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Wondering where to go and what places to visit in Peru outside of the famed Cusco trekking gateway? This destination list takes you on an introductory journey through the country’s changing landscapes and historical hubs.
Typically, on the first visit to Peru, travellers will visit the ‘southern loop’ between Lima and Cusco. But whether you start in the sprawling capital city of Lima, which mixes ancient ruins with urban neighbourhoods, or the Sacred Valley with its Machu Picchu gateway of Cusco, there are colossal sand dunes and reed island lakes, ancient land markings, mountain valley cities and mighty canyons in between. Those with more time also venture north for the famed Laguna 69 trekking route or do so on a second visit.
Capital City, Lima
Your Peru trip will most likely start in the capital, Lima, because of the regular flight routes. This journey maps out the ‘southern loop’ must-see places via an overland bus towards Cusco.
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Lima is a sprawling coastline metropolis, with much of its outer residential areas completely off-limits. Most visitors stay in the safer touristic neighbourhood of Miraflores, from which you can mix modern city hangouts with Inca ruins and beaches. Others stay in the bohemian area of Barranco, known for its alternative scene in street art, craft stalls and hippy-vibe hangouts.
Downtown Lima is accessible from both and is usually visited during a day trip. It’s largely sketchy beyond the small cluster of squares and streets where you’ll find grand buildings from cathedrals to Palaces around Plaza de Armas and colourful streets peppered with ornate wooden balconies as you wander between local cafes, restaurants and stores.
Where to Stay in Lima
- Casa Andina Premium – Beautiful boutique-style hotel on a quiet street just a few blocks from Parque Kennedy.
- Pariwana Hostel – One of the hostels you hear about on the grapevine. Close to the beach and complete with terrace and bar, table tennis table and continental breakfast.
- Alpes Lima – I stayed in both their dorm room property (home to the rooftop bar) and their second property two blocks away that has private rooms and a quieter environment.
- Pool Paradise Lima – The only hostel in Miraflores with an outdoor pool.
- The Point – For those wanting to hang out in the arty, hip neighbourhood of Barranco.
Huaca Pucllana Inca Ruins in Lima.
Paracas National Reserve
Coastal Paracas may not have much going on apart from its super chill vibes, but people come here to head out on a speedboat to visit the protected Ballestas Islands. Dubbed the “Poor Man´s Galapagos”, this is a chance to spend two hours spotting wildlife, including pelicans, penguins, birds and sleepy sea lions in the Paracas National Reserve.
The contrasting sweeping desert plains of Paracas National Park, marked by cliff drops and jagged rock formations, are also another highlight. However, there are plenty of nature-focused things to do if you decide to stay for a few lazy days.
Where to Stay in Paracas
The coastline of Paracas National Reserve, Ballestas Islands, Peru.
The famed Paracas Candelabra geoglyph rock carving.
Huacachina Sand Dune Oasis
Huacachina is all about the mighty sand dunes. As soon as you arrive in this desert oasis town, you’ll realise it’s surrounded by a ring of golden mounds.
The best way to experience them is by strapping yourself into a sand buggy and enjoying a fast and bumpy nature coaster ride to some of the highest points and stomach-churning ploughs down. Alternatively, you can also learn how to Sandboard down, which is an alternative thrill (beginner tips here). Travellers also come here to indulge at the nearby Pisco vineyards.
Where to Stay in Huacachina / Ica
- Banana’s Adventure Hostel – New, funky, modern touches and great atmosphere. The place I wish I had stayed after finding it.
- Casa de Arenas – The biggest hostel in this tiny town, complete with a bar and pool, but it is a little outdated and the atmosphere not so warming unless you get lucky with the traveller set in town at the time.
- Le Casa de Bamboo – The quiet traveller’s option, complete with a small bar.
The sand buggy ride to the Huacachina sand dunes in Peru.
To the Famous Nazca Lines
The 2,000-year-old geometric Nazca Lines are a world-famous site, despite the fact we still do not know exactly why these markings in the desert were created. This UNESCO world heritage site remains a mystery, and you can’t pass through without taking a look for yourself.
Three of the Nazca Lines can be viewed for free from a tower that is perched along the Trans American Highway. Still, the best way to see all the mysterious shapes and symbols is via a dizzying plane flight as you curve around the desert basin trying to spot the spider, condor, monkey, whale and astronaut.
Where to Stay in Nazca / Nasca
Not many people stay overnight in Nazca. Instead, they pass through on the way to Arequipa. For those wanting to chill here and break up the journey, the following places were recommended.
- Nazca Travel One – Central, family-run establishment.
- Hotel Alegria – Considered one of the best hotels in this area, and the bonus is it has a pool.
View from the plane shows a road cutting through some geoglyphs carved into the Nazca Desert. A viewing tower has been set up for those who do not want to fly over.
