Get Lost in the Magic of Peru: Must-See Locations
Peru is a South American country with a rich cultural history, diverse landscapes and an abundance of nature. It’s also home to more than 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and more than nine million visitors each year. Peru offers visitors the opportunity to experience its high-altitude snow-capped peaks, volcanic mud pots, indigenous communities, colonial cities and coastal deserts all in one country!
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Cusco
Cusco is a great place to start your trip. It’s beautiful, with lots of things to do and see. You can explore the city or head out into the surrounding countryside or up into the Andes Mountains by train or bus. If you’re looking for an adventure, try hiking through the Sacred Valley (the region where Cusco sits) for some breathtaking views. Cusco is also a great base from which to explore other parts of Peru: Machu Picchu, Lima and Arequipa are all within easy reach by bus or plane—or even just walking if you’re feeling energetic!
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel set high in the Andes Mountains, above the Sacred Valley. It was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who ruled from 1527 to 1572 AD. Machu Picchu was abandoned when the Spanish invaded Peru and it remained unknown to outsiders until 1873 when Hiram Bingham III discovered it while searching for gold on his way back from Ecuador.
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s one of the most visited places in Peru. It has been called “the lost city” because it was so isolated for so long, but now there are many travellers who visit every year to experience its beauty. The heart of this valley can be found in Cusco, which was once the capital city of Peru until Machu Picchu was built instead.
The town has many churches and museums that tell stories from ancient times, including how they were built by Inca kings who came from what we now know as Ecuador or Bolivia (or both). The town itself is beautiful with cobblestone streets lined up next to hillsides covered in vineyards where grapes grow on trees above them! You’ll also find great restaurants here if you want something other than typical Peruvian cuisines like ceviche or anticuchos (roasted suckling pig).
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, located at an altitude of 12,500 feet, is the largest lake in South America and home to the Uros people. While there are many activities to do in this area including floating through the islands or taking an excursion on a boat tour around Lake Titicaca, it’s best to visit between May and October when temperatures are more comfortable. To experience life as an ancient Inca tribe member (aka “Uros”), visit their museum where you can learn about traditional clothing worn by these people as well as see some of their artefacts including stone tablets and jewellery made out of gold or silver. You may even be able to watch them make textiles with their hands!
Huacachina
Huacachina is a desert oasis in the Ica region of Peru, a popular tourist destination that offers visitors an opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenery. The town was originally built by the Huacachina Mining Company in 1926 as a mining town for workers who were driven out of their homes by flooding after an earthquake hit nearby Huancavelica in 1950. Today it’s still home to many jobs related to mining but also serves as a gateway for travellers looking for something different from Lima or Cusco.
The town itself has numerous hotels and restaurants offering everything from simple meals (with hearty portions) to fine dining options like lobster tails at Los Chilenos Restaurant or beef Wellington with truffles at El Tio Luis’ restaurant. You can also find plenty of activities outside if you want something more active: horseback riding tours through surrounding valleys; hiking trails through nearby forests; swimming pools with views over Lake Titicaca; even birdwatching excursions into nearby wetlands!
Ballestas Islands and the Nazca Lines
Although not a destination in itself, the Ballestas Islands are a must-visit for anyone visiting Peru. The islands are home to thousands of sea lions and birds, making them an ideal spot for beach lovers. The Nazca lines were created by the Nazca people between 500 BC and 500 AD and depict animals such as monkeys, snakes, insects and spiders that can be seen in real life in their natural habitat.
There are many other things you can see on your trip around Peru: Lagunas de Montezuma; Paracas National Reserve; Chiclayo Valley (home to Huacachina Lake); Ica Desert with its rich history when populated by indigenous tribes before Spanish conquistadors arrived here; Lima City itself has much more than just museums & monuments like Casa Museo Lima which features artworks from local artists who have been part of Peruvian culture since colonial times such as Fernando Botero & Mirna Salazar de Amparán among others
Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world and is home to an incredible biodiversity of plants and animals. You can hike along the river through dense forest or visit one of many waterfalls that flow down into this spectacular landscape. The area is also home to condors, vicuña sheep and lots of other wildlife.
The Amazon Forest
The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and it’s located in South America. The Amazon River is one of the two longest rivers in the world, with a total length of 3,520 miles (5,700 km). It’s also home to many endangered species, including jaguars and tapirs. The Amazon basin covers 7 million square kilometres (2 million square miles) and has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years before Europeans discovered it by accident around 1500 AD.
If you’re looking for a place to visit, Peru has a lot of options. There are so many fun places to explore in Peru that it’s hard not to find something that will suit your tastes. Whether it be hiking through the Andes Mountains or visiting Machu Picchu, there are tons of places worth exploring here! Of course, Peru also has its share of natural wonders worth exploring such as Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in South America) and Machu Picchu (an ancient Incan city).
These natural wonders are just some examples of what makes this country so beautiful; there’s just so much more than meets the eye when it comes down to what I like best about living here! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and now know a little more about our favourite places in Peru! Hopefully, we gave you some ideas of places your family might want to visit. We truly love this country and can’t wait for all of our readers to experience it too!
