Peru is a beautiful country with diverse terrains and a rich history. Due to this there is plenty to see and do while there. Here is a list of the 10 things you need to see and do while in Peru.
1. Plaza Mayor, Lima Peru.
Plaza Mayor is the main square in Lima. The colonial area architecture is gorgeous and there is a ton of things to see here. FIrst there are a ton of beautiful cathedrals within walking distance of the plaza, secondly there is the presidential palace, and lastly, there is the house of the archbishop.
2. Larcomar
Larcomar is a shopping mall located in the Miraflores district of Lima. While a shopping mall may not seem like a place one would stop by on a trip this site has one of the most beautiful views in Lima. The shopping mall is located on the cliffs overlooking the coast. Here one can see gorgeous views of the ocean during the day and at night when the cost is lit up.
3. Pachacamac
Pachacamac is located in Lima and is a wonderful place to go to see ancient ruins. It is a huge complex with plenty to see compared to some of the other ruin sites within the city.
4. Magic Water Circuit
The Magic Water Circuit is a park in Lima. It has beautiful fountains to look at and there are water shows at night. There are a lot of fun photos you can take here and makes for a great tourist location.
5. Cusco
Cusco is a city located in the mountains of Peru. Most people know it as the first stop on the way to Machu Picchu. However, Cusco is more than just the location of the train to Machu Pichu. There are plenty of ruins, markets and plazas located around and near the city and plenty of delicious restaurants to eat at. The city has a history of its own and I would highly recommend doing a walking tour of the city so you can see all the beautiful cathedrals and historical sites around the city. There are also a variety of day tours you can go on that take you to different ruins and tourist locations. My favorite tour I went on was the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac, Awanacancha & Ollantaytambo Tour that I booked off of Expedia. This tour took my group to an alpaca farm, the Sacred Valley, markets, and Ollantaytambo.
6.The Amazon
The Amazon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. If you have time make sure to stop by and go on a tour to see the beauty of this rainforest!
7. Try Cuy
Cuy is a traditional Peruvian dish made with Guinea Pig. While it may seem like a really weird dish to try it is very delicious and you won't want to leave Peru without trying this dish. I promise you won't regret it!
8. Ausangate
Ausangate is a mountain Peru that many mistakenly call the "rainbow mountain". The mountain is made up of beautiful colors and makes for great travel photos!
9. Go To As Many Museums As You Can
There are a ton of different museums and sites to see in Peru. There are so many that are wonderful that I couldn't pick just one to put on the list! I was in Peru studying for about a month and still had trouble finding time to see everything! While in Peru try to go to as many museums as you can to learn about the rich cultures that have influenced the country and see some really interesting artifacts.
10. Machu Picchu
This one is obviously the most famous on the list. You can't go to Peru and not go to Machu Picchu! It is one of the seven wonders of the world and is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. There are different options of getting to the site. You can hike there or take the train. If you are interested in going there are multi-day hikes, one-day hikes, and a train and bus ride to get there so pick which one works best for you and go see this magnificent place!
I hope this list helped you figure out some ideas for your future travels. What are you most excited to see or do when you go to Peru?Let me know in the comment section!
