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Destinations

• Aguas Calientes
• Arequipa
• Arequipa and the Colca Canyon
• Chavin de Huantar
• Cusco
• Huaraz
• Lago Sandoval
• Lima
• Machu Picchu
• Manu Biosphere Reserve
• Manu National Park
• Nazca
• Ollantaytambo
• Pisac
• Puerto Maldonado
• Puno
• Q'enko
• Sacsayhuaman
• Tambopata-Candamo Reserva Nacional
• The Cordillera Huayhuash Hike
• The Cordillera Vilcanota - Ausangate
• Trek from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu
• Trujillo

Destination Peru

• Cultural
  • Lima and Pachacamac
  • Huaraz
  • Discover Cusco and Machu Picchu
  • Explore Arequipa and the Colca Canyon
  • Arequipa and Colca Canyon
  • Paracas - Nasca - Arequipa
  • Puno and Lake Titicaca
  • Arequipa and Cusco
• Journeys & Trekking in Peru
  • Manu Jungle Tour and Machu Picchu
  • Complete Cultural Tour in Peru
  • Alpamayo Trekking Tour
  • Lares Machu Picchu - Alpamayo Trek
• Trekking in Huaraz
  • Llanganuco - Santa Cruz
  • Santa Cruz
  • Trek around Alpamayo
  • The Huayhuash hike in 11 days
• Trekking in Cusco
  • The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
  • Urubamba - Pumahuanca - Yanahuara Trek
  • The Ausangate Trekking Tour
  • Choquequirao
  • Trek Choquequirao to Machu Picchu
  • Vilcabamba, the last refuge of the incas
• Trekking in Arequipa
  • "Canocota, Pinchollo Geiser, Cabanaconde & the Colca Canyon"
• Sea kayaking Titicaca Lake
  • Anapia - Sea Kayaking

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Destinations

• Aguas Calientes

  This small town is surrounded by jungle-covered mountains and next to the Urubamba River. Aguas Calientes has one main attraction, the thermal baths. These are open pools with a stunning view. Many trekkers come here and rest their weary bones after the Inca Trail. The hot waters are reputedly medicinal.
  Machu Picchu is the main reason travellers visit here. The whole area is very beautiful and there are many wonderful walks in the area that pass many waterfalls and streams. There is also some good wildlife that can be seen, with many birds, including the cock-of-the-rock, and many orchids. The Mandor Waterfall can be reached in a couple of hours, and it is also possible to climb to the top of Putu Cusi, the peak opposite Machu Picchu on the other side of the Urubamba River.

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• Arequipa

  This city is Peru’s second largest and has a population of approximately 700,000 people. From the city you can see three volcanoes rising from the desert. Due to extensive agriculture in the area, Arequipa is an oasis of green in the surrounding desert. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December of 2000, this city has a beautiful center and many colonial houses and churches. The locals consider it a country of their own, and it is even possible to get an Arequipeno passport.
  The Convent of Santa Catalina is one of the main tourist attractions in Arequipa, and one of the most interesting colonial buildings in Peru. A part of the complex is still used by nuns and cannot be visited. The convent is extensive, and is often described as a city within a city. The convent was founded in 1579 and the history of the convent is fascinating. Many of the nuns that lived in Santa Catalina failed to live up to the vows of poverty that are usual. In fact, coming from wealthy Spanish families, many of the nuns came with up to four servants to accompany them. The dowry that had to be given by the most important nuns, who wore black veils, was 2,400 silver coins, equivalent to $50,000 today. The nuns also had to bring 25 listed items, including a statue, a painting, a lamp and clothes. In the case of the wealthiest nuns, these included the finest English china and wonderful silk curtains and rugs. The largest cells have a large main room for the nun’s residence, a room for the servants, a kitchen, a terrace and even a guest room, which was used by other nuns in Santa Catalina after a party. When a nun died, the cells were sold to other nuns entering the convent.
  The second biggest attraction in Arequipa is the Museo Santuarios Andinos. This museum houses a mummy discovered in September of 1995 by Dr. Johan Reinhard and Dr. Antonio Chavez. These archaeologists discovered the tomb of a child on top of the Ampato volcano in the Colca Canyon. The girl, aged around 13 at the time of her death, was sacrificed and buried by the Incas as an appeasement offering to the Apus, the mountain gods. Although dozens of child sacrifices have been found throughout the Andes, the body found at the top of Ampato was particularly important. This child, called Juanita, is one of the best-preserved bodies in existence, and has provided a lot of information on the ritual of Inca sacrifice. The tomb and body had been encased in ice for approximately 500 years until the eruption of the nearby Sabancay Volcano dislodged her and lead to the discovery of her tomb. Further excavations at the top of Ampato uncovered three other child mummies of both sexes, and several other mummies have been discovered on other important mountains in the area. In addition to the bodies discovered in the tombs, many important artifacts were found.
  Some of the churches worth visiting in Arequipa include San Augastín, Santo Domingo, and La Merced all of which have fine carved sillar facades. All of these churches have been substantially rebuilt after earthquakes over the centuries.
  Arequipa also has some fine colonial houses. These used to be the residences of wealthy Spaniards, but now are generally used as offices. The Casa Del Moral’s interior has vaulted ceilings typical of Arequipa. The Fundo El Fierro was originally a girls' school and then a prison. It is now used as a crafts fair. Off the Plaza San Francisco is the Museo Histórico Regional, with information on the history of Arequipa.
  The Archaeological Museum of the Universidad Nacional de San Augustin is a museum with a fine display of archaeological objects and ceramics, as well as many colonial items.
  A good time to visit Arequipa or the area would be on May 1. Every year, pilgrims from all over Peru go to the small town of Chapi to pray to a highly venerated saint, the Virgen de Chapi, who is credited with miraculous powers.
  

