Inca ruins, Andean peaks, Amazon and great food
Peru is home to Machu Picchu, the Andes and a large part of the Amazon. Cusco and the Sacred Valley are full of Inca stonework and markets, while Lima has one of the best food scenes in the world. Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Nazca Lines add variety. It suits history lovers, hikers and food fans.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The famous Inca citadel on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River. Visits follow set circuits.
The former Inca capital, with Spanish churches built on Inca walls. Altitude is high, so rest on arrival.
A valley of Inca towns, terraces and markets between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Pisac and Ollantaytambo are highlights.
A four day trek on an Inca road to the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu. Permits are limited.
The high lake shared with Bolivia, with reed islands of the Uros and homestays on Amantaní. Altitude is around 3,800 metres.
One of the deepest canyons in the world, with condors gliding at Cruz del Cóndor. Treks go down to oases.
A white volcanic stone city under the El Misti volcano. The Santa Catalina Monastery is a city within a city.
Giant geoglyphs in the desert best seen from a small plane. Some can be seen from a roadside tower.
Striped mountain slopes at over 5,000 metres reached by a steep hike. It is a long day from Cusco.
Lima's UNESCO listed centre has colonial balconies and churches, while Miraflores has clifftop parks. The food scene is world class.
A desert oasis with dunes for sandboarding, and the Ballestas Islands with sea lions and birds nearby. It suits a short coastal loop.
The Cordillera Blanca with glaciers and turquoise lakes like Laguna 69. Huaraz is the base.
Amazon rainforest with macaw clay licks, giant otters and lodges along rivers. Manu is a UNESCO site.
The largest adobe city in the Americas, capital of the Chimú. It is near Trujillo.
A cloud forest fortress of the Chachapoya people on a mountain ridge. Access can be limited by repairs.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Food capital and main airport.
food, gateway · Open the city guideInca capital and gateway.
history · Open the city guideSacred Valley base.
nature · Guide comingMachu Picchu town.
gateway · Guide comingWhite city and Colca.
culture · Open the city guideLake Titicaca.
culture · Guide comingMountain trekking.
hiking · Guide comingInca town and train station for Machu Picchu.
ruins, gateway · Guide comingJungle gateway for Tambopata lodges.
amazon, wildlife · Guide comingStop for the lines and desert flights.
ruins, flights · Guide comingInca heartland.
Machu Picchu, Cusco, Pisac
Canyons, lakes and volcanoes.
Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca
Desert, food and ancient lines.
Lima, Nazca, Paracas
Pre Inca cities and peaks.
Chan Chan, Huaraz, Kuélap
Rainforest lodges.
Tambopata, Manu
The heart of Inca Peru, with high ruins, markets and the Machu Picchu approach.
Cusco, Pisac, Machu Picchu
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: May to September. The Andean dry season brings clear days for treks.
The coast is grey and cool from June to September, and the Amazon is wettest from December to April; the Inca Trail closes in February.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
73°F daily high, 67°F average, 0.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to crime, unrest, kidnapping and terrorism, with some areas restricted.
Long bus trips and domestic flights cover distances, and trains serve Machu Picchu.
Good value food and transport, though Machu Picchu costs add up.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Rules change, so check the National Superintendence of Migrations page on gob.pe and your own government's travel advice before you book. |
| Plugs | Type A, B, C; 220 V |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | 10 percent in restaurants and tips for guides and porters are customary. |
| Payments | Cards work in cities; carry soles cash for markets and rural areas. |
| Emergency | 106 ambulance, 116 fire, 105 police |
| Etiquette | Be patient with altitude and ask before taking photos of people in traditional dress. A tip is often expected for photos. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights save long trips between Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. Long distance buses such as Cruz del Sur are comfortable. PeruRail and Inca Rail serve Machu Picchu. |
| Main airports | LIM, CUZ, AQP |
| Ride apps | Uber, Cabify, inDrive |
Peru was home to many cultures, including Caral, Chavín, Nazca and Moche, long before the Incas built their empire from Cusco in the 15th century. Spanish conquistadors toppled the Inca state in the 1530s and ruled the Viceroyalty of Peru from Lima. Peru declared independence in 1821. Conflict with the Shining Path in the 1980s and 1990s has given way to steady growth, though politics remain turbulent.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.