279 Best Sights in Peru

Etchings of flowers, fruits, and mermaids playing an Andean guitar called the charango grace the entrance of this 17th-century, Spanish baroque church. Sculpted by Peruvian architect Simon de Asto, the stone facade is one of the most eclectic of any church in the area. Decorations in the comparatively plain interior mainly consist of a silver-plated altar and paintings from the Cusco School.

The twin bell towers of Ayacucho's cathedral, completed in 1672 under the vigorous administration of Bishop Don Cristóbal de Castilla y Zamora, crown the Plaza de Armas. The church's sober Renaissance facade belies its lavish interior, which boasts no less than 10 baroque retablos bathed in gold leaf, a silver-embossed tabernacle, and an intricately carved black-walnut pulpit. Also open to visitors are the church's crypt and a small museum of religious art. Look for the plaque inside the entrance that quotes from Pope John Paul II's speech during his visit in 1985.

Also known as the Iglesia de los Españoles (Church of the Spaniards, owing to the fact that only Spanish colonists worshipped there), this cathedral on the Plaza de Armas was begun in 1682 and never completed. Its ornate baroque facade is sculpted from volcanic rock and crammed with a superabundance of detail: note the Solomonic columns wreathed with grapevines that flank the central doorway, as well as the diamond-point studs higher up. Like the Iglesia de Belén nearby, the cathedral has no belfry; local legend maintains the Spanish Crown levied taxes on completed churches, causing the settlers to leave them unfinished, but it's more likely the builders simply ran out of money.

Dual white bell towers and a striking, red-volcanic-stone doorway carved in ornate churriguresco- style make Huancavelica's cathedral one of the most attractive buildings in town. Begun in 1673, the cathedral was added on to several times, achieving its final form sometime around 1733. The retablo behind the main altar has silver appliqué worked into the gold-leaf finish.

This stately neoclassical temple is the only surviving colonial church in Ica. Erected by the Jesuits just before their expulsion from the Americas in 1767, it was later designated the city's cathedral after the original was demolished by an earthquake in 1868. The interior is still closed to the public due to the earthquake of 2007, but restoration work is proceeding apace; meanwhile, visitors can appreciate the august pilasters and triangular pediment of the simple but noble facade.

In its nearly 500-year history, Lima's cathedral has been torn down, built back up, razed by earthquakes, shot at, hollowed out, and remodeled too many times to count. Miraculously, however, it's still here, and today shines more resplendently than ever, despite its hodgepodge of artistic styles and endless, meddling restorations. The church visitors see today is actually the basilica's fourth incarnation, reconstructed after the earthquakes of 1687 and 1746. The facade impresses with its stately Renaissance portal and neoclassical bell towers, but the interior is where the real action's at. Here, under arched ceiling vaults traced with fretwork and delicately carved choir stalls, you'll find crypts for Lima luminaries and recently excavated mass tombs for commoners. Crowning it all is the mausoleum of Francisco Pizarro himself, complete with the lead box that once held his skull. Recorded tours in English are available.

The first iteration of Piura's cathedral was built on the Plaza de Armas in 1588, but earthquakes and other disasters hammered at it so relentlessly that today almost nothing remains of that original structure. Instead, you'll find a neo-Renaissance basilica that was thoroughly overhauled upon its elevation to cathedral status in 1940. Its chief glory is a churriguresco altarpiece dedicated to the Virgen de Fátima, carved from Nicaraguan cedar and dating to the late 1600s.

The enormous Chiclayo cathedral, dating from 1869, is worth a look for its neoclassical facade on the Plaza de Armas and its well-maintained central altar.