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• Arequipa and the Colca Canyon

  The Colca Canyon is a part of Peru that offers stunning scenery and one of the best opportunities to see condors in the wild. Originally, the Collaguas and the Cabanas, who were an industrious and prosperous people, inhabited the area and the terraces throughout the canyon indicate their agricultural and architectural skills. The Colca Canyon runs for over 100km, and the average distance from the peaks of the mountains to the river below is 3,400m.
  The most visited part of the Colca Canyon is the Cruz Del Condor, where the condors glide by on the thermals rising from the canyon. It is for the condors that many tourists visit the canyon, and there can be few places in the world that offer the chance to see these birds at such close quarters. The condor nests in the steep cliff-faces around the Cruz Del Condor. The condor is the heaviest flying bird in the world, and can weigh up to 12kg. Its wingspan is often in excess of three meters. The best months to see the condors are from May to November.
  

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• Chavin de Huantar

  The ruins of Chavín de Huántar are some of the most historically important in Peru, as this was the main ceremonial center for the Chavín culture, the first major culture in South America. The site was completely buried in mud from landslides from the Cordillera Blanca, the last of which occurred in 1945. The Chavín culture emerged around 2,000BC, and the temple at Chavín de Huántar was built around 1,000BC.
  The site has of a number of stone temples, some of which are still covered in mud. The facade of the finest temples is in finely cut granite that was brought from a quarry 30km away. The three finest carvings found there are the Raymondi Stela, the Tello Obelisk and the Lanzón, all of which represent the gods of the culture. The incredible carvings on all three stones represent figures, including crosses between feline and human images.
  In addition to the carvings, Chavín is famous for its Cabezas Clavas, or carved heads. These once adorned the walls of many of the temples, although only one is still in its original place. However, there are many heads on display throughout the complex, each of which is slightly different. Some are clearly human, others also have distinct animal features, but there are also some which represent mythological figures
  

