Things to Do in Peru

There was once a time when Pastoturi Glacier was a massive river of ice, but today this glacier in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca is shrinking so quickly that the glacier’s retreat has become a site in itself. Located in Huascaran National Park, Pastoturi Glacier—despite its demise—continues to offer an exceptionally scenic way to visit the Andes, and has become a spot to view the effects of climate change in action. Shining blue and white against the craggy peaks, the glacier consumes about three square miles of pristine Peruvian countryside, and is one of the world’s most accessible glaciers you can reach by just driving a car.

To get an up close view, however, you’ll need to get out and walk, which can take about 30-45 minutes along a weaving walkway. Up here in the mountains it can seem the clouds are right at the tips of your fingers, and the gaping blue sky stretches out like a canvas that rests on the snowcapped peaks. In addition to visiting the glacier itself, tours from Huaraz also stop at sights like shimmering Lake Patococha, and scenic vistas that instantly help you feel the magic of these mountains.

Insider's Tip: Chew on coca leaves or coca candy to stave off altitude sickness.

Don’t be put off by its diminutive size – the tiny Paracas History Museum is home to some of Peru’s most fascinating archaeological finds. The museum has made headlines all around the world for its display of elongated human skulls, discovered by Peruvian archaeologist Julio Tello in 1928. 

The unique skulls have divided opinion, with some claiming them as proof of alien existence, some insisting they are fake and others concluding that they are mere anomalies. The reality is likely a little less dramatic – the skulls were probably a result of head-binding traditions among Peru’s ancient indigenous cultures. Whatever your opinion, the collection of bizarrely formed skulls is utterly captivating and while there’s little else of interest in the museum, it’s worth a detour to take a peek.

Lima, with a population of nearly 10 million people when counting the metro suburbs, isn’t exactly the first place you’d pick for a natural wildlife refuge. Here at Pantanos de Villa, however, over 200 different species of birds all flit through the wetlands spanning 650 acres outside the Chorillos suburb. On the winding network of walking trails, visitors with binoculars can encounter dozens of species in the span of a couple of hours. Scan the reeds for Black Skimmers, Herons, and Puna Ibis, and look in the water for Great Grebes of Neotropic Cormorants. Many of the birds here are migratory and sightings change with the seasons, and the months of December and January brim with seagulls lining the coast. 11 species of amphibians and reptiles can also be found in the reeds, although unfortunately as the city continues to grow, the manmade threats to Pantanos de Villa are literally encircling the marsh. Nature lovers with a stop in Lima should definitely visit this biodiverse sight before it’s potentially too late—although local conservation groups continue to work to do everything they can towards protecting the fragile site.

Peru’s largest and most important protected area is the massive Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria, a vast 2.08 million hectare (8,030 square miles; roughly the size of New Jersey or El Salvador) swath of pristine rainforest threaded with endless waterways. The two most important, forming the borders of the roughly triangular reserve, are Maranon and Ucayali Rivers.

Where Pacaya Samiria narrows to a point, at their celebrated confluence, the official birthplace of the mighty Amazon. Climb the viewing tower for the iconic photo. Visitors to the reserve must come with a guided tour.

The Pacaya Samiria begins about 183km (114mi) south of Iquitos, a trip that can be done entirely on the water, or more quickly (if less scenically) by driving along the 90km (56mi) Iquitos–Nauta Highway, to the Port of Nauta. Scores of different tours are on offer, following the Maranon, Ucayali, and other assorted waterways through the thick vegetation and canyons, such as the smaller Yanayacu River, recently opened to tourism.

The sweeping majesty of this oft-flooded rainforest is home pink and gray river dolphins, 13 primates, sloths, manatees, black caimans, tapirs, and more than 500 colorful bird species that have been officially recorded, including macaws, jacanas, parakeets, hawks, and several different kingfishers (themselves taking advantage of almost 300 species of fish).

There are also dozens of indigenous communities located in and around the reserve; most tours stop in at least one, allowing you to meet and greet the locals, and perhaps indulge yourself with some seed jewelry to take home. While many travelers make this a day trip, there are encampments and lodges where you can arrange to spend the night.

The enigmatic Nazca Lines (or Nasca Lines) are second only to Machu Picchu as the most famous archaeological site in Peru. The mysterious geoglyphs at the UNESCO World Heritage Site range from geometric shapes and swirls to a hummingbird and monkey. Theories on their purpose include astronomical markers, irrigation canals, and alien messages—an enigma that has spurred intrigue since their 1927 discovery. The spectacular etchings likely date from 500 BC and 500 AD.