In the midst of the pale, scorched desert, 30 km (19 miles) south of Nazca, lies this ancient cemetery, whose precincts are littered with sun-bleached skulls and shards of pottery. Huaqueros (grave robbers) have ransacked the site over the years, and, until the early 2000s, the mummies unearthed by their looting sprouted from the earth in a jumble of bones and threadbare weavings. Now, however, they are housed neatly inside a dozen or so covered tombs. It's an eerie sight, since the mummies still have hair attached, as well as mottled, brown-rose skin stretched around empty eye sockets and gaping mouths with missing teeth. Some are wrapped in tattered burial sacks, though the jewelry and ceramics with which they were laid to rest are long gone. Tours from town take about three hours and cost around S/60. Visits to the cemetery are also packaged with Nazca Lines flights and other attractions.

Little is known of the archaeological ruins of Puka Pukara, a pink-stone site guarding the road to the Sacred Valley. Some archaeologists believe the complex was a fort—its name means "red fort"—but others claim it served as a hunting lodge and storage place used by the Inca nobility. Current theory holds that this center, likely built during the reign of the Inca Pachacutec, served all those functions. Whatever it was, it was put in the right place. Near Tambomachay, this enigmatic spot provides spectacular views over the Sacred Valley. Pull up a rock, and ponder the mystery yourself.

This is one of the more organized places to learn about Chinchero's weaving tradition and techniques. Guests are welcomed with a cup of coca tea and then whisked through a series of hands-on explanations of the washing, dyeing, and weaving processes. There is also a good selection of handwoven sweaters and tapestries for sale from the weavers themselves.

At this animal rescue center a 45-minute trip south of town, you can get a close look at one of the region's rarest, and most threatened, species: the manatee. Despite being protected by Peruvian law, manatees continue to be hunted for their meat. The center, a collaboration of the Dallas World Aquarium and two Peruvian institutions, raises orphaned manatees and nurses injured ones back to health for eventual release in the wild. It also has rescued ocelots and spider monkeys and serves as an education center to raise environmental awareness.

A statue honoring Manco Cápac, the first governor and founder of the Inca Empire, sits on this hill overlooking Puno. Legend has it that there are caves and subterranean paths in the monument, which connect Puno with the Koricancha Temple in Cusco. It's technically a 10-minute walk from town, four blocks southwest of Plaza de Armas, but it's all uphill and a bit off the beaten path.

A few robberies have been reported, so stick with a group or take a taxi.

Rising over the northeastern edge of the city is this massive hill, recognizable from the cross at its peak—a replica of the one once placed there by Pizarro. On a clear day, more common during the southern summer, the views of the city below are lovely.

The neighborhood at the base of the hill is sketchy, so hire a taxi or take a tour to the summit and back. Tour buses leave continuously from the Plaza de Armas until 5 or 6 pm.

At the end of Calle 2 de Mayo, steps lead to this hilltop mirador, or scenic lookout, where a bird's-eye view of the city awaits. At the top are many carved stones dating from pre-Columbian times.

One of the rocks has the shape of a throne and has been dubbed the Seat of the Inca.

According to local legend, it was here that Inca rulers would sit to review their troops. You'll also find pretty gardens and a maze of winding paths. You can either walk or go by taxi for S/6.

The origins of Cerro Sechín, one of the country's oldest archaeological sites, remain a mystery. Little is known about the culture that built this coastal temple around 1600 BC, but the bas-relief carvings ringing the main sanctuary, some up to 4 meters (13 feet) high, graphically depict triumphant warriors and their conquered, often beheaded enemies. Some researchers have even speculated that this was a center for anatomical study, due to the sheer number of dismembered body parts engraved on the rocks. The site was first excavated in 1937 by the archaeologist J.C. Tello; it has since suffered damage due to looters and natural disasters. Archaeologists are still digging here, so access to the central plaza is not permitted.

A trail leading up a neighboring hill provides good views of the temple complex and the surrounding valley.

A small museum has a good collection of Chavín ceramics and a mummy that was found near Trujillo. To get to the ruins, head southeast from Casma along the Pan-American Highway for about 3 km (2 miles), turning east onto a paved road leading to Huaraz. The ruins sit about 2 km (1¼ miles) past the turnoff.

