279 Best Sights in Peru

It's a little out of the way, but don't let that stop you from visiting this compact museum with a well-preserved collection of regional pre-Columbian artifacts—particularly from the Inca, Nazca, and Paracas cultures. Note the quipus, mysterious knotted, colored threads thought to have been used by the Incas to count commodities and food reserves. Fans of the macabre will love the mummy display, where you can see everything from embalmed humans to a mummified bird.

Meanwhile, the squeamish can head out back to view a scale model of the Nazca Lines from an observation tower. You can also buy maps and paintings of Nazca motifs from the gift shop. The museum is about 1½ km (1 mile) from the main square, but it's not advisable to walk, so hop on one of the city's three-wheeled mototaxis that will make the trip for around S/5.

Look for some well-preserved rainforest creatures and butterflies from the northern jungle among this museum's more than 10,000 objects. Local fossils and archaeological relics are also on display.

This archaeological museum, sometimes called the Museo Municipal, houses the city's collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and gold artifacts, primarily from the Vicús, a culture that flourished in the Piura Valley between 200 BC and AD 400 and that shared many characteristics with the Moche. The museum was extensively renovated in the early 2000s and contains intriguing examples of Vicús ceramics and metalwork, as well as changing art exhibits.

The Old Town's distinctive appearance can be attributed to Inca organizational skills. They based their communities on the unit of the cancha, a walled city block, each with one entrance leading to an interior courtyard, surrounded by a collection of houses. The system is most obvious in the center of town around the main plaza. You'll find the most welcoming of these self-contained communities at Calle del Medio. A tourist information office on the Plaza de Armas can help direct you.

Sacred to the god of earthquakes, this sprawling adobe temple was for 1,300 years the chief pilgrimage destination on Peru's Pacific coast. What those votaries came to see was Pachacamac—"he who moves the earth"—a scowling lord carved into a wooden staff wielded by the sanctuary's fearsome priests (elsewhere, he appears on ceramic vessels as a strange, griffin-like creature, with a bird's beak and feline claws). Pachacamac's cult began with the Lima culture around AD 200, but grew when the Huari took over the complex some four centuries later. It exploded when the Incas came in 1470, elevating the earth-shaker to the rank of their own creator-god and erecting a sun temple in his honor on the bluff's apex. Today, visitors can meander through the pre-Inca Painted Temple, with its traces of red brick, as well as the hilltop Temple of the Sun that looks out on the Pacific. A museum offers informative displays.

The best way to visit Pachacamac is by taking a half-day guided tour with an agency like Mirabus, since the site is 32 km (20 miles) south of downtown, and getting a taxi back can be tricky.

This neobaroque palace north of the Plaza de Armas is the official residence of Peru's president. It was built on the site where Francisco Pizarro was murdered in 1541 and has undergone several reconstructions, the most recent of which was completed in 1938. The best time to visit is at noon, when you can watch soldiers in red-and-blue uniforms conduct an elaborate changing of the guard, all to the tune of "El Condor Pasa." It's not quite Buckingham Palace, but it is impressive. Tours are offered on Saturday, but reservations by email are required at least a few days ahead of time.

Inca Roca lived in the 13th or 14th century. Halfway along his palace's side wall, nestled amid other stones, is a famous 12-angled stone, an example of masterly Inca masonry. There's nothing sacred about the 12 angles: Inca masons were famous for incorporating stones with many more sides than 12 into their buildings. If you can't spot the famous stone from the crowds taking photos, ask one of the shopkeepers or the elaborately dressed Inca figures hanging out along the street to point it out. Around the corner is a series of stones on the wall that form the shapes of a puma and a serpent. Kids often hang out there and trace the forms for a small tip.

