Peru is a country in South America that has SO much to offer. If you’re planning to travel to Peru this year, these are the top 15 things to add to your Peru Bucketlist! This list is just the beginning of what you can do while in Peru; I only had a few weeks there so my time was limited, so the more time you have, the more you can see what this beautiful country has to offer.
This post was last updated in November 2022.
Background Info on Peru
- Location: South America
- Capital city: Lima
- Currency: Sol
- Official Language: Spanish
Your Peru Bucketlist
1. Flight of the Condor in the Colca Canyon
The first thing to add to your Peru bucketlist is seeing the Peruvian condors flying through the beautiful Colca Canyon.
From the city of Arequipa, you can take a one day, two day, or multi-day trip into Peru’s Colca Canyon to escape the city and explore the more mountainous regions of Peru. One of the highlights in the Colca Canyon is stopping at a lookout point that faces into a huge valley – and this valley is a really popular spot for condors to fly! I saw so many and is definitely one of the top things to do in Peru!
2. Dune buggy in Huacachina
A dune buggy adventure is something you CANNOT miss while in Peru! Huacachina itself is a stunning little oasis town located in the middle of Peru’s desert, and going on a dune buggy tour is a super fun way to see the desert and explore the sand dunes!
We booked our Dune Buggy Tour through PeruHop.
3. Sandboarding in Huacachina
If you do end up taking a dune buggy into Peru’s desert, then you have to go sandboarding in the middle of the desert. This was so high on my Peru bucket list and something I knew I couldn’t miss while visiting. Even if you aren’t good at boarding, you can just sit on the board and go down the hill like a sled!
You can combine the sandboarding and dune buggy trip into a nice day tour or half-day tour.
4. Journey to Machu Picchu
If you’re going to travel to Peru, chances are you’re planning on visiting Machu Picchu! Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world and gives visitors an amazing, in-depth look at the incredible Incan ruins that are super famous.
There are multiple ways to get to Machu Picchu, and most (if not all) require more than one day to get there. The most popular are hiking the Inca trail or hiking the Salkantay trek.
Make sure to leave a few days for getting to Machu Picchu in your itinerary, because it is an adventure in itself and something you absolutely cannot miss while in Peru.
Related post: Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu – The Best Way to Get There
5. Alpacas and Llamas!
One of my favorite things about Peru is the endless amount of alpacas and llamas everywhere. You can find llamas at Machu Picchu, alpacas on the way to the Colca Canyon, and you can even visit Mundo Alpaca in the city of Arequipa – which translates to Alpaca World. At Mundo Alpaca you can learn all about how they make alpaca fabric and visit their alpacas, for free!
6. Peru’s Galapagos
In the beach town of Paracas, you can take a boat tour that drives you out to “Peru’s Galapagos“, otherwise known as Ballestas Island, in Paracas National Reserve. It is here you can see sea lions, penguins, pelicans and sometimes even dolphins and humpback whales! Peru’s Galapagos is something you cannot miss while in Peru!
7. Hike Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow mountain is a really popular hike in Peru and is on most visitors’ Peru bucketlists – a lot of visitors want to see the colorful mountain they see in pictures all over the internet. I’ve heard the mountain isn’t as vibrant as it is portrayed in photos, however, I heard it is still beautiful!
If you have issues with altitude sickness be prepared for Rainbow Mountain because the elevation is 5,200 m above sea level. To give perspective the city of Cusco is 3,399 m above sea level and people still get altitude sickness while visiting Cusco!
*I haven’t hiked Rainbow Mountain (ran out of time), but my two friends have and they HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
8. Explore Lima
Lima is the city that most travelers will fly into when they arrive in Peru, so it only makes sense to take a day or two and see what Lima has to offer! Peru is SO diverse, and this capital city is so cool! Lima has a great street art scene in the neighborhood of Barranco that can’t be missed.
Tip: Sign up for a free walking tour and you’ll be sure to see all the highlights of Lima. Another reason I love free walking tours is that you can ask your guide for great food recommendations, or meet other travelers while on the tour!
9. Spend Time in Cusco
Cusco was my FAVORITE city that I visited while in Peru. It is so unique and I loved the architecture. I would highly recommend taking a free walking tour while here as well, in order to see the main points of interest. But, also make sure to take time to explore on your own and take in the city! You cannot miss Cusco while in Peru.
Cusco is also the city you’ll probably be leaving from if you’re visiting Machu Picchu.
10. The White City – Arequipa, Peru
Arequipa is known as “The White City” because a lot of the architecture in the city is white! Arequipa is a beautiful place to visit and a must for your Peru bucketlist- the city square is lively with restaurants and balconies lining the perimeter, making for a great view whatever the time of day.
You can even see the volcano that overlooks the city in some places, which is such a unique and stunning view! Arequipa is the gateway to the Colca Canyon, and tours can be booked within the city center or through most hostels.
Read more: 3 Week Peru Itinerary: Everything You Have to do in 3 Weeks!
12. Journey to the Amazon Rainforest
I WISH I had time to visit the Amazon jungle while in Peru, as it looks absolutely incredible. So much of the world’s biodiversity is located in the Earth’s rainforests, it would be such an amazing adventure to experience.
Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to Peru’s Southern Amazon Jungle, while Iquitos is the gateway to the Northern Amazon Jungle. Make sure to do some research before heading out, as the Yellow Fever vaccine is typically recommended for this area.
Please remember to practice ethical tourism while exploring the rainforest, and respect the pink river dolphins and other animals you may across on your adventure. Humans should admire animals, but should never be interacting with them, touching them, or feeding them in any way.
11. See the Nazca Lines
This is a quick stop to make while traveling within Peru. We stopped here on our way from Huacachina to Arequipa, climbed up the viewing tower to see the Nazca Lines, and then continued on our way. They were super cool to see, and if you have the time (and budget) you can opt to do a flight over the lines for a better view.
I don’t regret just viewing them from the tower though, I got a good enough view and preferred to save my money for things higher on my Peru bucketlist!
14. The Maras Salt Mines
The Salt Mines of Maras are a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Sacred Valley and are a very interesting attraction to visit. They seem to be gaining popularity with visitors but still makes a great day trip from Cusco (and it’s still being mined today!).
13. Visit Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, the highest lake in the world (!!), and is another UNESCO World Heritage Site found right in Peru. The lake is shared by both Peru and Bolivia, making it a nice spot to stop if you’re planning to travel between both countries.
This site has great cultural significance as well, as the Andeans believed it is the birthplace of the Sun. On my trip, we stopped at the city of Puno, which is located on Lake Titicaca. Puno has floating villages on the Lake and is an incredibly unique place to visit, which means it should be on any traveler’s Peru bucket list.
15. Marvel at the Moray Ruins
The Moray Ruins are incredible Inca Ruins that are actually right by Cusco and a part of the Sacred Valley (like the Maras Salt mines mentioned above!). They also make a great day trip, and can even be combined with a visit to the Maras Salt Mines.
Hopefully, these suggestions help you plan your trip, or inspire you to travel to Peru!
What’s on your Peru bucketlist?
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More Peru Inspiration:
- The Easiest Way to Get Around Peru – My Review & Experience Taking the PeruHop Bus Around Peru!
- 6 Amazing Ways to Get to Machu Picchu
- 20 Photos to Inspire Your Visit to Peru’s Colca Canyon
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
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