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• Cusco

  Cusco is the home of the Sun God, Inti, and the center of the Incan universe. Located high in the Andean mountains, Cusco sits at an altitude of 3,326 meters above sea level and is home to about 400,000 people. It has many Incan walls and structures, as well as houses and churches from the colonial times.
  From Cusco, you can visit the many ruins in the area, such as Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, Machu Picchu, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo. Many treks are available in this area, as well as day hikes, white water rafting, and horseback riding.
  Cusco’s colonial center and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman were declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1983. The narrow streets, which have Spanish palaces built on top of Inca walls, are a delight. There are a number of Incan walls remaining in Cusco, such as those on Calle Hatunrumiyoc, which contains the unique 12-angled stone.
  The Plaza de Armas, which is the busy main square, is in the same position as the main square of Inca Cusco, although it is only half the size, with the original square including what is now Plaza Regocijo. The Cathedral and the Iglesia de La Compañía are the highlights of the square.
  The Church of San Blas contains one of the most interesting attractions in the entire city – a famous carved wooden pulpit. This church was built in the mid 16th century on the site of the Inca Temple of Thunder and Lightening. The walk up to the Church of San Blas is through some of the most tranquil and beautiful in Cusco.
  The most important building in Cusco is the colonial monastery of Santo Domingo. It was built on the foundations of Qorikancha (courtyard of gold), and is the most important religious site in the Inca Empire. This was the location of the most important temples in all of the Inca Empire, which included the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, Temple of Thunder and Lightening, Temple of the Rainbow and temples to various stars.
  The Museo Inka is a fantastic museum containing a fine archaeological collection from all over Peru. The museum has a very good section on the pre-Inca cultures in the Lake Titicaca and Cusco areas, and has some exquisite Wari turquoise mini-sculptures found at Pikillaqta. The section on the Inca culture is very good, and there are some wonderful photos of Machu Picchu when it was first rediscovered.
  

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• Huaraz

  The city of Huaraz is a center for trekking and climbing in the Cordillera Blanca and the Huayhuash. This city is located in one of the most beautiful settings in Peru. This area of Peru has been inhabited for centuries and was home to several civilizations including the Chavin culture.
  The Andes is the second highest mountain range in the world. Some of the most impressive mountain peaks lie in the Parque Nacional Huascaran, which is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The Cordillera Blanca contains many of Peru’s highest mountains. Here you can find Inca ruins, pre-Inca ruins, many lakes and treks and the interesting flora and fauna. In this area there are also 3 other mountain ranges that are accessible from Huaraz. These are the Cordillera Huayhuash, the Cordillera Negra and the Cordillera Raura and offer great hiking opportunities.
  Treks through the mountains here, which range from easy to very challenging, offer stunning scenery, with snow-capped peaks surrounded by beautiful lakes and valleys. The climbing, too, is suitable for beginners as well as experienced mountaineers. Also, it is possible to go mountain biking and rafting in this area.
  Many beautiful areas are accessible without going trekking, and the turquoise lakes throughout the mountains offer some of the most incredible views anywhere. The mountain range was also home to the first important culture in South America, the Chavín culture. The main center for this culture, Chavín de Huántar, is only a couple of hours from Huaraz, and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Peru.
  The most interesting attraction in Huaraz itself is the Museo de Arqueología de Ancash which has an interesting collection of Recuay and Chavín culture artifacts.
  There are several small ruins near Huaraz, including the Wari ruins of Huaullac and Wilkahuaín. There are also some thermal baths in the nearby town of Monterrey.
  Most travelers to Huaraz come specifically to hike some of the spectacular routes in the area. There are many possibilities for this, and it is a good idea to know your ability level before deciding which trek to take. There are often high passes over 4,000m in this area.
  There are many short day hikes in the Huaraz area. The hike from the city of Huaraz to the Monterrey baths is good and not too difficult, as is the walk to the Laguna Llaca. The hike to the Laguna Churup is more challenging, but very beautiful.
  The most popular trek in the area is the Llanganuco to Santa Cruz trek, which takes around three to four days. Another popular hike is from Olleros to Chavín, crossing the Cordillera Blanca, again taking around three to four days. A four to five day trek in the Cordillera Huayhuash is also possible.
  Longer, more difficult treks include the six to seven day Carhuaz to Santa Cruz trek and the full Huayhuash circuit, taking around 12 days. The beautiful Hualcayán to Pomabamba trek, also taking around 12 days, offers stunning views of the Alpamayo glacier.
  There is some excellent climbing in the Huaraz area, suitable for mountaineers of all levels. Probably the easiest ascent in the Cordillera Blanca is Pisco, at 5,752m, which takes around 3 days. More challenging climbs include Huascarán, the highest peak in Peru at 6,768m, which takes about 6 days, and Alpamayo, at 5,947m, which takes around 7 days. Other peaks that can be climbed include Urus (5,495m), Ishinca (5,530m), Ranrapalca (6,162m), Chacraraju (6,112m), Quitaraju (6,036m) and Chopicalqui (6,354m).
  Rock climbing is also possible in the area, and there is a rock face near the Monterrey baths just outside of Huaraz. There is also several practice climbing walls in Huaraz.
  