One look at the elaborate courtyard, with its two stories of white columns, marble tiles, and breezeway open to the sky, and you'll know why this is called a palace rather than a house. From the intricate white-painted metalwork to the gorgeous Italian furnishings, every detail of what was once considered the most exquisite house in South America has been carefully restored and maintained. Remodeled from an earlier mansion in 1842, it's now the home of the private Club Central de Trujillo. Unfortunately, the club only allows visitors limited access, and permission to enter seems to depend principally on the guard's mood for the day. If you do manage to get in, prepare to be impressed.

Several ruins can be found near the town of Casma, but the heavily weathered Mochica city of Pañamarca is the one to see after Cerro Sechín. Located 10 km (6 miles) from the Pan-American Highway on the road leading to Nepeña, Pañamarca comprises three large adobe pyramids and has some interesting painted murals. If they're not visible right away, ask a guard to show you, as they're often closed off. The site was later occupied by the Incas.

A taxi will take you to the ruins for about S/20 an hour; negotiate the price before you leave.

With its three stacked platforms and network of defensive walls, the gigantic pyramid at Paramonga stands stark against its desert backdrop. Nicknamed "the fortress" for its citadel-like ramparts, it may have only been a ritual center for the Chimú people back in the 13th century: seen from the air, the structure has the shape of a puma, a sacred animal for ancient Peruvians. In any case, it was likely already in ruins when the Spanish arrived in Peru in 1532. A small museum on the premises has interesting displays on Chimú culture. This archaeological site sits just off the Pan-American Highway, about 3 km (2 miles) north of the turnoff for Huaraz. For a few soles you can take a taxi to the ruins from nearby Barranca.

Eager to prove it was a world-class capital, Lima hosted an international exposition at this vast green space in 1872. Several of the buildings constructed for the event still stand, including the neoclassical Palacio de la Exposición, which now serves as the Museo de Arte de Lima. Meanwhile, the park itself has become a busy meetup spot. Stroll through the grounds, and you'll find the eye-popping Pabellón Morisco, or Moorish Pavillion. Painstakingly restored, this Gothic-style structure has spiral staircases leading to a stained-glass salon on the second floor. The nearby Pabellón Bizantino, or Byzantine Pavilion, most closely resembles a turret from a Victorian-era mansion.

The focus of the beautiful Parque de la Identidad Huanca (Huanca Identity Park) is the pre-Inca Huanca culture, which once occupied the area but left few clues to its way of life. A 5-km (3-mile) drive from downtown Huancayo, the park has pebbled paths and small bridges that meander through blossoming gardens, as well as a rock castle that's just the right size for children to explore. An enormous sculpture at the park's center honors the artisans who produce the city's mates burilados.

You could be forgiven for thinking you're in Barcelona when you stroll through this lovely park designed by Peruvian artist Victor Delfín. As in Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell, which provided inspiration, the benches here are encrusted with broken pieces of tile. In keeping with the romantic theme—the name translates as "Park of Love"—the mosaic includes sayings such as Amor es como luz ("Love is like light"). The centerpiece is a massive statue of two lovers locked in a passionate embrace. The park affords a sweeping view of the Pacific, and on windy days, paragliders take off from an adjacent green.

Across the bridge from the park, you can see the Intihuatana by Fernando de Szyszlo, a huge concrete sculpture inspired by an Inca astronomical clock.

An all-in-one amusement complex 1 km (½ mile) northeast of the city, the Parque del Cerro de la Libertad lets you picnic in the grass, watch the kids at the playground, swim in the public pool, dine at a restaurant, and stroll through the on-site zoo. Folkloric dancers and musicians perform at the park's amphitheater on weekends. A 15-minute walk from the park brings you to the site of Torre Torre, a cluster of 10- to 30-meter (30- to 98-foot) rock towers formed by wind and rain erosion.

For years, this rambling olive grove was slowly being eroded, as homes for wealthy limeños were built in and around its perimeter. The process was halted in the 1960s, in time to save more than 1,500 gnarled olive trees. Some of the trees are four centuries old and still bear fruit. A network of sidewalks, flower beds, fountains, and playgrounds makes this 20-hectare (50-acre) park a popular spot on weekend afternoons.

