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Things to do in Peru

Our most recommended things to do in Peru

From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

1. From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu

Travel from Cusco to learn about the majestic Inca city: Machu Picchu and the ancient civilization living there. Discover the secrets that are hidden in it. Go back in time as you explore the streets of these ruins located in the Peruvian Andes.  Begin with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco for transfer to the train station. Get on board and enjoy the comforts offered by the train during the journey to Machu Picchu. Choose from the option of a standard train or a Vistadome train that offers panoramic views. Enjoy the dynamic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. Arrive in Aguas Calientes and take a bus to the entrance of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Learn about the history of this wonderful place. Depending on the option you select, enjoy a guided visit of Circuit 5. Visit Qolqas, the Agricultural Zone, the waterway, dry pit, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, water sources, set three covers, Pisonay Square, and the archaeological reserve. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and get recommendations for lunch. Board the train back to the Ollantaytambo or Poroy station where transportation will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Tour with Meals

2. Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Tour with Meals

Experience the incredible beauty of Rainbow Mountain on a guided hiking tour. You get a chance to see alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas while soaking in the stunning mountain views during the journey. Savor a local lunch before heading back to your accommodation in Cusco.  Your professional tour guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM. After a 2-hour drive, you will arrive in Cusipata where you will stop for breakfast and buy water and snacks for the trek. Following breakfast, you'll travel one more hour to the hike starting point, at 4,850 meters. From there you will start your 3.5-kilometer trek to Rainbow Mountain over both flat and uphill terrain. During your hike, you will enjoy amazing views and encounters with wild alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas. Once you reach the top at 5,010 meters, you can make use of some free time to take a break, and if the weather is good, you will be able to enjoy views over Rainbow Mountain. You'll go downhill to the starting spot for another hour. Then, take transportation back to Cusipata where a local lunch will be waiting for you. Once you finish your buffet lunch you will travel back to Cusco, where you will arrive between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM at Plaza de Armas.

Cusco: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4-Day Trek

3. Cusco: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4-Day Trek

Tackle the unforgettable Inca Trail, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hike to Machu Picchu. Departing from Cusco, discover one of the world’s oldest pilgrimages on this 4-day trip and explore a cloud forest. Depart from your Cusco hotel early in the morning and drive 82 kilometers to the starting point in Llactapata. Begin your guided hike to the first campsite in Ayapata, located 3300 (10826 feet) meters above sea level. In the morning, make your way to Warmiwañuska, passing two mountains for a total of 10 hours of hiking. Traverse Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail at 4215 meters (13829 feet). Then, cross the Runqurakay Pass, with 4000 meters (13123 feet) to Chaquicocha. After a good night's rest at Chaquicocha, take on the 6-hour trek to Phuyupatamarca and finally the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna at 2600 meters (8530 feet). Pass through a number of ecological zones, home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Spot orchids and bromeliads, as well as hummingbirds, foxes, and deer. Wake up early and hike for 2 hours to Machu Picchu through the Sungate, and enjoy a unique view of Machu Picchu. After exploring Machu Picchu, board the Panoramic train back to Cusco and be dropped off at your hotel in the evening.

From Puno: Uros Islands and Taquile Island Full Day Tour

4. From Puno: Uros Islands and Taquile Island Full Day Tour

Depart Puno and journey to the floating islands of the Uros people on Lake Titicaca. Find out about how these islands are created by the locals using bundles of dried totora reeds. Learn the history of the area and interact with the locals to hear more about their life out on the water. Then, cruise over to Taquile Island in the largest part of Lake Titicaca. Experience life on the lake up close and get some stunning views of the Andes Mountains as a bonus.  Hear about the inhabitants of Taquile Island and how they descended from the Inca people to mostly work as farmers and weavers, and how they have inherited some distinct Inca traditions. Go for a medium-level hike on the island, known for its handwoven art and collective farms, and enjoy a lunch of local produce served in a local restaurant. Then, return to Puno city on the shore of the lake for the end of the tour services.

From Paracas: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

5. From Paracas: Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

After a convenient hotel pickup from either Paracas or Pisco, head to the Marina Turistica to start your adventure. Board a speedboat with your bilingual, Spanish and English-speaking guide, and jet out onto the sea towards the stunning Ballestas. Along the way, stop at the Paracas Peninsula to see the Candelabro, an enigmatic glyph carved into the side of the island — whose purpose, and creator, remain a mystery to this day. Afterwards, continue onwards towards the marine sanctuary of Ballestas. Gaze upon the rocky shores, filled to the brim with sunbathing seals, and penguins diving into the turbid waters to hunt underneath the surface — all alongside other beautiful specimens, like majestic pelicans, and colorful blue-footed boobies. You’ll then return to the Marina Turistica for a drive to Paracas National Reserve. An almost alien landscape, the Paracas National Reserve is composed of vast, sprawling deserts and high sandstone cliffs directly next to the bright, blue ocean. Driving through the reserve, see the Cathedral, an area where a vast rock formation once stood before being destroyed by a cataclysmic earthquake. Your tour caps things off with visits to Playa Roja and Lagunillas Beach, two stunning maroon-sand beaches that are truly one-of-a-kind. Having seen some of the world's most unique natural features, flora, and fauna, you'll hop back in the car for a convenient transfer back to your hotel.