There are two ways to see the Nazca Lines: from an airplane tour and from an observation tower. The tower is accessible from the Pan-American Highways and allows for views of two mysterious shapes from above: hands and a tree. Bus tours often stop here for a look at the lines, but those with more time and a bigger budget may want to book a flight. Air tours typically last 30 minutes and fly over 15 shapes, including the famous geoglyphs of a dog and an astronaut. It’s best to book in advance, as flights to this top attraction fill up quickly. Guided day trips around Nazca can include stops at local attractions including Huacachina Oasis.

While it’s possible to take a public bus from Lima to the high desert of southern Peru, it’s faster to get to the Nazca Lines via a 7-hour tourist shuttle. Look for tours that include round-trip transportation from Lima for convenience. If coming from Cusco, it’s best to fly to Pisco or Lima and take a shuttle from there; those coming from Arequipa can take a long bus ride to Nazca or fly to Pisco or Lima first. The Maria Reiche Neuman Airport is only used for viewing the Nazca Lines.

Tours of the Nazca Lines run year-round. You may get better views during the dry months, from June through August, but crowds will be smallest in early spring and fall.

Though less famous, the Pampa de Jumana Lines are almost 1,000 years older and depict equally astonishing subjects, including people and a complex calendar created by the Parapas people. Some tours offer hour-long flights over both sites.

Originally founded in 1948 to showcase the vast private collection of aristocrat Pedro de Osma Gildemeister, the Museo Pedro de Osna took on its current name in 1987 and has since earned itself a reputation as one of the city’s most intriguing museums. Located in the Barranco district of Lima, close to the Bridge of Sighs, the museum is housed in the ornate Palacio de Osma, a stately mansion encircled by landscaped gardens and decked out with intricate wood inlay floors, hand-painted frescos and exquisite stained-glass windows.

The permanent collection of the Museo Pedro de Osna includes an array of Peruvian art, sculptures, colonial furnishings and silverware, spread throughout a series of richly decorated theme rooms. Items date from the 16th to 19th century, with a strong focus on religious art from the Cuzco, Arequipa and Ayacucho regions, including works painted on varied materials, among them linen, metal, wood, glass and leather. Highlights include the dazzling Silver Gallery, a number of beautifully preserved antique altarpieces, the 18th-century Virgen de Pomato painting and a selection of wooden furniture inlaid with pearls.

When walking around Lima’s Plaza de Armas (which is also called the Plaza Mayor), you’re walking where Pizarro established the city in 1535. Though many of the buildings would ultimately succumb to earthquakes, fire, and wear, there are those like the opulent Municipal Palace that were fantastically rebuilt and restored. Built in a neo-classical style with a French Renaissance influence, the current Municipal Palace building dates back to 1944. Its pale yellow exterior with white trim is a staple of the Plaza de Armas, and the symmetrical marble staircases inside offer a setting that’s fit for kings. When wandering around the Plaza de Armas, step inside for a free peek at Lima’s regal history, and in addition to the exquisitely vintage architecture, the palace also houses an impressive library with 15,000 titles—notable of which is a copy of Peru’s Declaration of Independence. 

There is a certain irony that one of the best sites in Cusco really isn’t a site at all. Rather, the Mercado Central de San Pedro (San Pedro Market) is simply the place in the center of Cusco where most of the locals go for their groceries.

The difference, however, is that grocery shopping in Cusco is a little bit different than shopping at the local market back back home. At the Mercado Central de San Pedro, all of the items are on vibrant display and are fascinatingly set right out in the open. You can wander the stalls past towers of fruit and be greeted by a pig’s head on the very next corner. You can shop for a dozen varieties of potatoes and then watch someone purchase a bag of fried guinea pigs. It’s an authentic look at everyday culture which lies outside the circuit of regular sights.

There is also a food court that serves local dishes at a fraction of the cost of most local restaurants. While some of the food might be safer than others (the quinoa and vegetables being a safer bet than meat that is served with visible hair), dining at the market is a unique experience where you can share in the flavors of Cusco with the locals. 

In addition to shopping for produce and meat, there are also sections devoted to selling crafts such as textiles and Andean art. Haggling over prices is readily expected, although be sure to keep an eye on your wallet and valuables since pickpockets have been known to troll through the aisles.

All in all, however, the Mercado Central de San Pedro is one of the best stops in Cusco for experiencing everyday Andean life.

When compared to cities like Trujillo and Cuzco with their wealth of archaeology, modern day Lima can sometimes seem like a city without a past. For what it lacks in ruins, however, it more than makes up for with its fascinating museums and collection of ancient artifacts. At the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History, visitors can easily spend 2-3 hours exploring the trove of artifacts. In fact, not only do the 100,000 artifacts comprise the largest collection in Peru, but seeing as the museum was first opened back in 1826, it’s also the oldest state run museum anywhere in Peru. During your stroll through Peruvian history, look at ceramics, arrowheads, and jewelry that date back thousands of years, and read through exhibits of the Spanish occupation that led to modern Peru. Browse through one of the world’s most important displays of traditional textile art, or ogle at over 15,000 human skeletal remains. This one stop shop for Peruvian history can rival any museum in Peru, and along with the nearby Larco Museum, is the best way to explore the past when visiting Lima today. 

