Top 8 Places To Visit In Peru for The First Time

Peru, or the Republic of Peru to use its full name, is located on the western coast of South America. The Norte Chico culture, the first in the Americas, can be traced back to this ancient land. It's also the place where the famous Inca Empire began, making it the cradle of Inca culture. When thinking of Peru, Machu Picchu is the first thing that comes to mind for most visitors. But there are even more exciting destinations in Peru, such as the colonial cities of Lima and Cuzco, the Colca Canyon, and Lake Titicaca. If you're planning a Peru tour and want some ideas for where to go, read this article to receive a comprehensive picture of the most visited places.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a well-preserved Inca ruin of the pre-Columbian period and is known as the "lost city" of the Inca Empire. The whole site is built on a ridge about 2,350 meters above sea level. It is a relic of Peru's famous pre-Columbian Inca Empire in the 15th century and one of the seven new wonders of the world. Machu Picchu's architecture is the traditional Inca style. All the buildings in the city are made of stone, and the wall foundation is directly chiseled on the rock layer. Huge granite blocks of different shapes are cleverly combined with each other without mortar. The famous Temple of the Sun is located in the center of this city. It is built at the top of a small cave and is far opposite the Temple of the Moon. The Temple of the Sun is one of the representative buildings of Machu Picchu and one of the most famous Temples of the Sun in existing Inca monuments. Machu Picchu has more than 140 buildings, and many temples are also worth visiting, such as the Temple of Condor, the Main Temple, the Ancient Temple of Machu Picchu and so on. I believe that tourists who come here will have unforgettable memory.

Machu Picchu

Lima

Lima is located in western Peru and is the capital of it. Because it barely gets 6.04mm of rain a year and is a place where spring stays, it is named "No Rain City". Lima can be divided into an old city and a new town, and its ancient city is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the ancient city, you can see the wide and beautiful square, Plaza de Armas, and the famous Cathedral. The former Plaza de Armas, also known as Lima Main Square, has a fountain in the center of it, which was built in 1650 and has a history of 100 years. The streets of the square are paved with simple stone slabs, and the water splashing in the fountain glitters in the sunlight, bringing vitality to this antique square. To the east of this square is the famous Lima Cathedral, whose buildings belong to the typical Spanish Baroque architectural art style. The exquisite dome inside the church, the unique chessboard floor, and the exquisitely carved choir table are all reasons for its charm. Taking this ancient square as the center, the streets extend in a radiant shape and can reach all corners of Lima. Its geographical location and long construction history make it the center of political and cultural life in Lima and an important witness to this city's long history.

Lima Main Square

Cusco

Located in southern Peru, Cusco is a historic city. It is the capital of the ancient Inca Empire. The famous ancient city of Cusco is located in the rich valley of the Eastern Andes of Peru. Because it is surrounded by mountains and lush trees, it is named the "Pearl on the Crown of the Andes". In this ancient city, the streets, palaces, temples and houses of the Inca Empire are still well preserved, and because of the subsequent Spanish colonial rule and urban reconstruction, the city's architecture combines Inca and Spanish architectural styles, and it is precisely the collision of these two cultures that created Cusco's unique city view. In addition, the world-famous Savaman Round Castle is about 1.5 kilometers away from Cusco and is also one of the attractions that cannot be missed. This ancient castle has a huge defense system overlooking the whole city and is also the place where the ancients held the "Sun Festival". This castle is one of the greatest projects of the ancient Indians. The magnificent complex shows the strength of the Inca Empire and is a rare great building. I believe that tourists who come here will be deeply shocked.

Cusco, Peru

Arequipa

Located in the south of Peru, Arequipa is the largest industrial and commercial city and also the administrative, cultural and military center in southern Peru. Arequipa was originally an ancient city of Inca, which was built of a white unconsolidated volcanic tuff. Its beauty is extremely displayed in the sturdy city walls, unique arches and vaults, beautiful courtyards and its complex Baroque decorative frescoes. UNESCO listed this city as a World Heritage Site in December 2000. Santa Catalina Monastery is one of the attractions that cannot be missed when coming to Arequipa. It was built in 1580. When building this monastery, people also chose the volcanic rock generated by the eruption of the volcano more than 2,000 years ago. Surrounded by majestic high red walls, the rooms in this monastery are painted blue. Its interior decoration is extremely luxurious and beautiful. There is not only a garden with colorful flowers but also a fountain. Generally speaking, this is a monastery that integrates history, literature, and art.