From Lima: Full-Day Paracas and Huacachina Bus Tour

6. From Lima: Full-Day Paracas and Huacachina Bus Tour

Discover the serene landscapes of the Peruvian countryside on a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina with hotel transfers included. See Humboldt penguins and sea lions on the Ballestas Islands and slide down the Huacachina dunes by sandboarding and dune buggy ride.  Your adventure begins with an early-morning pickup from your hostel or hotel. From here, travel to Paracas, a beautiful small town by the sea, on a spacious bus where you'll be able to relax for the 4-hour ride. Once in Paracas, begin a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a smaller version of the Galapagos. Spot sea lions, penguins, and plenty of birds up close and all in their natural habitats. You may even get the chance to see a dolphin or two. Around lunchtime, it's time to move on from Paracas to Huacachina, a natural oasis located in the Ica Desert, home to the biggest sand dunes in South America. Enjoy some free time here. Explore and have lunch (at your own expense) in one of the local restaurants around the oasis. Following lunch, it will be time for 2 hours of exhilarating dune buggy rides and sandboarding. Dune buggy up the sand dunes and sandboard down these giant hills of sand, a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the only natural desert oasis in South America. In the evening, board your bus back to Lima. Once onboard, sit back and relax on the comfortable seats while you enjoy a movie on board. You will later be dropped off directly at your hotel/hostel upon arrival in Lima.

Cusco: Full-Day Tour to Rainbow Mountain

7. Cusco: Full-Day Tour to Rainbow Mountain

Witness Rainbow Mountain in all its glory, take some photos and explore the area on a day trip from Cusco with a guide. Set out on an adventure in the early morning with a hotel pickup. Head up the mountain, cross small villages, immerse yourself in the local culture, and have lunch after your hike. Begin your full-day tour in Cusco city, where you will be picked up between 4:15 AM and 4:45 AM. You will then drive in a comfortable van for 3 hours to the town of Cusipata, where you will have breakfast in a local family house. Following breakfast, head to the starting point of your hike. There are approximately 3 kilometers of flat land uphill, leading to the majestic "Mountain of Colors". The hike will take about 1.5 hours, depending on your level of fitness. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the valleys, wild llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, as well as of the Andes and the nearby glaciers.  Once here, if the weather is good, get the first views of Rainbow Mountain. At the top, take a well-deserved break, which will also be your chance to catch your breath and enjoy the stunning views. After taking beautiful photos, begin your descent, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch upon your return. You will then take private transportation back to Cusco, where you will arrive at approximately 5:00 PM.

From Nazca: 35-Minute Flight Over Nazca Lines

8. From Nazca: 35-Minute Flight Over Nazca Lines

After pickup from your hotel or bus station in Nazca, transfer to the Nazca aerodrome. Meet your representative and go to the check-in zone to wait for your flight. Get briefed on the nature of your tour and on safety instructions. The flight lasts 35-minutes and you will see 12 of the most representative figures drawn on the stony surface of the Nazca desert. Look out for representations of animals and plants, distributed in a labyrinth of lines, trapezes, and triangles which have been preserved for almost 2,000 years. The Nazca Lines are some of the most incredible remains from an ancient culture. These designs, some as long as 500 meters, can be truly appreciated from the sky at an altitude of 1,500 feet. After your experience, fly back to the aerodrome and head back to your hotel in Nazca.

From Cusco: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac Tour

9. From Cusco: Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac Tour

Explore Cusco's Sacred Valley and see Incan Ruins, salt mines, local markets, and textile production. Make stops in Moray, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac on this full-day tour by van. Be picked up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning before heading to an archaeological zone and textile center located in Chinchero. See how locals dye alpaca wool with natural plants of the region. Visit the archaeological site in Chinchero and see its terraces before moving on to Moray to learn about the history of the Incas and wonder at their mysterious circular terraces. Head to the nearby village of Maras and learn about its history as a center for salt production at the Maras Salt Mines. Admire the unique quilt work of over 3,000 salt ponds spilling into the Sacred Valley. Travel to Urubamba and enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Stop at the ruins of Ollantaytambo and marvel at the remarkable Incan architecture built during the Incan Empire's heyday. See an amazing rock formation that represents the Incan god of Wiracocha. Arrive at the last tour stop, the archaeological park of Pisaq, after which you will visit the nearby town to explore the craft market. Return to Cusco and be dropped off in the town center after the tour is over.

Palomino Islands: Swim with Sea Lions in the Pacific Ocean

10. Palomino Islands: Swim with Sea Lions in the Pacific Ocean

Embark on an incredible yacht tour to Palomino Islands and for the chance to witness Peru's incredible seabirds and marine wildlife and swim with thousands of sea lions in their natural habitat. First, get picked up from your hotel if you choose the relevant option when booking, otherwise make your own way to the meeting point in Callao. Start the tour from La Punta Bay where you will board a comfortable and safe yacht equipped with sophisticated navigation equipment, bathrooms, and other amenities. Sail out into the Pacific Ocean on an unforgettable 4-hour journey past the islands of Callao and along the coast of San Lorenzo Island. Pass a naval base and the El Frontón Island, where a maximum-security prison existed until the 1980s. Cruise along the coast of the Cabinzas Islands which are inhabited by several colonies of guano birds, until you finally reach the central attraction, the Palomino Islands. When you arrive, observe a colony of approximately 8000 sea lions, one of the largest in the area. Get kitted out with neoprene wetsuits and life jackets and take the opportunity to jump into the water as you get up close to these friendly animals. The tour will be under the surveillance and guidance of the experienced crew.

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What people are saying about Peru

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 7,819 reviews

Our guide was awesome! He phoned me personally, arranged times & picked us up from our hostel even though it wasn’t in the pickup zone. The tour was amazing. Once in a lifetime opportunity!

This was a really fun day! Well worth the cost and early morning start to see some highlights of the south coast with everything organized smoothly for you

The Couch a very pleasant & friendly person Got there 5 mts late & a nice person guide us to a meeting point . Nice stop for ice cream. Good time

Cristobal was really nice and always explained us the importance or history of the places.

It was a very good tour ! With a lot of information and tips to do