Things to do in Peru
Rediscover Machu Picchu
Everyone who emerges through the Sun Gate is just as awestruck as the explorer who rediscovered this mountaintop treasure a century ago. Few - if any - world attractions can boast such a dramatic setting, as it clings atop a ridge surrounded by lush humid valleys and rugged Andean peaks. Even the sheer number of tourists fails to dull the impact of Machu Picchu, and the Inca stonework - cut to perfection and requiring no cement - is mind-blowing, especially when you ponder how it was achieved in such a precarious spot by a civilization which never invented wheels or metal tools.
What's more, those who hike the four-day Inca Trail have a special chance to get really immersed in the Lost City, as Tim Winkworth, from our supplier Intrepid Travel, explains: "The difference is that by hiking the Inca Trail, you get involved in it. Instead of flitting from one sight to the other, you're in it for four days. You're so immersed, it's just going to resonate much more and give you much richer, longer lasting memories." Read our Inca Trail guide to find out more.
Explore the Amazon
Over half of Peru is blanketed in thick rainforest, which is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Manu National Park alone hosts more bird species than the USA and Canada combined, and Amazon tours based out of Puerto Maldonado are likely to reveal howler monkeys, sloths, anacondas, peccaries, macaws, and pink river dolphins. Keep an eye out too for elusive tapirs and pumas.
Despite being Peru's largest region, only five percent of its population lives in the Amazon, including several uncontacted tribes. Not all communities are inaccessible though; local guides are essential to get the most out of your Amazon tour, as they will reveal the secrets of the rainforest, including identifying and explaining medicinal plants - bringing the jungle to life.
Peru adventure holiday, private departure
Private Peru tour with day treks, rafting, cycling & culture
From
£3500 to £4000
15 days
ex flights
Peru small group holiday, Inca Trail & Lake Titicaca
Exciting journey into enchanting Peru from Amazon to Andes
From
£3230 to £4030
20 days
ex flights
Peru holiday, encompassed
Coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks and lush forest
From
£2375 to £2795
15 days
ex flights
Inca Trail tours, trek to Machu Picchu
Classic 4 day hike to Machu Picchu
From
US $932
4 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Peru
A luxury tailor-made trip exploring the sites of Peru
From
£4710
14 days
inc UK flights
Peru luxury tailor made holiday
A deeper guided journey through Peru’s food and culture!
From
US $6269
9 days
ex flights
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Discover the centre of the Inca world
Inca legend describes how their founding gods emerged from Lake Titicaca![]()
Even today, the lake carries a magical aura - whether that's because of the Andean light playing off the glassy surface, the wafting incense of Catholic-Aymara ceremonies, or the altitude causing a strange lightheadedness. Visiting an Aymara community on one of Titicaca's many little islands is one of our top cultural things to do in Peru. Experience life without electricity or roads, and sample trout fresh from the lake, grilled with a dash of lime.
Get off the beaten track
Peru is enormous - yet few visitors ever venture off the well-trodden Gringo trail![]()
With hidden valleys, cut-off canyons and Quechua villages within a stone's throw of its famous landmarks, you don't have to go far to escape the crowds. One of our favourite things to do in Peru is spending a day or two in Cabanaconde, a little agricultural town near Colca Canyon and the starting point for little-hiked trails along the canyon floor. You'll have the canyon - and its inviting hot springs - all to yourself.
More Peru articles
Here's how to travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping & people.
Here are the classic highlights, including Inca trekking, and combining Andes and Amazon...
Peru’s Inca Trail is just one tiny section of over 40,000km of trails that crisscross the former Inca Empire.
The Nazca Lines in Peru remain one of the country’s great mysteries. Find out how to see them by land or air.
Community homestays, brightly woven handicrafts and spectacular island hikes are Lake Titicaca’s calling cards.
Machu Picchu will delight children as much as parents, as will long-lashed llamas.
Cross the border at Lake Titicaca and see Bolivia and Peru together.
A page packed to the rafters with sound, practical advice from our South America experts and past travellers.
Porters' rights are one of the most important Peru responsible tourism issues.
Find all of our Peru guides in one place, for particular places such as Machu Picchu, and different holiday types.
