Peru is legendary among world travelers looking for new experiences. A stunningly endowed, Peru offers much more than most short trips can hope to take in: charming Andean highlands towns with colonial architecture; remote jungle lodges in the Amazon basin; soaring snowcapped mountains and volcanoes; a 3220 Km (2000 mile) Pacific coastline; and, of course, the legacies of the Inca and other sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations. The following lists are some of my favorite places and activities.
Peru is a dream destination for many. It offers a wealth of sights and the opportunity to get to know the country and its people on one trip. The capital of Peru - Lima is considered an insider tip for historical sights such as the cathedral, the San Lorenzo Fortress or the Square of Fine Arts. But the nightlife in Lima is also lively and colorful.
Another highlight of a trip to Peru is Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital. Here you will find numerous old ruins of the Inca culture, such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, and the famous Sun Temple of Coricancha. In Cuzco, you can also shop, buy handicrafts or have fun in the numerous restaurants and bars.
A special experience is of course a visit to the most famous Inca ruins Machu Picchu. From Cuzco, you can take the train up into the Andes and enjoy the spectacular views. Arriving at the foot of Machu Picchu, one has the opportunity to admire the stunning scenery and stroll through the discreetly landscaped gardens.
A trip to Puno in the middle of Lake Titicaca is also worthwhile from Cuzco. Here you can visit the Uros Islands, among other things, and learn more about these interesting people who have lived here for centuries.
A detour to Arequipa in southern Peru is recommended for all hikers. The city lies at the foot of the El Misti volcano and impresses with beautiful colonial houses and churches as well as the picturesque Plaza de Armas. At the market, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables and taste regional specialties - a feast for gourmets!
Peru has a lot to offer! If you want to experience the warm hospitality of the Peruvians, you will find charming landscapes, impressive sights and authentic experiences with the local people. From Lima to Arequipa, it is worth discovering every corner of Peru - whether in the sacred valley of Machu Picchu or on a hike through the Andes - unforgettable moments are guaranteed!
One of South America's great enigmas is the ancient, baffling lines etched into the desert sands along Peru's southern coast. There are giant trapezoids and triangles, the identifiable shapes of animal and plant figures, and more than 10000 lines that can only really be seen from the air. Variously thought to be signs from the gods, agricultural and astronomical calendars, or even extraterrestrial airports, the Nasca lines were constructed between 300 B.C. and A.D. 700. Small-craft overflights dip and glide, and passengers the window to see mysterious figures such as "the Astronaut."
From Nazca, it is less than 7 hours by bus to Lima. However, it is worth making a few stops here as well. On the one hand, about halfway there is the desert oasis of Huacachina, which is particularly known for sandboarding and sand buggy rides.
On the other hand - only two hours away from Huacachina - directly on the Pacific Ocean is the Paracas peninsula and the city of the same name. Here you can not only relax perfectly and end your Peru trip. It is also worth visiting Isla Ballestas, the Galapagos Islands of Peru, as part of a boat tour. Here swarms of Peruvian boobies and Chilean pelicans cavort on the rocks, sea lions and fur seals splash on the shore, and Humboldt penguins waddle over the small hills.
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However you get to it --whether you hike the fabled Inca Trail, hop aboard one of the prettiest train rides in South America, or zip in by helicopter - Machu Picchu more as one of the most spectacular sites on earth. The ruins of the legendary "lost city of the Incas" sit majestically among the massive Andes, swathed in clouds. The ceremonial and agricultural center, never discovered or looted by the Spaniards, dates to the mid-1400s but seems even more ancient. Exploring the site is a thrilling experience, especially at sunrise, when dramatic rays of light creep over the mountaintops.
The legendary trail to Machu Picchu!. The Inca Trail is one of the world's most rewarding ecoadventures. The 4-day trek leads across astonishing Andes mountain passes and through some of the greatest natural and manmade attractions in Peru, including dozens of Inca ruins, dense cloud forest, and breathtaking mountain scenery. At the end of the arduous trail, the glorious ruins of Machu Picchu lies there, shrouded in mist at your feet.
From Cusco, you will continue to the Sacred Valley of the Incas or to Ollantaytambo. Here you can either hike the Inca Trail or one of the alternatives. we recommend you Lares Trek on your first-time visit to Peru. This starts in the village of Lares and leads over the Ipsaycocha Pass (4,450m) to Ollantaytambo. The second time you will hike the 1-day Inca Trail, which starts at train kilometer 104 and leads to Machu Picchu on foot. you will find both treks really great and impressive.
