel experience starts the Inca Trail at the opposite side of the river. You will avoid some of the more congested sections and towns, and see the lesser known archaeological sites. You will experience quieter view points, far less tourists and more peaceful camps. Visit Kintu (an Andean community) before ascending to the first and highest altitude pass, coupled with truly spectacular views of the ’cloud mattress’
Both options are amazing ways to experience the Inca Trail route. On each you will camp, using comfortable equipment and enjoy delicious fresh Peruvian food. The views, the scale of the place and your guides will really make for a memorable trip, and this is definitely one of the best things to do in Peru. Want to know more about the best hikes in Peru? Read our Ultimate Hiking Guide of Peru.
Inca Trail Altitude
The highest point of the Inca Trail is 4,215 meters. At this point you get an incredible view of the Sacred Valley and the Valley of the Incas.
How long is the Inca Trail?
Your total walking distance will be 45km. Our classic Inca Trail tour takes 3 nights and four days, or opt for our unique and more immersive 4 night option.
How hard is the Inca Trail?
Medium difficulty. If you have a good basic level of fitness you shouldn’t find the Inca Trail too hard. Our Peru experts will talk you through the fine details and logistics to check the trek options are suitable for you. Before the Inca Trail hike begins our guides will give you a full safely briefing, and regularly check in with you.
Best time to do the Inca Trail?
April to November are the best months to do the Inca Trail. These months are the driest. December to March is rainy season, and the trail does not run at all during February. Speak to our Peru experts about your holiday and preferred dates and we can come up with the best plan to incorporate the Inca Trail into your Peru holiday.
Summary
Peru really is a wonderful country to discover. As you can see here, there are endless unique and exciting places to visit and tours to try. While you will want to tick off the classics from your holiday bucket list, be sure to Travel Differently and see the real Peru.
Read more on the best time to visit South America.
Looking to plan your Peru active holiday and wondering what to include? Take a look at our example Peru holidays. These can all be tweaked and designed just for you. Hike the Inca Trail, try Ceviche in Lima, and jump on a bike around remote countryside in Peru.
