With a privileged location, Peru emerges as an exceptional tourist destination with an abundance of cultural, natural and historical riches, in addition to internationally renowned gastronomy. With the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest and an epic coastline, Peru offers an ideal destination for travellers looking for authentic diversity and culture
By Mr. Alfredo Fortes, Director of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru
“LIMA, THE CAPITAL OF PERU, OFFERS ITS VISITORS A MULTITUDE OF CULTURAL AND GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCES”
Peru is geographically located in the western part of South America and visiting any of its regions is a remarkable experience.
CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU: THE INCA EMPIRE
Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, is situated in Southern Peru. In 1983, it was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, for its undisputed historical value and significant cultural history, which makes this city one of the most visited destinations in the world.
In Cusco, visitors will be able to explore Inca temples, magnificent buildings that depict and demonstrate the merging of the Inca and Hispanic cultures. They will immerse themselves in the mystic of this millenary city, filled with history, imagery, cultural manifestations, and religious festivities such as the Inti Raymi, an ancient celebration in honour of the god Inti or Sun, which takes place in June of every year.
In the region of Cusco, you will also find Machu Picchu, a world-renowned destination, considered one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. This Inca citadel is an architectural icon, located at the top of a mountain. Within its urban plan, the visitor will observe stone structures and temples built with outstanding masonry precision and symmetry techniques. Its impressive beauty is complemented by an exotic biodiversity, thanks to its unique location, nesting between the Andes and the Peruvian Amazon, which provides an assortment of species of Peruvian flora and fauna.
Machu Picchu is located at a four-hour train ride from the city of Cusco, and on the way there, visitors can enjoy quaint and picturesque Andean villages such as Ollantaytambo, Paucartambo, and Raqchi, all of them recognised by UN Tourism as Best Tourism Villages in the world.
TRAIN JOURNEY THROUGH THE ANDES: CUSCO, PUNO, AND AREQUIPA
The train journey through Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa is a must when visiting Southern Peru. While travelling on one of the highest train routes in the world, visitors will discover breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by valleys, Andean volcanoes, and the diversity of the Andean wildlife. In Puno, you can visit Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Its shores, inhabited by communities of native peoples such as the Uros and Taquile (awarded Best Tourism Villages), are exceptional places for community-based tourism and provide a unique opportunity to experience the authentic traditions and lifestyle of its inhabitants. In Arequipa, you can visit the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, home to natural treasures, ancestral traditions, where visitors can observe the majestic flight of condors in their natural habitat.
THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
The Peruvian Amazon is another remarkable destination that Peru has to offer. Natural landscapes of indescribable beauty, vast biodiversity forests, and rivers that merge into the horizon make the Amazon rainforest an unforgettable experience. It is an opportunity not only to connect with nature but also to experience a range of activities such as bird watching, navigation on Amazonian rivers, visits to native communities, national parks, and virgin jungle, among others.
LIMA: CULINARY AND CULTURAL CAPITAL OF LATIN AMERICA
Lima, the capital of Peru, offers its visitors a multitude of cultural and gastronomic experiences. Peruvian cuisine is a fascinating blend of indigenous ingredients with a strong influence of Spanish traditions as well as African and Asian cuisines. Peru’s unique geography, with its Pacific coast, Andean mountains, and Amazon rainforest, provides a variety of ingredients, including Peruvian superfoods such as quinoa, cocoa, tarwi, asparagus, corn, avocado, and other foods. In 2023, the practices and meanings associated with the preparation and consumption of ceviche, an expression of traditional Peruvian cuisine, were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ceviche is a popular dish that is served with fresh fish marinated in lime. Recipes vary from region to region, reinforcing regional and national cultural identities. Its preparation and consumption involve specific techniques, knowledge, and meanings, from fishing to the ingredients and its various forms of preparation. Considered the gastronomic capital of Latin America, Lima is home to some of the best restaurants in the influential ranking of ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,’ in which ‘Central,’ chosen as the best in the world in 2023, stands out. Also worth noting are ‘Maido,’ ranked number 5 worldwide in 2024, Kjolle and Mayta in the 16th and 41st places, respectively. As heirs to culinary diversity, Peru is proud to provide a wide range of gastronomic offerings, from world-class restaurants such as the aforementioned, to more informal but equally memorable experiences as those available in the bustling local markets, which are true centres of traditional Peruvian gastronomic practice.
NORTHERN PERU: MAJESTIC BEACHES, NATURE AND WATER SPORTS
In northern Peru, you can visit an array of beautiful beaches equipped with a wide tourist infrastructure, providing visitors with unique experiences, such as the striking spectacle of humpback whale watching, swimming with sea turtles, surfing, and other activities. Located in the regions of Piura and Tumbes, El Ñuro, Máncora, Cabo Blanco, Los Órganos and Punta Sal are the main beaches that provide these activities and the ideal season to enjoy them is between mid-July and the end of October. It is worth mentioning that the beaches of Peru are known as one of the most popular in the world for surfing. The swell is available all year round, offering all kinds of waves: small, large, long, tube, etc. that come in quick succession.
ICA AND THE NASCA LINES
Finally, the southern region of Ica is an ideal destination for a quick escape from the capital region. It is situated approximately 4 hours away from Lima and offers numerous activities. The dunes of its vast deserts safeguard the cultural and historical legacy of ancient civilisations. Visitors can have fun driving a buggy and discovering a real-life oasis. You can take a boat tour to Islas Ballestas with family and friends and have a close-up encounter with the stunning wildlife species eagerly waiting for you to visit. You can also visit the Nasca Lines in the Ica Region. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Nasca Lines are geoglyphs drawn in geometric patterns and animal shapes that are traced onto the desert measuring up to 300 meters. It is believed that the lines were created by the Nasca civilisation (A.D. 1 to 700). The lines and their significance remain a mystery.
For more information on the different destinations and experiences Peru has to offer, please visit the official tourism websites:
• www.peru.travel/en
• https://www.turismocomunitario.com.pe/en/turismo-comunitario.html