The swanky beachfront suburb of Miraflores is one of Lima’s most sought-after zip codes. Here you’ll find the city’s best restaurants, shops, and hotels, plus waterfront mansions and high-rise towers. Lovely parks and beaches decorate the area, as well as the ancient ruins of Huaca Pucllana—a pre-Inca temple.

Miraflores contains some of Lima’s best hotels and restaurants, so most city travelers choose to base themselves in this leafy suburb. Nature lovers can soak up sun in a variety of green spaces and beaches, while history buffs can visit Museo Amano (a Pre-Columbian textile museum) and Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa, the area’s largest Catholic church. Even adrenaline-junkies can find an outlet in Miraflores; paragliders flock to nearby Parque del Amor to leap off rocky cliffs and soar over the sea. 

Soak in the coastal atmosphere on an evening walking tour of Miraflores and learn about the district’s history and culture from an expert guide. For an overview of city highlights, visit Miraflores on a bike or coach tour of Lima to see attractions such as the UNESCO-listed San Francisco Convent, the Larco Museum, and Plaza de Armas. Or, delve into the district’s bustling nightlife on a private night tour of Lima. 

Miraflores is a beachfront suburb of Lima, roughly three miles (five kilometers) south of the historic city center. Buses run from central Lima to Miraflores along Avenue Arequipa to Avenue Jose Larco, the district’s main street.

Day or night, there’s almost always something to do in Miraflores. By day, the neighborhood attracts visitors with boutiques, galleries, and outdoor leisure at the seaside Parque del Amor. Come evening, restaurants, bars, and dance clubs combine to form one of Lima’s top nightlife hotspots. Summer (December through April) is Lima’s busiest season, while winter (May through November) brings overcast skies and lower prices. 

Kennedy Park, the unofficial central square of Miraflores, was named in honor of America’s 35th president. No one quite knows why, but the park has become a haven for a mysteriously large cat population, so if you’re missing your furry friends back home, swing by to spend some time with the kitties.

The Mario Testino Museum in Lima is a powerful collection of contemporary art from its namesake, a fashion photography icon and celebrated native son. His portraits—of big names such as model  Kate Moss and lesser-known works of indigenous Peruvians—are showcased in a 19th-century mansion in Lima’s bohemian district of Barranco. Also on display are works of up-and-coming Peruvian artists. 

Photographer Mario Testino made a name for himself creating memorable portraits of the late Princess Diana and supermodels such as Kate Moss and Gisele Bündchen. With MATE museum, he created a space that both boosts Peru’s artists and culture with exhibitions, residences, and events supporting emerging artists and showcases his own work. On display are many of his iconic portraits and his lesser-known portraits of indigenous Peruvians. 

To guarantee admission and skip the lines, buy your ticket in advance. Check the schedule in advance as the museum regularly hosts events, film screenings, and learning workshops.

MATE is on Av. Pedro de Osma in the Barranco district, a neighborhood south of Miraflores and north of Chorrillos. The Ruta Troncal line of the city’s electric express bus, El Metropolitano, stops here.

MATE is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-7pm. If you want to wander around Barranco before or after your museum visit, know that a dense morning fog rolls in from December to April. Street fairs and music festivals happen nearly every weekend.

Set along cliffs and snaking through a deep ravine opening to the sea, Barranco is an atmospheric Lima neighborhood. Annexed in 1860, it retains a distinct village feel with colonial buildings and a bohemian culture. Small cafes and artist-run boutiques buzz during daytime, giving way to bars and dance clubs at night.

Of all the surviving Inca ruins which surround the Sacred Valley, most are known for their size, their age, or their complex level of construction. The Moray, however, located 31 miles northwest of Cuzco, stands out from many of the other ruins for its fascinating level of genius.

At the height of the empire, the Inca were regarded as some of the most successful farmers in all of the Western Hemisphere. Crops such as maize, quinoa, and various potatoes trace their roots to Andes, and the yield on crops which were farmed by the Inca regularly trumped those of their neighbors. 

Although the Moray might just look like a big hole in the ground, historians theorize that this multi-terraced depression explains the reason for the agricultural prowess. With concentric circles spiraling down into the Earth, the Moray is comprised of numerous terraces linked by zig-zagging steps. While it could almost even be classified as art, the Moray is instead a wonder of science.