What locals call Parque Kennedy is, strictly speaking, two parks. A smaller section, near the óvalo, or roundabout, is Parque 7 de Junio, whereas the rest of it is Parque Kennedy proper. On the park's east side stands Miraflores's stately Parroquia La Virgen Milagrosa (Church of the Miraculous Virgin), built in the 1930s on the site of a colonial church. The equally young colonial-style building behind it is the Municipalidad de Miraflores (district town hall). Several open-air cafés along the park's eastern edge serve decent food and drink. At night, a round cement amphitheater in front of those cafés called La Rotonda fills up with performing artists, and the park becomes especially lively. Street vendors also sell popcorn and traditional Peruvian desserts such as picarones (fried doughnuts bathed in molasses), mazamorra morada (a pudding made with blue-corn juice and fruit), and arroz con leche (rice pudding). This park is the most popular meetup spot for the entire district.

Elegant royal palms, swirls of purple-and-yellow bougainvillea, and the surrounding neocolonial architecture make this park a Lima standout. Its southern end is lined with historic buildings, the most prominent of which is the library, with its pink clock tower. To the west stands Barranco's Iglesia La Hermita, a lovely neo-Gothic structure unfortunately closed to the public since its roof caved in during a 1940 earthquake. A nearby staircase leads down to the Puente de los Suspiros and Bajada de los Baños.

Just south of Tingo María, in the midst of the Huallaga Valley, you'll find this small but verdant bio-reserve, which in recent years has seen a growing influx of eco-travelers from all over the world. The 47-square-km (18-square-mile) park is home to numerous highland and rainforest species, including parrots, primates, and bats, but its star residents are the guácharos (oilbirds), who inhabit a huge system of limestone caverns known as La Cueva de las Lechuzas (Owl Cave). The rare, nocturnal guácharo is a black-and-brown, owl-like bird with a hooked beak and a 1-meter (3-foot) wingspan. The best time to see them is at dusk when they take flight toward the cave's mouth. The cavern also has abundant stalactites and stalagmites for geology aficionados, as well as a network of platforms to facilitate viewing.

In addition to its subterranean charms, the reserve boasts numerous waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking trails. Locals swear by the therapeutic qualities of the Jacintillo sulfur springs, and there are campgrounds where visitors can pitch tents or rent one of the park's bungalows.

This 1607 colonial church in the ancient central plaza above the market was built on top of the limestone remains of an Inca palace, thought to be the country estate of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, the son of Pachacutec. It's worth a visit if only to see the murals on the walls and ceiling.

For some fresh air and great people-watching, head to this pedestrian walking path. It borders a stream and has classical-style statues depicting the nine muses from Greek mythology.

A popular day trip from Huaraz, at Pastoruri Glacier you can hike around a 2-square-km (1-square-mile) berg. The rapidly shrinking ice field, which could disappear within the next few years, has become a symbol of global climate change.

On this trip you'll ascend to almost 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), so make sure you give yourself time to get acclimated to the high altitude.

Wear warm clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses, as the sun is intense. Drink lots of water to avoid altitude sickness. The easiest and safest way to get here is with a tour company from Huaraz. The tour costs about S/30 to S/40 and takes eight hours. You can also hire diminutive horses to take you up to the glacier from the parking lot for about S/15. It's not the most spectacular glacier in the world, but if you've never seen one up close, it's worth the trip. The site is 70 km (43 miles) south of Huaraz, off the main highway at the town of Recuay—a journey of about three hours.

For a reminder that civilizations existed in this region before the Incas, head to Pikillacta, a vast city of 700 buildings from the pre-Inca Wari culture, which flourished between AD 600 and 1000. Over a 2-km (1.25-mile) site you'll see what remains of what was once a vast walled city with enclosing walls reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) in height and many two-story buildings, which were entered via ladders to doorways on the second floor. Little is known about the Wari culture, whose empire once stretched from near Cajamarca to the border of Tiahuanaco near Lake Titicaca. It's clear, however, that they had a genius for farming in a harsh environment and, like the Incas, built sophisticated urban centers such as Pikillacta (which means the "place of the flea"). At the thatch-roofed excavation sites, uncovered walls show the city's stones were once covered with plaster and whitewashed. A small museum at the entrance houses a smattering of artifacts collected during site excavation, along with a complete dinosaur skeleton. Across the road lies a beautiful lagoon, Lago de Lucre.