Can you spot the astronaut? It’s one of the famed desert soil-carved Nazca Lines in Peru.
Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Mountain-backed, colonial architecture decked Arequipa is a beautiful city to spend some days in. From its candy-colour pop streets, you’ll find a panorama of peaks, including the dominant Misti volcano. Take the daily free walking tour for a historical introduction to some local neighbourhoods and hidden viewpoints. A full day alone can be granted to the Santa Catalina Convent (Monasterio D Santa Catalina), dubbed “a city within a city.”
Where to Stay in Arequipa
- Casa de Avila – I adored this cosy, quiet 3-star hotel and treated myself to four nights here (at only $40 a night) to get some proper rest pre and post-Colca Canyon trek. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the very centre and the Plaza de Armas. You can also take a Peruvian cooking class here.
- Wild Rover – The party hostel with a pool. Part of the Irish hostel chain in Peru.
- Flying Dog – The quieter, chilled out hostel with lounge areas and easy access to the centre of the city.
The Misti Volcano seen from the streets of Arequipa, Peru.
The Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa.
Four hours from Arequipa is Colca Canyon – the second deepest canyon in the world that is said to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. It attracts day-trippers and hardened trekkers, but the core view is of the Andean Condor birds in flight from above, to majestic viewpoint backdrops of the surrounding volcanoes. You can hike down into the Canyon, stay overnight in the oasis below, and hike out at sunrise – a painful, but unforgettable landscape to experience.
Join the locals visiting Colca Canyon on a day trip from Arequipa, Peru.
A condor in flight in the Colca Canyon – a highlight of a visit here.
Puno and Lake Titicaca
Puno is famous for Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake on Earth at over 3,800 meters above sea level.
It’s here that people visit the man-made floating reed islands, with the chance to stay overnight with a local family on one of the remote islands a bit further out. I recommend this option if you have time, as I found the half-day and day tour trips set up only for tourists. Not to mention it has induced a culture of begging, even amongst the local children.
Others come to Puno, extending their lake visit as a means to also connect into Bolivia via Copacabana.
Where to Stay in Puno
- Suites Independencia – We left our bags here as we explored on day trips before catching the night bus, but a friend stayed overnight so I got to see the rooms. Basic, spacious room right in the very centre of town.
- Pacha Suites is also a centrally based accommodation and was a mid-range option that was recommended.
- Staying with a local family found on Airbnb was an option fellow travellers recommended me for those wanting a proper homestay experience on Lake Titicaca.
Visit Puno to see Lake Titicaca.
Travel to Peru and visit the unique reed houses on the floating islands on Lake Titicaca, Peru.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is, of course, the starting point for those on their way to the famed Machu Picchu – the grand highlight of any Peru trip.
However, there’s more to Cusco than a gateway for those making the pilgrimage to the ancient Inca Site. The centre of Cusco itself is full of sites, including Colonial architecture and stone walls and ruins of Inca days that line the steep cobble-stoned streets.
Fun tours in Cusco can be found in abundance if you want deeper historical and cultural insights. Hip coffee shops, vegan cafes and restaurants, independent design stores and funky hangouts define the city, especially in the bohemian San Blas neighbourhood.
Where to Stay in Cusco
- Casa del Carmen – A family-run, quiet, cosy residence located in the cool arty district of San Blas. Carmen is very motherly and always on hand to help, although the only downside is you may be asked to move around if you are there for many days as there doesn’t seem to be a set system in place for the rooms. But for $25 for a private room in central Cusco, I wasn’t going to complain too much.
- Wild Rover – The party hostel option in Cusco for revelling travellers.
- The popular Kokopelli Backpackers chain in Peru also has a base in Cusco. It’s right on the main square, although it can be pricey.
The high altitude cobbled streets of Cusco valley.
Inca Site Trips from Cusco
There are also a few key sites and treks that make for great day trips from Cusco, including.
The Salinas Salt Ponds are a terrace system of evaporated salt ponds a short drive from the town of Maras, located around one hour outside of Cusco. A man-made layered landscape in the Sacred Valley, these salt basins have been in use since the days of the Incas, with a section now open to the public to marvel at.
One of Peru’s best places to visit is the Salinas Salt Ponds in the Sacred Valley, Cusco.
Moray is an archaeological site of ringed Inca ruins in a remote area near Maras (and easily combined with Salinas). Defined by its circular terraces at a plateau of 3,500 metres, it is believed this was used for agricultural research, with the different terrace levels having unique microclimates.
Sacsayhuaman is a hilltop Inca citadel that sits on the northern fringes of Cusco and is said to be a fortress overlooking the city. It is known for its huge dry stones that fit together in the same way as those on the old Inca walls in Cusco – without any mortar or filling such as soil or clay.