Begin your archaeological explorations of Trujillo at this small but thorough museum, which has displays of ceramics and textiles from the Chimú Empire. There are also scale models that allow you to see Chan Chan's overall design, as well as interactive computer displays children will enjoy. The entrance fee to the museum includes Chan Chan, Huaca Arco Iris, and Huaca Esmeralda, so hold on to your ticket (you may also go directly to the ruins and purchase the same ticket there, for the same price). If you're looking to tour the sites from Trujillo, take a taxi or join a tour from an agency, as the huacas are widely scattered. Guides are available at the entrance of each site for around S/15 (S/25 for Chan Chan) and are strongly recommended, both for the information they provide and for safety reasons (robberies have been known to occur in the more remote sectors of the ruins). At the museum as well as the huacas, there are clean restrooms and a cluster of souvenir stalls and snack shops, but no place to buy a meal.

Tarma sits at more than 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), but it's just a stone's throw from the ceja de selva, where many of Peru's citrus plantations lie. For around S/60, you can organize a day trip from town to visit Chanchamayo's magnificent waterfalls, butterfly-filled forests, and local Indigenous groups. These tours take you to the major attractions in the area and typically include a refreshing dip in the 35-meter (114-foot) Tirol Falls, a jungle lunch of cecina (cured pork) or doncella (river fish), a visit to the local Ashaninka tribe at Pampa Michi, and a tasting of local coffees and other artisanal products. If you can't otherwise make it to the Amazon during your time in Peru, this is an inexpensive way to experience the pleasures of jungle living (as well as a welcome escape from the cool highland air). Perla Tours offers daily outings. It's also possible to take a bus directly to La Merced, the main town in Chanchamayo. There are simple hotels and restaurants surrounding the small plaza, and from there you can undertake excursions that go deeper into the central jungle to the fascinating German-Austrian colony of Oxapampa or the coffee plantations near Villarica.

Getting to the Chaparrí Reserve on your own can be difficult—it's 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Chiclayo, a little more than an hour's journey—but if you can get a group together or join a tour to this community-owned dry-forest nature preserve, it might just be one of your most memorable experiences in Peru. The 34,412-hectare (85,000-acre) reserve was created to help safeguard rare native species such as the white-winged guan, the Andean condor, and the guanaco (a type of camelid similar in appearance to a llama). Perhaps its most important work, however, is protecting the spectacled bear, for which it has a rescue center that works to reintroduce rehabilitated animals into this last refuge for populations of the species.

While you can visit the reserve anytime from 7 to 5, you'll up your chances of seeing wildlife if you stay overnight in the 12-room Chaparrí Ecolodge ( www.chaparrilodge.com) in the heart of the park. Stays include three daily meals and a guide to the reserve.

Advance booking for day visits and overnight stays is highly recommended, as space is limited and all visitors must be accompanied by a guide.

Locals come from miles away to sell their produce at the Sunday Chinchero Market, making it a truly authentic market experience; come early, though, because it's all over by noon. The artisanal markets in Chinchero, which are open daily, are some of the best places to find textiles. Within the large market building are smaller owner-operated stands where local weavers sell their own and others' creations. There are also demonstrations of local dyeing and weaving techniques.

This museum provides a delicious introduction to the history and process of chocolate making, from cacao bean to bar. Workshops allow you to make your own sweets; they are offered three times a day for a minimum of three people at an additional cost of S/75, and advance reservations are required. There is an additional museum location in Ollantaytambo near the archaeological site and in Pisac near the main square. An on-site shop is a great place for gift shopping, if you want to give the museum a pass.

Built in Mestizo-baroque style, this important 17th-century church, with its Latin cross and detached chapels, dominates one side of Yanque's Plaza de Armas. Its facade, which has been undergoing restoration, is one of the best in the Colca Valley, featuring ashlar stone that is richly decorated in high relief.