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• Lago Sandoval

  Lago Sandoval is located relatively close to Puerto Maldonado, and is a beautiful, large, ox-bow lake. It is popular with young locals who come to bathe here, and it can get busy at weekends. It is also possible to see wildlife here, including giant river otters, although these are best seen in the early morning or late afternoon, meaning that you must spend the night here. The lake is located 40 minutes downstream from Puerto Maldonado and then a one-hour walk through the jungle.

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• Lima

  With a population of approximately 8 million people, Lima is Peru’s capital city and is located on the arid coast. It was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro and was the center of South America during colonial times. At that time, it was called the City of Kings. A diverse city, Lima is usually the first city in Peru that visitor’s experience.
  Lima has a stable climate that is humid. In the summer months, December to March, the sun is strong and has an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. The rest of the year the sky is gray, but it never rains (only drizzles) and has an average temperature of 12 degrees Celsius.
  Lima is a city of museums. There are more than 50 museums in the city, including the best in Peru. The museums cover different topics, such as history, archeology, anthropology, nature, culture, technology, art, religion, costumes, collections and crime. One of the best is the Museum de la Nacion, which has models of Peru’s archaeological sites.
  One of the sights to see in Lima is the Plaza de Armas which features the capital buildings, the Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. The area around the Plaza is full of museums and churches. In this area you can find the church and monastery of San Francisco, which is noted for its architecture and catacombs. Also, San Pedro is a Jesuit’s church which was built in the 17th century and is a good example of early colonial architecture. Santa Domingo church was built in the mid 15th century and is one of the religious jewels of colonial Lima and holds the remains of America’s first black saint. Saint Martin de Porres.
  Lima has more than 30 recognized archaeological sites located inside the city. In Miraflores you can find the pre-Inca ceremonial and administrative site, Huaca Pucllana. In the Parque de las Leyendas Zoo you can see a complex of ceremonial sites belonging to the Maranga culture.
  Outside of Lima you can also find important archaeological sites. South of Lima you can find the site of Pachacamac. This was a pre-Inca and Inca group of temples, plazas and urban zones.
  If you like beaches, the best time for visiting Lima is in the summer but they can become very crowded between January and March.
  

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• Machu Picchu

  Machu Picchu is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the Americas, and is also one of the most beautiful places in the world. Machu Picchu is actually the name of the tall mountain to the south of the ruins, and means ‘old peak’. Huayna Picchu, the pointed mountain to the north of the ruins, means ‘young peak’.
  The exact purpose of Machu Picchu is unknown. It was never discovered by the Spanish and no one ever recorded any information about it. However, the high quality of the stonework and the large number of important temples and fountains indicate that the whole area was a very important ceremonial center. The site was never looted by the Spanish, and it is therefore the best-preserved Inca complex in existence.
  Apart from the main body of the ruins, there are several areas in Machu Picchu worth seeing. The most commonly visited of these is the peak of Huayna Picchu, the pointed mountain directly behind the open plaza. At first sight it would appear that it might be impossible to climb this mountain, and the terracing visible near its summit seems an impossible feat. However, there is a well-defined path, which, although steep, is not particularly difficult to climb.
  Another climb that is possible by the ruins is up to the top of the Machu Picchu Mountain, to the south of the ruins. There is also a trail that leads behind the mountain to the Inca Drawbridge. Here, the path becomes very narrow with a substantial drop to your side. The drawbridge itself is a gap in the path that the Inca’s left to prevent unwanted visitors crossing. The gap was bridged by logs that could be easily withdrawn.
  Another common side-trip from the main ruins is up to the Intipunku, the sun gate, which is about a 30-minute hike from the main ruins. This is where the Inca Trail emerges. The ruins are not very interesting, but the view is superb.
  From the Intipunku it is possible to carry on to the spectacular ruins of Wiñay Wayna, about 1½ hours further on.
  