A 25-minute boat ride from the port of Bellavista Nanay and a short (15-minute) walk or a tuk-tuk ride in dry season will bring you to Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm, which raises some 42 butterfly species and serves as home for wild animals that have been confiscated from hunters and wildlife traffickers. It has parrots, a jaguar, a tapir, monkeys (some free roaming), and other animals. During wet season, the boat may take you the whole way. A private boat to and from Padre Cocha should cost 60 soles, depending on the type of motor.

Some boat operators may try to take you to a smaller butterfly farm, so insist on Pilpintuwasi; ask for Gudrun.

Most visitors only go to Ollantaytambo’s main ruins, but the 15th-century granary storages perched on the sacred mountain of Pinkuylluna, on the opposite side of town, are also interesting, and they afford awesome views. Best of all, visiting is free. The path here, which is steep in parts but can be managed in about 20 minutes, starts near the Apu Lodge in the old town. At the top are ruins of living quarters, which, it is believed, hosted privileged Inca women with textile weaving skills. The views from up at this level are stunning. The granaries, which are in poorer condition, are situated on the lower part of the mountain, connected by a well-marked circular hiking path.  

From the market area, drive or take a taxi for S/35 one way up the winding road to the Inca ruins of Pisac. Archaeologists originally thought the ruins were a fortress to defend against fierce Antis (jungle peoples), though there's little evidence that battles were fought here. Now it seems that Pisac was a bit of everything: citadel, religious site, observatory, residence, and, possibly, a refuge in times of siege. The complex also has a temple to the sun and an astronomical observatory, from which priests calculated the growing season each year, but this part of the site was closed in 2015 for safety reasons, and there is no set date to reopen. Narrow trails wind tortuously between and through solid rock. You may find yourself practically alone on the series of paths in the mountains that lead you among the ruins, through caves, and past the largest known Inca cemetery (the Inca buried their dead in tombs high on the cliffs). Just as spectacular as the site are the views from it.

Locals believe that these hot-spring mineral baths, found in the tree-covered slopes north of town, have healing powers. Hundreds of pilgrims come from the surrounding villages during holy days.

A short walk north of the pedestrian bridge at the bottom of Barranco's Bajada de los Baños, this narrow beach is one of Lima's most popular. The sand is dark gray, and when the sea is rough it is unsafe for swimming. But that doesn't stop Playa Barranquito from getting packed from December to April, when vendors stroll through the crowd selling snacks (which inevitably generates litter on the beach). It's a quiet spot the rest of the year except for the cries of seagulls and the rumble of cars passing on the Circuito de Playas. Amenities: food and drink, parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunset; walking.

This wide, rocky beach south of the pier is less popular for swimming, but there are some good spots for surfing. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude, surfing.

Situated just north of the pier, this is the town's most popular beach. Local craftspeople sell their goods along the waterfront, even as fishermen line up their caballitos de totora, the reed fishing rafts that are used more as a photo op or to rent to tourists than for actual fishing. Inland, the area is filled with rows upon rows of restaurants. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

The closest beach to Chiclayo is in this small port town, 14 km (9 miles) west of the city. A taxi ride costs about S/25 each way; you can also take the bus for just a few soles. Although the beach isn't very attractive, and the century-old curved pier is now closed to the public, there are many other enjoyable sights along the water, including a small fleet of caballitos de totora and a lively boardwalk lined with restaurants. Walk along and observe the old colonial beach houses, the naval officers in white outside the maritime station, and the endless squads of young Peruvian couples strolling hand in hand. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: surfing, sunset, swimming.