Motion-activated fountains, fairy-tale Italian loggias, and nocturnal laser shows make this vast park a surefire winner with families. Built in 2007 in Lima's historic Parque de la Reserva, the water-themed attraction draws crowds from all over Peru with its 13 pools and connecting watercourses. The best time to go is around 7 in the evening, when you can see a series of over-the-top multimedia spectacles set to rousing patriotic themes. Bring bathing suits for the kids: they're going to beg to get wet.

A 20-minute boat trip up the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado takes you to this small collpa on the riverbank. Each day, more than 100 parrots and parakeets, as well as occasional macaws, gather here from 5:30 am to 8 am to lick the mineral-rich clay.

It may be a fairly serene location these days, but Qenko, which means "zigzag," was once the site of one of the Incas' most intriguing and potentially macabre rituals. Named after the zigzagging channels carved into the surface, Qenko is a large rock thought to have been the site of an annual pre-planting ritual in which priests standing on the top poured llama blood into a ceremonial pipe, allowing it to make its way down the channel. If the blood flowed left, it boded poor fertility for the coming season. If the liquid continued the full length of the pipe, it spelled a bountiful harvest. Other symbolic carvings mix it up on the rock face, too—the eagle-eyed might spot a puma, condor, and llama.  Today you won't see any blood, but the carved channels still exist, and you can climb to the top to see how they zigzag their way down.

An intricately carved wooden balcony marks the home where Viceroy Conde de Lemos stayed when he arrived in Puno to counter rebellion around 1668. Behind the cathedral, it is today home to the National Culture Institute of the Department of Puno.

Built at the start of the 18th century, this sprawling complex, originally a dual hospital for men and women, now houses two of the city's most interesting museums. At the Museo Arqueológico de Cajamarca, exhibits of cajamarquino ceramics and weavings occupy center stage; the pre-Inca Cajamarcans were especially famous for their excellent patterned textiles, which were often dyed vivid shades of blue. Meanwhile, the neighboring Museo Etnográfico has displays of everyday bric-a-brac—including an old saddle and a dilapidated coffee grinder—dating from colonial times. The high point of the complex is the Iglesia de Belén, a striking church whose Andean-baroque facade melds European structural elements with Indigenous symbols and ornamentation. Take a moment to walk around the church's interior: the diamond-stud stonework is one of colonial Cajamarca's architectural signatures.

One of Peru's most extensive and valuable libraries is in this 1648 Franciscan monastery. With several cloisters and museums, it's a wonderful place to research regional history and culture. Start in the massive, wood-paneled, wood-floored library, where monks in brown robes quietly browse 20,000 ancient books and maps, the most valuable of which were printed before 1500 and are kept in glass cases. Pre-Columbian artifacts and objects collected by missionaries to the Amazon are on display, as is a selection of elegant colonial and religious artwork. Guides are available (remember to tip). To reach the monastery, cross the Río Chili by Puente Grau. It's a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas, but it's best to take a taxi.

Founded in 1595 as a retreat for Franciscans who wanted to escape the bustle of worldly Lima, this functioning monastery offers an intriguing glimpse into a colonial convent. Walled up in its self-sufficient cloisters, the good friars did more than just pray: they also ran an infirmary, a pharmacy with Amazonian plants, and even a distillery for making pisco. The temple's ornamentation can be stunning—the chapel is inlaid with Nicaraguan cedar and mother-of-pearl—but what truly captivates here are the silences. The tolling bells still summon the faithful to prayer. As of this writing, the convent was closed for extensive maintenance but was expected to have reopened by late 2024.

Built in 1945 by cusqueño sculptor Ernesto Olazo Allende, the large white statue of Cristo Blanco towers above Cusco atop Cerro Pukamoqo (elevation 11,811 feet). The statue, which was donated by the local Palestinian colony, stands in proximity to Sacsayhuamán and can be reached either on foot from the upper reaches of the San Blas and San Cristóbal districts, or by hailing a cab (S/10–S/15) or Uber. The views from here span all over Cusco and the valley and are beautiful throughout the day. Sunsets are especially dramatic, after which the Christ sparkles with radiant lighting.