Visited places and inspiration

The Nazca lines are a collection of hundreds of unusual geoglyphs (designs produced on the ground) in the middle of Peruvian desert. For years, scientists have been wondering about the origin of these mysterious images.

The Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo are huge. This used to be a full-on city, guarding Sacred Valley from the west, with Pisac protecting it on the east side. So what should you know about Ollantaytambo?  

Cusco is one of the very few cities in the Americas that I think are worth spending more than 1 day exploring. Cusco is in the perfect location to make it a hub for seeing the surrounding highlights of the highlands.

Peru’s not just Lima and Machu Picchu—epic hikes, mysterious ruins, charming towns and incredible lakes are just some of the places you need to visit in Peru. These are the spots we think you really need to see.

Most people arrive in Cusco just to see Machu Picchu. But soon they discover that Cusco is a fantastic destination itself with irresistible day trip possibilities. Let’s take a look at the best of them.

When you think Peru, you probably think mountains, alpacas, and ruins. Most of the ruins are remnants of the Inca Empire, but there are also some much older sites. Here’s our list of the top ruins to visit in Peru:

Cut into the majestic Andes Mountains, along the Urubamba River, lies the heart of the Inca Empire: Sacred Valley. Come here for the Inca ruins and some majorly stunning scenery. 

You’ll find yourself charmed with Arequipa especially at sunset, where the white façades of the historical buildings are lit up. Here are the best things to do in Arequipa according to yours truly.

Not far from Cusco, Peru, you can easily visit some mysterious terraces (some very salty ones). An experimental farm (Moray) and a mountain slope full of salt pools (Maras) await you in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Machu Picchu can be a year-round destination if you aren’t afraid of a little rain. Since the site sits on the border between the Amazon Rainforest and the mighty Andes Mountains, you know this place is going to be special in more ways than one.  

Rainbow Mountain, locally known as Vinicunca, is a relatively new attraction that only saw the light of day in 2015 when the glacier melted. Who said global warming was all bad?! Here are the 3 best hikes to get there.

Let me tell you how to travel to Machu Picchu, why you have to go on one of the short treks, and that you need to get updated information on how to enter, since the site reopened after covid in late 2020.

Can the Islas Ballestas really measure up to the Galapagos? What’s the boat trip like? And what’s up with all that poop?! Your burning questions will all be answered in this article.

Paracas is definitely in the top 4 or 5 places to see in Peru. (Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain were our top picks, in case you were wondering). I hate the desert, but the desert in Paracas was spectacular! 

Let’s get right to the good stuff, followed by some general info about Lima like safety, hotels and how to get around, where I make Lima out to be truly terrible. Enjoy!