RELATED: ALTERNATIVE TREKS TO MACHU PICCHU
Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia. To locals, it is a mysterious and sacred place. An hour's boat ride from Puno takes you to the Uros floating islands, where communities dwell upon soft patches of reeds. Visitors have a rare opportunity to experience the ancient cultures of two inhabited natural islands, Amantaní and Taquile, by staying with a local family. The views of the ocean-like lake, at more than 3600 m (12000 ft) above sea level, and the starlittered night sky are worth the trip.
The world's second-deepest cayon (but twice as deep as the Grand Canyon), Colca is the best place in South America to see giant Andean condors, majestic birds with wingspans of up to 3.5m (111/2ft). From a stunning lookout point nearly 1200m (4000 ft.) above the cayon river, you can watch as the condors appear, slowly circle, and gradually gain altitude with each pass, until they soar silently down the river. A truly spinetingling spectacle, the flight of the big birds may make you feel and certainly less graceful.
However you do it, and in whichever part of the Amazon basin rain forest you do it, Peru's massive tracts of jungle are not to be missed. The northern jungle is most accessible from Iquitos, and the southern Amazon, which features two phenomenal national reserves, Manu and Tambopata, is approachable from Cusco and Puerto Maldonado. You can take a river cruise, star at a rustic jungle lodge, or lose yourself with a private guide, making camp and catching dinner along the way.
With our Peru trips we offer you all kinds of outdoor opportunities. Previous experience is not necessary, as the country offers activities for all fitness levels and skill levels. The fascination of Peruvian nature does not have to remain hidden from anyone. Discover the abandoned Inca cities, observe wild animals in their native habitat in the Amazon basin or hike in the world's highest tropical mountains.
Our trekking in the highlands of Peru, for example, takes you to some of the most important cultural sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In few countries is it so easy to combine legendary cultural treasures with majestic natural treasures. Almost in passing, the paths, which reward you with breathtaking views at up to 4,500 meters above sea level, lead you to Machu Picchu, one of the best-preserved ruined cities on earth. At the end of your trip, reward yourself with a boat trip across Lake Titicaca and get to know these original people up close on the floating islands of the Urus.
A Peru hiking trip is of course designed to combine the exciting history of the country with its unique nature. Stroll through the colorful alleys of the lively capital Lima on one day and tame the 6,000 meters of the Chachani, probably the most beautiful mountain in Peru, the next. But arguably the greatest freedom you'll find at the deep gorges of Colca Canyon, where majestic Andean condors soar into the skies.
Depending on your personal taste, you will experience this diverse country on your Peru trip in a completely different way than other travelers will experience.
Rainbow flags everywhere you look. Anyone who goes to the former Inca capital of Cusco in Peru will initially be amazed at the symbol of the LGBTIQ+ movement that is visible everywhere. Only on closer inspection does it become apparent that the flag waving in front of many public buildings and on houses and shops differs from the "Gay Pride" version by an additional light blue stripe. In 1978, Cusco made this version the official city flag, symbolizing the cultural diversity and pride of the indigenous population and referring to the former Inca Empire. The flag was probably used for the first time at the end of the 18th century during a rebellion by Peruvian Andean residents against the Spanish colonial power.
In Peru, little has happened at the legal level so far. Homosexual acts are allowed, but same-sex marriages are not yet. Surely men or women kissing in public haven't made headlines for a long time. Nevertheless, the reputation of gays and lesbians is still a bit poor here. Lima, a city of 10 million people with European flair, naturally tolerates homosexuals very differently from smaller cities in Peru. The gay parade Marcha del Orgullo Gay is already celebrated in four cities every year.
We have put together colorful travel destinations in LGBT-friendly cities for you. Inca Trail Machu has created the best tailor made trips to Peru, discover the Rainbow Mountain nature of Cusco or take a tour of Machu Picchu - Cusco, Lima, Amazon Rainforest, Nazca - Ica, Mancora - Piura, Huacachina - Ica, these cities are considered particularly good gay travel destinations.
As featured on CNN, Forbes, and Inc. The following travel guidebooks are recommended to go to Peru:
