Best Things to do in Peru

Unique things to do, curated by kimkim specialists
View from the Santa Cruz trek in Peru
Map of Best 10 Treks in Peru
Best 10 Treks in Peru

Peru — a nation with abundant natural diversity, from coast, to mountains, to jungle — has long attracted lovers of the Great Outdoors. The Peruvian Andes, running like a backbone down the centre of the country, contain mesmerizing variations in landscape that make for some of the best trekking in the world. Cloud forests, 5000m+ cordilleras (mountain ranges), the world’s deepest canyon and the striking remains of ancient civilizations all await.

Machu Picchu
Map of Best Treks to Machu Picchu
Best Treks to Machu Picchu

A visit to Machu Picchu is the highlight of most people’s trip to Peru. In fact, this ancient Inca Citadel attracts over a million visitors each year. Many visitors get there by way of the classic Inca Trail. Yet, there are numerous treks that take you there, each unique in their own right.

Huchuy Qosqo
Map of Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco
Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco

Peru is famous for the Inca Trail and other multi-day hikes, but if you are short on time, there are plenty of excellent day hikes throughout the Sacred Valley. These hikes are a great way to visit some of the rural communities and lesser-visited ruins throughout the Valley.

Traditionally dressed Peruvian women in a local marketplace
5 Best Cultural Experiences in Peru

Of course you'll go to Machu Picchu. But what about sipping coffee on the same farm where the beans are grown, or riding the slow train through a gorgeous landscape? Read on for suggestions on how to enjoy Peru from a local perspective.

Inca terraces in the Sacred Valley - Pisac, Peru
Best Adventures in the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is one of the most culturally rich regions in South America — and also one of the most adventurous. A little known secret is that the Sacred Valley is emerging as a great adventure sports destination. From rafting to rock climbing, the Sacred Valley offers numerous ways to get your adrenaline fix in a stunning environment.

Market scene in Pisac.
Map of Top Day Trips From Cusco
Top Day Trips From Cusco

Cusco serves as the perfect base to explore the numerous sights of the Sacred Valley. Colonial settlements and ancient Inca towns are dotted here and there, while in remote mountain settlements life has largely remained unchanged for centuries. Use this guide to plan your day trips from the ancient Inca capital.

Peru Experiences

Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain (Mount Vinicunca) Hike

It's a 3.5-hour drive from the city of Cusco to the trailhead leading up Vinicunca, known as the Rainbow Mountain. Also called the Montaña de los Siete Colors (Mountain of the Seven Colors), Vinicunca's colorful look is the result of ice melt over its surface a long time ago. The water mixed with...

Uros floating island on Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca Tour: Uros Floating Islands & Taquile Island

Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake in South America, straddles the border between western Bolivia and southern Peru. All around are amazing locales and rich culture. Interestingly, you can find deep culture on the water as well. This comes in the form of the floating Uros islands, home to...

Nazca Lines & Huacachina Adventure

This day excursion includes an aerial tour of the famous and mythic Nazca Lines of the southern Peruvian desert. The lines are a series of about 300 giant Pre-Columbian geoglyphs etched into the sand in the shape of all kinds of figures. These include everything from hummingbirds and dogs to...

Hot brewed cacao drink, raw cocoa fruit, cacao beans, and caco nibs
A Taste of Cusco: Chocolate, Coffee and Pisco Tour

This tour in and around Cusco's city center highlights three Peruvian specialties: chocolate, coffee, and pisco. The tour begins at the Coffee Museum where visitors will learn all about the unique characteristics of Peruvian arabica beans and why they make such a fine cup of Joe. There will also...

On the trail to Machu Picchu
One day Inca Trail Machu Picchu

The most famous trek in Peru is the Inca Trail, a five-day hike from Cusco that culminates at the ruins of Machu Picchu. But for those with scheduling constraints, there's one-day, abridged version of this trail that allows folks to experience all the stunning scenery in a mere 24 hours. The tour...

Chinchero
Sacred Valley Tour: Cusco - Chinchero - Ollantaytambo

This day tour Cusco for a visit 45 minutes north to the village of Chinchero, which the Inca believed to be the birthplace of the rainbow. There are extensive Inca terraces here as well as several small, colonial-era churches. Chinchero is famous for its residents weaving alpaca and sheep wool...

Uros floating islands
Uros Floating Islands & Amantani Homestay

This 2-day experience offers a unique way to visit the floating Uros Islands and learn more about the indigenous Uros and Quechua people. It is the perfect authentic experience for travelers looking to explore a bit away from the typical bucket-list sites.Lake Titicaca straddles Peru and Bolivia...

The Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Cusco City Tour

Cusco isn't just an impressive Spanish-colonial city in Peru's southern highlands. It's also the historic capital of the Inca empire. Today's tour begins at the indoor San Pedro Market, in the heart of the colonial center. This is as authentic a Peruvian experience as it gets, since locals come...

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Tour

The ruins of the 15th century Incan citadel of Machu Picchu (which translates to "old mountain") were largely hidden to the outside world until the early 20th century. Today over a million visitors flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site each year. They come to see a masterpiece of ancient...

Peruvian ceviche
Lima Food Tour

One of the best ways to discover Peru's capital city of Lima is through its food. With an eclectic combination of indigenous, African, Asian, and European culinary influences, Lima is one of the world's most impressive gastronomic and cultural centers. This food tour begins early in Lima's...

A brightly-colored Amazonian butterfly
Peruvian Amazon Nature Tour

The southern Peruvian Amazon region is a veritable wonderland of natural attractions. The best way to experience as many of them as possible is on a series of short, guided adventure treks. The home base for this tour is a jungle lodge near the border with Bolivia, and the first mini-trek is...