The 16 Best Places to Visit in Peru in 2023
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Loading... - alfie finley
- 01 Feb 2023
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Oh, Peru. With Lima and Cusco as top tourist attractions for visitors, and the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu displayed high on bucket-lists around the world, Peru has long been a destination of choice for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. I have put together this handy guide on the 16 Best Places to Visit in Peru, just so you don’t miss out on something important during your once-in-a-lifetime visit to the ancient home of the Inca. From the dust-billowing pampas where the Nazca Lines whittle through the dirt to the wind-howling summits of the mighty Andes and the shimmering beaches of Mancora in the north, there’s all sorts to get through in this stunning part of the world.
My Experience in Peru
Peru is a country that never fails to inspire me. It was the Sacred Valley that first grabbed my imagination, when I came to hike the legendary Inca Trail. From the moment I stepped onto the crooked path by the side of the roaring Urubamba River, I knew it was going to be an adventure I’d never forget. A couple of cloud forests and wind-blown Andean passes later, I was emerging into the legendary mountain citadel of Machu Picchu. Talk about finishing on a high!
But I’ve returned to Peru countless times since that trip, magnetized by the allure of the Andes, the Amazon, and the enthralling pre-Columbian history. There are too many highlights to list here, but the snow-covered heights of the Salkantay route and the mosquito-buzzing rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon have to be standouts. So, too, do the enigmatic cities of Cusco and Arequipa, where mystical Incan temples sprout between elegant conquistador forts. You won’t regret coming. I certainly didn’t. Dive into my list of the 16 Best Places to Visit in Peru:
1. Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu surely needs no introduction. It’s the most iconic landmark in Peru and arguably the most extraordinary archeological site in South America. Perched a whopping 7,972 feet (2,429 meters) up in the Andes above the gushing Urubamba River, it’s the end point of the famed Inca Trail (more on that later). Machu Picchu is believed to be over 500 years old. Within its cascading terraces of stone walls amid the cloud forests and the peaks, you can find the mysterious Temple of the Sun, and Incan homesteads woven together by staircases and roads. Talk about a place you’ll never forget!
2. Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is up there with the Mount Kilimanjaro and the Everest Base Camp treks. It’s unquestionably one of the most legendary trekking routes on the planet and is one of Peru’s top tourist attractions. But it’s nothing new. In fact, it has been there since at least the 15th century, when it was believed to be the main route of pilgrimage to the soaring city in the clouds that is Machu Picchu. Today, trekkers of all stripes come to conquer what’s known as the Classic Inca Trail, which weaves through Peru’s famous Sacred Valley for 26 miles (42 kilometers) past enthralling ruins and relics. This well-trodden path is a top adventure and usually takes four or five days to complete from start to finish. Read More…
