Peru is a highly visited destination among travelers looking for new experiences, as the country receives more visitors every year drawn by its mix of history, nature and food. With an amazing natural wealth, Peru offers much more than what most short trips can cover.
As a travel guide who has traveled the country from north to south, I know that the question is not so much "What to see in Peru?" but rather "How to organize the time?" so you do not miss the essentials. This updated guide for 2026 is designed exactly for that: to help you prioritize among so many options and understand what to expect from each region before putting together your itinerary.
Below, we present some of the places and activities to do in Peru: from the culinary buzz of Lima and the Andean energy of Cusco, to the majesty of Machu Picchu, the waters of Lake Titicaca, and the volcanic landscapes of Arequipa. You will also find recommendations for outdoor adventures and practical tips on how to move around the country, so that this guide serves as a complete starting point before your trip.
Peru is a dream destination for many. It offers a great variety of places of interest and the chance to get to know the country and its people in a single trip. A classic itinerary goes through five places: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. With two weeks it is possible to cover them all without rushing; with 10 days it is also possible, although the pace is more demanding. Let's get to know these destinations, one by one:
Regarding the budget, a two-week trip through these five stops (mid-range lodging, internal transport, and tickets included) usually ranges between 1,200 and 2,000 USD per person, not counting international flights. Traveling with more flexible dates and simpler lodging, it is possible to lower it without missing the essentials.
One of the great mysteries of South America is the ancient and puzzling lines carved into the desert sands along the southern coast of Peru. There are giant trapezoids and triangles, recognizable figures of animals and plants, and more than 10,000 lines that can only be seen from the air. Viewed as signs from the gods, farming and star calendars, or even alien airports, the Nazca lines were built between 300 B.C. and 700 A.D.
Nowadays, small planes fly over the area for about 30 minutes, doing dips and glides so that passengers can look out the window and see these mysterious figures. Furthermore, the flight costs around 80 to 120 USD per person, depending on the airline and the season.
From Nazca, it takes less than 7 hours by bus to Lima. However, it is worth making some stops. On one hand, halfway there is the Huacachina oasis, specially known for sandboarding and dune buggy rides on the sand.
On the other hand, just two hours from Huacachina, right on the Pacific Ocean, is the Paracas peninsula. Here you will not only be able to fully relax and wrap up your trip to Peru, but it is also worth visiting the Ballestas Islands on a boat tour of about 2 hours.
They are casually known as "the Peruvian Galapagos" because of their rich sea life, even though they are not part of the Galapagos islands and have no geographic link to it. There, flocks of Peruvian boobies and Chilean pelicans play on the rocks, sea lions and seals splash on the shore and Humboldt penguins walk around the small hills.
RELATED:ONE-DAY TRIP TO HUACACHINA FROM LIMA
No matter how you get there, whether walking the legendary Inca Trail or riding one of the most scenic trains in South America, Machu Picchu stands as one of the most amazing sites on the planet. The ruins of the legendary "lost city of the Incas" rise grandly among the towering Andes, wrapped in clouds.
This ceremonial and farming center, which was never discovered or looted by the Spanish, dates back to the mid-15th century, but it looks even older. Exploring the site is a thrilling experience, especially at dawn, when the rays of light glide over the peaks.
The legendary trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most rewarding adventures in the world. This 4-day hike crosses stunning mountain passes in the Andes and goes through some of the greatest natural sights in Peru, including dozens of Inca ruins, thick cloud forests, and mountain landscapes.
Where does the hike start? From Cusco, you travel to KM 82 (Piscacucho), the starting point for the Inca Trail. On the way, you go through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you can see towns, valleys and mountains.
RELATED: ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO MACHU PICCHU
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world, stretches across the border between Peru and Bolivia. To get there, the starting point is Puno, which is reached by bus from Cusco (about 6 hours) or by plane, followed by a car ride of about 45 minutes to the city.
For the locals, the lake is a mysterious and sacred place. A one-hour boat ride from Puno takes you to the floating islands of the Uros, where visitors have the unique chance to discover ancient cultures (Amantani and Taquile) and stay with a local family.
The Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon), is the best place in South America to watch giant Andean condors, majestic birds with a wingspan of up to 3.5 m. From an impressive viewpoint almost 1,200 m above the river, you can watch how the condors appear, circle slowly, and gradually gain height with each pass, until they glide silently down the river. Seeing them fly so close, almost without moving their wings, is an amazing sight that few places in the world can offer.
No matter how you do it and the area of the Amazon jungle you choose, the vast lands of the Peruvian jungle are a must-see. The northern jungle is easier to reach from Iquitos, while the southern Amazon, which is home to two amazing national reserves, Manu and Tambopata, is easy to reach from Cusco and Puerto Maldonado.
A 3 to 4 day tour is usually enough to go deep into the jungle and have a good chance of seeing wildlife like monkeys, caimans, river turtles, pink dolphins, and, with some luck, macaws and other exotic birds at their clay licks. You can take a river cruise, stay in a rustic lodge in the jungle, or explore nature with a private guide, camping and fishing during the trip.
Peru is a large country (more than three times the size of Spain), so understanding the transport options is key to organizing the itinerary well. In general, the best combination is a plane for long distances and a bus or train for short trips between cities close to each other.
Inside Lima, Cusco or Arequipa, taxis and apps like Uber or Cabify are the most practical option to move around safely, with fares generally between 3 and 10 USD for short city trips. On the other hand, for one-day trips (like to Chinchero or the Sacred Valley from Cusco), the usual thing to do is to hire an organized tour or a private transport. This is because the local public transport can be slow and less predictable for someone who does not know the area well.
Furthermore, with this mix of flights, buses and trains, it is possible to link the main destinations of this guide without problems (Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa), adjusting the budget and times according to the preferences of each traveler.
If you prefer to leave the logistics in the hands of experts, these are some of the most popular options to explore Peru from Lima:
+51 84 217 551
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Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru 
info@incatrailmachu.com
www.incatrailmachu.com
