Machu Picchu is Peru's star attraction for good reason. The 15th-century Inca citadel draws over 1.5 million visitors annually.
The site requires advance permits—book 2-3 months ahead during high season (May-September). Entry costs 152 soles (about $40 USD) for the classic circuit.
Most visitors base in Cusco at 3,400 meters elevation. Spend 2-3 days acclimatizing before visiting Machu Picchu. Altitude sickness is real.
The Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu holds more Inca sites—Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Moray's agricultural terraces. The valley sits lower than Cusco, making it easier on the lungs.
PeruRail and Inca Rail operate trains from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The journey follows the Urubamba River through spectacular mountain scenery.
Lima sits on the Pacific coast, sprawling and chaotic. Traffic is intense. But the food scene is extraordinary.
Central and Maido regularly appear on World's 50 Best Restaurants lists. Reservations are essential and book weeks ahead.
More accessible options include ceviche at local markets (Mercado de Surquillo is excellent), anticuchos (beef heart skewers) from street vendors, and causa limeña (layered potato dish).
Miraflores is the main tourist district—safe, walkable, with ocean views from clifftop parks. Barranco is artsy with colonial houses, galleries, and nightlife.
The Historic Center holds colonial architecture—Plaza Mayor, Cathedral, San Francisco Monastery with its catacombs. It's less polished than Miraflores but historically significant.
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) sits 3 hours southeast of Cusco at over 5,000 meters. The mountain's mineral-striped slopes create surreal colors—red, yellow, turquoise.
The hike is tough due to altitude. Most tours leave Cusco at 4am, arrive at the trailhead at 7am, then hike 2-3 hours uphill. Horses are available for hire on-site (around 80-100 soles).
Avoid the rainy season (November-March) when trails turn to mud and colors fade. June-September offers the best conditions.
The Inca Trail is Peru's most famous trek—4 days from kilometer 82 to Machu Picchu. Permits sell out 6 months in advance and cost around $600-800 including guide, porters, and meals.
Alternative treks include Salkantay, Ausangate circuit, and shorter day hikes in the Sacred Valley. All require decent fitness and altitude preparation.
Peru's Amazon region is accessible from Puerto Maldonado (3.5 hours by bus from Cusco) or by flying directly from Lima.
Jungle lodges offer wildlife watching—macaws at clay licks, caimans, monkeys, giant otters. Multi-day stays are standard. Expect heat, humidity, and insects.
The southern coast features the Nazca Lines—enormous geoglyphs etched into the desert. Small planes fly over the site. Some people get airsick.
Paracas National Reserve protects dramatic coastal scenery and wildlife. Boat tours to the Ballestas Islands show sea lions, penguins, and thousands of seabirds.
Huacachina is a desert oasis near Ica—sandboarding and dune buggy rides are the main activities. It's touristy but photogenic.