Colca Canyon

The Colca Canyon is located in the south of Peru, about 160 kilometers from Arequipa. With a depth of 3,270 meters, this canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. At the bottom of it, there is a river that meanders through the whole valley. So far, Spanish colonial towns can still be seen here, which have always been inhabited by local residents. They maintain traditional living habits and cultivate terraces. In addition to enjoying the magnificent canyon scenery, another major highlight of the Colca Canyon is the wild South American vulture. The kind of vulture is a large raptor endemic to the Americas, feeding on animal carcasses. The body length of the adult vulture can reach more than 1 meter, and the length of its wings can be more than 3 meters, which is definitely the "Titan" among birds. "Condor Cross View Point" is an excellent place where tourists can go to see vultures. When the fierce vultures spread their wings and fly in the vast canyon, this vibrant scenery is undoubtedly very shocking.

Puno

Puno is located in southern Peru. It has a long history, a strong Indian color, and a strong folk culture, which is known as the "Capital of Folk Culture". The whole city of Puno is built leaning the mountains, and the central city is surrounded by dense residential areas. With scattered houses and a blue sky, people here live a leisurely and comfortable life. Walking in this city can make tourists feel isolated leisure. Lake Titicaca is one of the most famous attractions in Puno. It is located on the Koyao Plateau, with an elevation of 3,821 meters above sea level. And it is known as the "Pearl of the Plateau", which is the highest large freshwater lake in the world. Rich cultural resources are a major feature of Lake Titicaca. It was once called Holy Lake by Indians and is one of the birthplaces of Indian culture in South America. Titicaca Island, the largest island in the lake, still preserves the relics of the former Inca temples and ancient temples. Surrounded by mountains around the lake, the peak is covered with snow all year round. Whenever the weather is fine, the dark blue lake shines in the sunlight, and every scenery tourists see brings beautiful enjoyment to themselves.

Puno, Peru

Ollantaytambo

Oyantambo is located in Urubamba Province, the southern part of Peru. The Oyantambo Inca ruins are a world-famous ancient site. During the Inca Empire, Oyantambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti, and when Spain conquered Peru, it was also the main stronghold of the Inca Empire against the Spaniards. This long history and culture have left many precious ancient walls and monuments here. Through these ancient objects, modern people can see the true appearance of human society thousands of years ago. Another highlight of the Inca ruins is the huge stones that built this city. These stones of different shapes are perfectly stacked together like piles, and the cracks between the stones can't even insert blades. It is hard to imagine how the ancestors used their own strength to carry these boulders up the mountain and formed this great ancient city without the help of modern technology, which also adds a sense of mystery to the Oyantatan Boyinga ruins.

Paracas

Paracas is located in western Peru, about a four-hour drive from the capital Lima. The Reserva Nacional de Paracas is one of the most famous tourist attractions on the Pacific coast of Peru, and the most attractive place in this reserve is Islas las Ballestas. You can take a yacht in Paracas Bay and arrive here in about an hour. Islas las Ballestas consists of South Island, North Island and Middle Island and six other reef islands. These islands are inhabited by many endangered rare marine animals and birds, such as seals, Peruvian pelicans, Inca terns and so on. The only penguin in Peru, the Humboldt penguin, also lives here, and a large number of seals on the island is spectacular. Some bold seals will probe their heads around the cruise ship, which is very cute. The height of the island can be a paradise for seabirds. At the peak of the "bird kingdom" in South America, there were more than 50 million seabirds living there. You can see all kinds of seabirds flying all over the sky, as dense as weaving nets. The moment they spread their wings and flew to the sky together, darkening the sky, which is very wonderful and shocking.

Humboldt Penguin in Paracas

Peru was once one of the largest world cultural centers in ancient times, and we can still see historical traces from more than 10,000 years ago. Its diverse natural scenery, long history and culture, and mysterious ruins of the ancient city make it one of the most sightseeing-worth countries in the world. If you're planning to travel to Peru and see this mysterious country in person, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.