Peru Travel Guide

This side of Peru feels very different from the mountain landscapes around Cusco. Lima gives you neighborhoods to explore on foot, while the southern coast brings together Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca.

I would choose these stops according to what interests you, rather than automatically adding all of them. Paracas is a good fit for a coastal route, Huacachina is about dunes and desert activities, and Nazca offers a completely different archaeological experience.

In Huacachina, I preferred staying at the oasis rather than in Ica. Having the dunes nearby made it easier to enjoy the place beyond a quick afternoon tour. The detailed guide covers what I enjoyed, what disappointed me, and the different activities available.

Cusco deserves more than a quick stop before Machu Picchu. I stayed for more than two weeks, with time to explore the city and head out into the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Pisac is one of the places I would consider beyond the usual Cusco excursions. Its archaeological site gives you a reason to slow down, walk and take in the landscape rather than rush through another organized stop.

For colorful mountains, there isn’t just one option. My guide compares Vinicunca, Palccoyo and Pallay Punchu, with my own experience of reaching Palccoyo by motorbike. That day included much more than the mountains, but it also taught me not to underestimate the return journey.

There are two separate decisions here: how you want to reach Machu Picchu, and how you want to visit the site itself.

I chose the five-day Salkantay Trek with TreXperience. That turned the journey into an adventure of its own, with cold mountain mornings, a demanding pass and a gradual change toward greener landscapes.

My Salkantay article follows the trekking experience, while my Machu Picchu guide focuses on the visit and the different options to consider. Read them together if you’re planning both, or start with the Machu Picchu guide if a multi-day trek isn’t part of your trip.

Arequipa offers a different kind of city stop, with architecture and places to explore before heading toward Colca Canyon.

Colca was much more than a quick viewpoint visit for me. I organized an independent trek from Cabanaconde, walking through Llahuar and San Juan de Chuccho before climbing back out.

Don’t mistake it for an easy alternative to the Salkantay. I found it less difficult overall, but still demanding. The distances, the descent and the climb back up deserve proper space in your plans.

For me, the main reason to stop in Puno is the lake and the experiences around it, rather than the city’s architecture.

My guide covers the Uros floating islands, Taquile and Sillustani, with the differences I noticed between the visits. The guide and the way an excursion is organized can make a real difference here.

I particularly appreciated the experience with Victor on the lake. My visit to Sillustani was less convincing, which is why I wouldn’t present every excursion around Puno as equally rewarding.