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• Manu Biosphere Reserve

  The Manu Biosphere Reserve is one of the most pristine areas of rain forest in the Amazon. There are very few human settlements in the park, and there is no hunting or fishing. Tourism is strictly controlled and visitors are only allowed into the park if accompanied by a registered guide and with a registered tour operator. Tours must be organized in advance. It is possible to visit the Manu area without entering the reserved zone, and much good wildlife can still be seen.
  Mammals in the park include the spectacled bear, the deer, the puma, the pygmy marmoset, the red howler monkey, the squirrel monkey, the tapir, the collared peccary, the giant otter and the jaguar. Reptiles that can be seen include the white caiman, the black caiman, the anaconda, the boa constrictor, the yellow-spotted side neck turtle and the tortoise.
  The area is great for birdwatchers, and the varieties include the harpy eagle, the jabirus, the roseate spoonbill, the Orinoco goose, the cock-of-the-rock, the macaw, the toucan, the king vulture, the tiger-heron and the hoatzin.
  Additionally, the park contains some wonderful flora, offering much typical vegetation of the highlands. The cloud forest has trees covered with many varieties of orchids, mosses, lichen and ferns. The rain forest contains trees over 60m tall and 3 meters in diameter, including cedars and mahogany.
  

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• Manu National Park

  Manu National Park is located in the departments of Cusco and Madre de Dios in the tropical rain forest. It is Peru’s greatest natural reserve and was established as a national park in 1973. It covers an area of 1,532,806 hectares and was declared a Mankind Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. The park covers the entire length of the Manu River and ranges in altitude from 200 meters above sea level to 4,300 meters above sea level.
  This area is home to dozens of tribes, some which have never had contact with the outside world. The park is also home to more than 1,000 species of birds, 1,200 species of butterflies, 200 species of mammals, and 20,000 varieties of plants, as well as large quantities of reptiles and amphibians.
  

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• Nazca

  This small town is located on the southern coast of Peru. This area is best known for the Nazca Lines, a group of gigantic designs drawn in the desert, which include a monkey, a condor and a lizard, among many others. These lines have been studied for many years, and there are many theories as to why these lines exist. The best way to view the lines is by air; however you can see three figures from an observation tower in the desert. Another interesting site in this area is the Cemetario de Chauchilla. At this cemetery you will see bones, skulls, mummies, pottery shards and pieces of clothing. As well as the cemetery, there are aqueducts, fossil beds and other archaeological sites in the area.

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• Ollantaytambo

  Ollantaytambo is an attractive town at the end of the Sacred Valley. The paved road ends here; to continue to Aguas Calientes you must take the train. The town is built on the base of the old Inca site, and the streets and blocks of the town are the same as those of the original Inca buildings. Wandering around this part of the town gives the best example of what an Inca town must really have been like.
  The Inca ruins here have some very fine terracing and some exceptional stonework. The terraces may have been used for agriculture, although it is also possible that they were purely decorative. This site is very interesting as it gives a good insight into the construction techniques of the Incas. Even though this site was never finished, the work that was in progress indicates that this was one of the Incas’ most important sites. Even in its incomplete state, the Temple of the Sun is amazing. There are six very impressive carved monoliths, among the finest in the Inca world. The site also contains many fountains.
  The water for these came from a sacred lake, Yanacocha, located about 14km away. The mountain opposite the ruins is Pinkuylluna, an Apu (a sacred Inca mountain, worshipped by the people), and there are storehouses visible on the side of the mountain.
  There is a small museum in Ollantaytambo, with archaeological and historical information on the area, as well as a room dedicated to local crafts and beliefs.
  

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• Pisac

  Pisac is a picturesque village located in the Sacred Valley near Cusco and is a typical village except for the huge, spreading pisonay tree that dominates the central square. The village is well known for its Sunday market. There are also smaller markets in Pisac on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  A vital Inca road once snaked its way up the canyon that enters the Urubamba Valley at Pisac. The citadel, at the entrance to this gorge, now in ruins, controlled a route that connected the Inca Empire with Paucartambo, on the border of the eastern jungles. Set high above a valley floor patch worked by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing, the stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. Terraces, water ducts and steps have been cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Sun Temple is equal to anything at Machu Picchu. Above the temple lie still more ruins, mostly unexcavated, and among the higher crevices and rocky overhangs several ancient burial sites are hidden.
  

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• Puerto Maldonado

  Puerto Maldonado is a small jungle town that is located close to the Bolivian and Brazilian borders. It is also one of the main jungle destinations for foreign travelers to Peru, largely due to its easy accessibility from Cusco. For visitors wishing to experience some of the jungle, but only having a couple of days, the area around Puerto Maldonado is a good option. Puerto Maldonado is also the entry point to the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone, one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity in the world, including the world’s largest macaw clay lick.

