Best places to visit in Peru Tripadvisor

One of the seven new wonders of the world continues to appear among the most enigmatic cities. This time, El Santuario de Machu Picchu (The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu), located in the province of Cusco Peru, took first place on the list of top 25 landmarks in the world by TripAdvisor in the Travellers' Choice Awards 2016, overtaking legendary places like the Taj Mahal in India and the Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

TripAdvisor, a tourism website that has more than 340 million monthly site visits, holds the Traveller's Choice awards every year, where they recognize remarkable performance in the tourism industry. The travelers are the ones that pick the best option. They offer their opinions and comments among thousands of other users, rating quality, service, and satisfaction on each trip.

Best places to visit in Peru Tripadvisor

Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines is located near the city of the same name, Nazca. The special thing about this desert: Here you can admire the enigmatic Nazca Lines. The Lines are giant geoglyphs carved into the sand over 2500 years ago. Over 1500 images show monkeys, spiders, fish and other animals that can only be seen from afar or from a bird's eye view. Researchers suspect that the geoglyphs were part of fertility rituals.

Arequipa

The city of Arequipa is known as the "Volcano City of Peru". It has almost a million inhabitants and is over 2300 meters above sea level in the south of the country. The buildings in the historic center of Arequipa are built of white sillar rock. This volcanic rock comes from the nearby, still active volcano Misti. The beautiful city center of Arequipa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Here in Arequipa, you can acclimatize before aiming for altitudes over 3000 meters.

Colca Canyon

The Colca Canyon is located 100 kilometers north of Arequipa. It is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the United States. Particularly impressive are the numerous terraces on the slopes, which were once dug by the Collagua people for agricultural use. You can also hike through the valley of the canyon on your own. Click for Colca Canyon

Lima

A common advice for backpackers in Peru is to skip the Peruvian capital, Lima, and travel straight on. However, many backpackers miss the flair of the capital. Lima has a lot to offer: historic buildings, delicious food, a picturesque seaside promenade and vibrant nightlife. With over ten million inhabitants, Lima has become a modern metropolis in South America. The city is excellent for arriving in Peru and preparing for the journey ahead.

Puerto Maldonado

The small town of Puerto Maldonado is located in the southeast of the country, in the middle of the tropical Amazon jungle. It is known today for panning for gold. The town itself has little to offer, but it can be used as a base for trips into the surrounding jungle. Manú, Tambopata-Candamo and Bahuaja Sonene National Parks are close to the city. The nature reserves are among the few primary forests in the rainforest that are largely untouched. In terms of tourism, the nature reserves are still little developed. However, there are some places to stay overnight in Manú National Park that can be reached on boat tours. Perfect for backpackers looking for experiences outside of mass tourism. The weather in the region is tropically warm all year round, with the rainy season running from December to February. The best time to travel is between March and November. Be sure to pack mosquito spray!

Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain is still relatively unknown, but is quickly gaining popularity among travelers to Peru. From Cusco, the mountain can be reached by a day hike. Due to deposits of different mineral layers, the mountain shimmers impressively in bright colors. That's how it got its name - Rainbow Mountain Peru.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the country's main attraction. For this reason, the Inca city in the mountains is correspondingly touristy, and admission is expensive. Nevertheless, a visit to Machu Picchu is worthwhile. Especially the less touristy Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is a unique experience. On a five-day hike you cross the Salkantay Pass at over 4500 meters through a breathtaking mountain panorama. This tour is only suitable for fit backpackers. The Inca Trail, which leads to Machu Picchu in four days, is a little easier and less lonely. If you don't want to hike at all, you can also travel to Machu Picchu by train. With the PeruRail, backpackers travel from Cusco via the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes - the village at the foot of Machu Picchu. Backpackers can also travel from Cusco to Hidroelectrica by bus and then hike another three hours to Aguas Calientes. If you want to climb the summit of Huayna Picchu at the same time, you should book the tickets a few weeks in advance. Otherwise, it is also possible to book the entrance to Machu Picchu in advance. In 2022. the Machu Picchu tickets were sold out all year. From Aguas Calientes you can reach the Inca city after a one-hour hike. There is also the option of taking a bus to the summit. Due to the rush of visitors, however, you must be prepared for a longer waiting time.

Cusco

The former capital of the Incas, Cusco is a must-visit on any Peru trip. In addition to important Inca sites and ruins, there are also many colonial buildings here. The Incas built Cusco around the 13th century. The Alley of the Seven Snakes (Callejón de Siete Culebras) and the Inca Wall of the former palace (Calle Hatunrumiyoc) were also built at this time. The ruins of the Temple of the Sun (Coricancha) were built over by the Convento de Santo Domingo after the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. Many backpackers travel from Cusco to one of the highlights of South America: the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is among the top 3 attractions in the country and should not be missed on any trip to Peru. The lake is over 3800 meters above sea level, making it the largest, highest lake in the world. However, with an average temperature of 10 degrees, it is too cold to bathe in it. The original way of life of the Urus, who once lived on man-made, floating islands made of reeds, is interesting.

Iquitos

The city of Iquitos is located in northern Peru, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. With over 400,000 residents, it is the largest city that cannot be reached by land. You can travel to Iquitos by cargo ship or fly to Iquitos. The city is a popular base for exploring the Amazon. Multi-day tours through the jungle are an experience. On such a tour, you can go piranha fishing and, if you're lucky, spot exotic animals in the green of the jungle.

THE 10 BEST Peru Tours & Excursions for 2023

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