For inexplicable reasons, the temperature difference between all of the terraces can sometimes be as much as 27°F. Consequently, each terrace has a unique microclimate which subsequently experiences its own temperature. Without even having to leave the valley, the Inca had created an agricultural laboratory which mimicked the temperature throughout the empire. Crops would be rotated from terrace to terrace, and when it was found that a microclimate maximized yield, the knowledge would be spread throughout the empire so that farmers could grow crops which were best for their climate. Through trial and error at the Incan Moray, the Inca slowly became masters of agriculture.

Today, the Moray can be visited with tours which depart from the city of Cuzco. It is often combined with a visit to the Salineras salt mine, a massive quarry of terraced mines where laborers harvest bags of salt. When combined with the markets and surrounding ruins, the Moray is just one of the fascinating sights which recall the wonders of the Inca.

Give yourself at least an hour to see everything in the museum, as there is also a short informational video to watch before you explore. Additionally, you’ll see impressive grave tombs, with other mummies found atop Peru's volcanoes and burial artifacts. 

The Rio Nanay undulates along the northern border of the city, a slow and interesting tributary of the Amazon that plays hosts several interesting cruises from Iquitos. The almost sensual curves of the river create beautiful white-sand beaches when the water is low, and crystal clear. These are popular day-trips for locals during dry season, though most travelers head further upriver, into the wilderness, often visiting small Yagua, Bora and Mestizo communities, such as Santo Tomás, Padre Cocha and Santa Clara, along the way.

While most Nanay tours are day trips, there are a handful of lodges scattered around the rainforest, offering adventurous travelers the opportunity to stay in remote villages and really get a feel for life on the Amazon.

Or, travelers could continue on to the region’s newest conservation area, Reserva Nacional Alpahuayo Mishana. The 57,600-hectare (222-square mile) reserve, created in 2008, is located about 23km (14mi) south of Iquitos. The rare white-sand rainforest is famed for its remarkable biodiversity of trees (perhaps the highest in the world) and offers hiking trails, isolated lakes and much more to explore. It is even less traveled than the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and visitors have discovered six entirely new species of bird in recent years.

With 8 hectares of neo-classical gardens and pagodas, dotted with ornamental sculptures, Parque de la Reserva is a welcome pocket of greenery, located on the cusp of downtown Lima. Although the park was laid out in 1929 to commemorate the civilian armies of the War of the Pacific, it wasn’t until 2007 that it became a feature on tourist itineraries, opening its hugely popular Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Mágico del Agua). 

The dazzling new installation features thirteen individual fountains, each with cybernetic or interactive qualities that perform an impressive light and water show, using state-of-the-art lighting effects, lasers and choreography to music. Currently holding the record for the world’s largest fountain complex in a public park, the Magic Water Circuit is a ticketed, self-guided attraction that has quickly garnered acclaim as one of the country’s most unique spectacles. Notable highlights include the Magic Fountain, the largest, reaching heights of over 80 meters; the Tunnel Fountain of Surprises, a 35-meter long walk-though tunnel of water; and the Fantasia Fountain, which forms the centerpiece of a mind-blowing music and picture show.

For archaeology and history buffs, Trujillo might be the most fascinating city along the entire coastline of Peru. This dry shoreline has been the historic site of thousands of years of civilizations, and empires in Trujillo have risen and fallen like the sand dunes along the coast. With each passing century, cultural artifacts and artistic relics have been preserved by the desert sands, many of which are on display today at the National University of Trujillo Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History.

Inside of this small museum—which itself is housed in the 17th Century mansion known as La Casa Risco—visitors will find an astounding collection of Pre-Columbian art forms. Displays at the museum include pieces from the Chimu, Moche, and Inca Empires, and the jewelry, clothing, and ceramic artwork are windows into these ancient cultures. More than simply a display of artifacts, the multiple rooms of Casa Risco offer informative displays about the different civilizations that have existed along the coastline. Learn what caused the Empires to collapse and allowed others to rise, and get the latest updates on archaeological finds that are still being pulled from the Earth.

Lima isn’t exactly a city you usually equate with wildlife. After all, this is the same country with the Amazon basin and its staggering biodiversity, so the thought of finding wildlife in the capital might seem a little bit strange. Believe it or not, however, there are a number of enthralling wildlife experiences that can be found right here in Lima—a city best known for its cosmopolitan and colonial sites on shore. Perhaps the best wildlife experience in Lima is visiting the Palomino Islands, a rocky collection of small islets off the coast of Callao. Step aboard a comfortable boat for a cruise to the offshore islands, where thousands of sea lions gather to swim and sun themselves on the rocks. If the water is calm enough and you’re feeling brave, take the plunge to swim with the sea lions as they flop and jump all around you. You’ll also find colonies of Humboldt penguins and an impressive amount of birdlife, including pelicans, tern, and dive-bombing cormorants who are constantly hunting for fish. In addition to the wildlife, cruises also provide a scenic tour of the neighboring coastline and islands, including San Lorenzo that’s been an historical haven for priests, politicians, and pirates.