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• Puno

  The city of Puno is located on the shores of the world famous Lake Titicaca. The lake is the highest navigable lake in the world. The city was founded in 1668 by the Spaniards. It is used as a stopping point on the way to the Bolivian border. Copacabana and the Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna islands in that area can be reached very easily from Puno.
  Some of the main features of this area are the local islands. The floating islands of the Uros, whose inhabitants descend from one of the oldest known tribes in the Americas, still have typical native huts that are made from reeds. The island of Taquile is the most visited of the islands in this area. There are several ruins located on this island and are fairly easy to reach.
  Also to be seen in the area are some fascinating stone burial towers at Sillustani, which were built by the Tiahuanaco culture. The area is also famous for its festivals, such as the Virgen de la Candelaria, which is held during the first two weeks of February and the Diablada dances
  

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• Q'enko

  This is one of the finest examples of a rock artfully carved insets showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric relief’s and a puma design. The rock is an excellent example of the Inca 'Rock Worship'. In Inca cosmological beliefs the Incas held large rocky outcrops in reverence, as if they possessed some hidden spiritual force. On top of the rock are zigzag channels which served to course chicha (local maize beer) or sacrificed llama blood for purposes of divination; the speed and route of the liquid, in conjunction with the patterns made in the rock, gave the answers to the priest's invocations.

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• Sacsayhuaman

  This site is the best known of all the archaeological sites around Cusco, as well as the most interesting. The ruins are located on a hill to the north of Cusco, and offer a splendid view of the city. Sacsayhuaman is generally referred to as a fortress, and although it was used to attack the Spanish in Manco Inca’s rebellion, it is unlikely that this was its original function. It is more likely to have been a ceremonial center, possibly the Royal House of the Sun, and there were places of devotion to the moon, lightening and the stars.
  The most impressive items here are the enormous zigzag walls that defended the southern part of the site. Each of these three walls stretch for 300m and is almost 10m tall. The stones in the walls are incredible, the largest of which weigh over 300 tones. They are fitted with usual Inca perfection reserved for important structures. These walls are undoubtedly some of the most impressive structures in all of Peru. It appears that Sacsayhuaman was never completed, even after 20,000 men had worked on the site for 50 years.
  This was the site of possibly the most famous battle between the Incas and the Spanish. Manco Inca, the Inca leader the conquistadors had installed after executing Atahuallpa, realized that the situation was untenable and he rejected the position he had been given in order to lead an Inca army against the Spanish. The Inca army took the site of Sacsayhuaman and began to attack the city of Cusco and the Spanish inside, setting fire to the thatched roofs by raining down fiery stones on the city. The Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro’s brother, Juan, escaped from the city and attacked Sacsayhuaman. Although Juan Pizarro was killed in the attack, the Spanish managed to scale the giant walls of the fortress with ladders and attack the towers. The battle was very violent, with heavy casualties on both sides. It is said that an Inca general, Cahuide, fought particularly bravely, defending the last tower before the Spanish captured it. Rather than be captured himself, he leaped from the tower to his death.
  After the Spanish captured Sacsayhuaman, the Incas retreated to the jungle and were all but defeated. The Spanish then used Sacsayhuaman as a prison in the struggle for Peruvian dominance between the Pizarro and Almagro factions. It was also the place where the revolutionary Tupac Amaru II was captured, before being executed in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas.
  Pisac
  A vital Inca road once snaked its way up the canyon that enters the Urubamba Valley at Pisac. The citadel, at the entrance to this gorge, now in ruins, controlled a route that connected the Inca Empire with Paucartambo, on the border of the eastern jungles. Set high above a valley floor patch worked by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing, the stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. Terraces, water ducts and steps have been cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Sun Temple is equal to anything at Machu Picchu. Above the temple lie still more ruins, mostly unexcavated, and among the higher crevices and rocky overhangs several ancient burial sites are hidden.
  

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• Tambopata-Candamo Reserva Nacional

  For travelers wishing to travel to Manu National Park, but don’t have the time or money, the Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve is a very good alternative. It is much easier to visit this area for short trips and it can be much cheaper. There are almost 600 species of birds and over 1,200 species of butterflies in the reserve. There are many caiman, tapirs and other large animals, as well. The macaw clay lick located in this reserve is the largest in the world, and is the highlight of this area. Macaws gather early each morning to eat the clay. This provides a truly incredible sight as hundreds of green, blue, yellow and red macaws, along with thousands of smaller green parrots, cover the cliff face.
  Lago Valencia is another ox-bow lake located about seven hours from Puerto Maldonado. The lake is visited by few people and is a good opportunity for viewing wildlife. There are river otters, caimans, monkeys and a variety of bird life by the shores of the lake.
  Located down the Madre de Dios River is Monkey Island. This is a small man made island located in the middle of the river, which has many different varieties of monkeys.
  

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• The Cordillera Huayhuash Hike

  The Cordillera Huayhuash measures only 30 kilometres but within this small area there is an astonishing array of dazzling white peaks, fluted ice faces, glaciers, grassy valleys and wonderful turquoise blue lakes. The highest mountain in the cordillera is Yerupaja (6634m/), the second highest peak in Peru, but on this trek you will see many other peaks which are just as beautiful and impressive. This is a difficult to strenuous trek, and the whole circuit covers a distance of more than 140 kilometres. This trek round the range is rightly considered one of the finest walks in the world. There are brilliant views of the main peaks all the way round and you also visit the most stunning lakes of the range at Mitucocha, Carhuacocha and Jahuacocha. These high lakes are home to many varieties of wading birds, waterfowl, geese and ducks, including Andean Ducks with their rufus bodies and blue bills. Occasionally Giant Andean Coot, enormous birds with red feet, are seen on the more remote upland lagoons, and Puna Ibis, Andean Lapwings, Puna Tinamous, and many others. Added to this, you may see condors and other raptors soaring overhead, viscacha hopping over boulders in the sunshine, and occasionally vicunas, which roam some of the more remote valleys. They blend so well into the scenery that you may only be alerted to their presence by their shrill whistles .
  

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• The Cordillera Vilcanota - Ausangate

  Hike the trail with Quechua-speaking herdsmen around Mt. Ausangate (6,374 m) which is the sacred summit of the Vilcanota Range - a region of towering peaks and sparkling lakes. You hike carrying only a daypack while horses carry all our camping gear. The Vilcanota area remains true to cultural traditions stretching back into history. The age-old methods of alpaca herding which sustains the population are everywhere in evidence. Tightly-knit Quechua communities maintain extensive, complex, irrigation systems - delivering glacial water to the valleys for the constant moisture required to sustain the alpacas' favorite forage crops.

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• Trek from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

  The archaeological site of Choquequirao, perched on a ridge at about 3000 meters above sea level, has been rediscovered recently and partially restored. Long forgotten, this Incan town, which was buried under dense vegetation, has gradually found life and character after 5 centuries of being hidden. Therefore, this site has become a hiking attraction among travelers eager for new sites to explore. Beyond the site the narrow path unveils a magnificent trek, wild, unknown and varied in terrain and views.
  From the high mountain passes of over 4500 masl, to the edge of the tropical vegetation, this trek takes you beyond the traditional cliché of Peru. Of course, views of the glittering peaks of over 6000 meters will be present, where the condors command the skies and the cold Puna hides the elusive Pumas, but it is at the lower spots, where the vegetation is denser as the altitude drops, that you might meet a different Peru and villages full of happy bare footed kids, the contrary to the villages on the Puna, because life is hard at the high altitudes of the Andes. This is a trek of a good physical level, with high altitudes and passes over 4500 meters.
  Your destination is the valley of the Urubamba River, which runs below Machu Picchu, far from the crowds of tourists converging on foot or by train. By the time you arrive to the small town of Aguas Calientes and the famous ruins of Machu Picchu, that you realize the privilege of the experience you have enjoyed so far! Indeed, this trek is a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Incas, but a pilgrimage for you alone ... almost.
  

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• Trujillo

  This is Peru’s third largest city and was founded in 1535 by Pizarro. It still has its distinctive ironwork fronting on the colonial buildings. One of the biggest attractions in the Trujillo area is Chan Chan, which was the capital of the Chimu Empire. This is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world. In addition to Chan Chan, there are several other Chimu sites, including La Huaca Arco, which is one of the best-preserved sites. You can also visit the Moche Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, which are located in this area.
  There are also some pleasant beaches around Trujillo. Some of the best times to travel in this area would be at the end of January, when they have the Fiesta de la Marinera or in late September, when you can attend the Fiesta de la Primavera, which has the most famous parade in Peru.
  

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