Roavina

Country guide

Peru

A photograph of Peru
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Peru is 1,285,216 square kilometres arranged in three long bands: an arid Pacific coast, the Andes behind it, and Amazon rainforest east of the mountains. Which band a city sits in decides nearly everything about visiting it — Lima, the capital, is a coastal city under grey winter cloud, Cusco sits high enough in the Andes to cost a first day doing nothing, and Iquitos in the rainforest has no road connecting it to the rest of the country. It is the third largest country in South America. The distances between those three worlds are why itineraries here are counted in flights rather than in bus rides.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Spanish; Quechua, Aymara and other Indigenous languages have official status where predominant
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+51
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Peruvian sol (PEN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
105 police · 116 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and C · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

25 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 10 Museums 11 Places of worship 4 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 14 1 to 2 hours 11

Interests

History 25 Art 5 Museums 12 Nature 2 Sea and beach 1 Viewpoints 1
  1. Saqsaywaman Saqsaywaman
    01 45 min

    Saqsaywaman

    Sacsayhuamán

    Sacsayhuaman, known locally as Saqsaywaman, is an immense Inca ceremonial and defensive complex situated on a hill above Cusco.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cusco
  2. Government Palace Government Palace
    02 45 min

    Government Palace

    Palacio de Gobierno

    The Government Palace of Peru, known locally as Palacio de Gobierno del Perú, serves as the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Peru.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Lima
  3. Plaza San Martín Plaza San Martín
    03 45 min

    Plaza San Martín

    Plaza San Martín is a monumental republican square in Lima's historic centre. It forms the southern anchor of the historic-centre walking route, connecting visitors to the broader colonial and republican urban fabric.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Lima
  4. Huaca Pucllana Huaca Pucllana
    04 45 min

    Huaca Pucllana

    Huaca Pucllana is an archaeological complex inside Miraflores, where successive Lima, Wari and Ychsma communities left evidence of construction and use.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Lima
  5. Plaza de Armas Plaza de Armas
    05 45 min

    Plaza de Armas

    Plaza de Armas del Cusco stands as the historic main square of Cusco, Peru, occupying the ceremonial heart of the former Inca capital. Spanish colonial architecture now dominates the space, with arcades, churches, and portals surrounding the open plaza.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cusco
  6. Morro Solar Morro Solar
    06 45 min

    Morro Solar

    Zona Histórica Intangible del Morro Solar

    Morro Solar is a headland located in the Chorrillos district of Lima, Peru. It rises above the Pacific coastline and serves as a prominent geographical landmark for the southern part of the city.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Lima
  7. Convent of Santo Domingo Convent of Santo Domingo
    07 45 min

    Convent of Santo Domingo

    Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

    The Convent of Santo Domingo stands on the Qorikancha complex in central Cusco.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Cusco
  8. Cathedral of Lima Cathedral of Lima
    08 30 min

    Cathedral of Lima

    Catedral de Lima

    The Lima Cathedral Basilica, known locally as Basílica Catedral de Lima, stands as the principal cathedral of Lima and anchors the historic Plaza Mayor. This colonial-era basilica serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Lima
  9. Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World

    Museo Oro del Perú

    The Gold Museum of Peru and Arms of the World is a private museum in Lima housing collections assembled by Miguel Mujica Gallo. It displays pre-Columbian gold and silver artifacts alongside a substantial arms collection from various periods and regions.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Lima
  10. Basilica of La Merced, Cusco Basilica of La Merced, Cusco
    10 30 min

    Basilica of La Merced, Cusco

    Basílica Menor de la Merced

    La Merced Church and Convent, known locally as Iglesia y Convento de La Merced, stands in Cusco as a significant colonial religious complex. The basilica and convent together form one canonical visitor destination.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Cusco
  11. National Museum of Archaeology, Peru National Museum of Archaeology, Peru
    11 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Archaeology, Peru

    Museo Nacional del Perú

    The Museo Nacional del Perú, commonly known as MUNA, is Peru's flagship national museum. It stands near the Pachacamac archaeological complex southeast of central Lima.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Lima
  12. Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco

    Museo Histórico Regional

    The Regional Historical Museum of Cusco, known locally as Museo Histórico Regional del Cusco, occupies the Casa Garcilaso, a key historic residence in the city.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Cusco
  13. MAC Lima MAC Lima
    13 1 hr 30 min

    MAC Lima

    Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Lima

    The Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima, known locally as Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima or MAC Lima, is Lima's principal purpose-led contemporary-art museum.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Lima
  14. Inkilltambo Inkilltambo
    14 45 min

    Inkilltambo

    InkillTanbo

    Inkilltambo is a restored Inca ceremonial and agricultural complex situated on the urban edge of Cusco, Peru. The site represents a significant archaeological zone that combines religious and farming functions typical of Inca landscape engineering.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Cusco
  15. Museum of Religious Art Museum of Religious Art
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Religious Art

    Museo de Arte Religioso

    The Museum of Religious Art occupies the former palace of Inca Roca, a significant noble residence in the Inca imperial capital. The building later passed to colonial religious authorities and was adapted for ecclesiastical use.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Cusco
  16. Pachacamac site Museum Pachacamac site Museum
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Pachacamac site Museum

    Museo de Sitio y Santuario Arqueológico de Pachacámac

    Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary is a major pre-Columbian archaeological site located southeast of Lima, Peru. The complex was a significant religious and pilgrimage center for multiple Andean cultures over approximately 1,500 years, from around 200 CE through the Inca period.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Lima
  17. Amano Museo textil precolombino Amano Museo textil precolombino
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Amano Museo textil precolombino

    The Amano Pre-Columbian Textile Museum is a specialized museum in Lima dedicated to preserving and exhibiting Andean textile traditions. Founded by Yoshitaro Amano, a Japanese collector who settled in Peru, the institution houses a significant private collection assembled over decades.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Lima
  18. Amaru Marka Wasi (Temple of the Moon) Amaru Marka Wasi (Temple of the Moon)
    18 45 min

    Amaru Marka Wasi (Temple of the Moon)

    Templo de la Luna

    The Temple of the Moon, or Templo de la Luna, is a rock-cut ceremonial site located on the hills near Sacsayhuaman above Cusco. Unlike the grand fortress of Sacsayhuaman, this location offers a more intimate archaeological experience.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Cusco
  19. Convento de San Francisco Convento de San Francisco
    19 1 hour

    Convento de San Francisco

    Convento de San Francisco is a Franciscan religious complex in Lima's Historic Centre, with a museum and an underground burial circuit. Peru's Ministry of Culture dates the beginning of the monumental complex to 1546 and its inauguration to 1672.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Lima
  20. Convento de San Francisco de Asís Convento de San Francisco de Asís
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Convento de San Francisco de Asís

    San Francisco Church and Convent is a colonial religious complex in Cusco, Peru. Its local name is Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Cusco
  21. Iglesia de Santiago Apostol Iglesia de Santiago Apostol
    21 30 min

    Iglesia de Santiago Apostol

    Santiago Church, or Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol, is a colonial parish church in the south-western sector of Cusco’s historic centre.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Cusco
  22. Machu Picchu Museum Machu Picchu Museum
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Machu Picchu Museum

    Museo Machu Picchu

    The Museo Machu Picchu - Casa Concha is a museum housed in a colonial-era building in Cusco, Peru. It was established to display the principal collection of archaeological artifacts returned from Yale University's excavations at Machu Picchu.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Cusco
  23. Museo Aeronaútico del Perú
    23 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Aeronaútico del Perú

    The Aeronautical Museum of Peru, known locally as Museo Aeronáutico del Perú, is a specialist aviation museum in Lima. It documents Peruvian military and civil aviation history through preserved aircraft, engines, uniforms, and archival materials.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Lima
  24. Museo de Santa Catalina Museo de Santa Catalina
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Museo de Santa Catalina

    Santa Catalina Convent and Museum is a colonial religious complex in Cusco, Peru, operating as both an active monastery and a public museum. Established during the Spanish colonial period, it represents one of the city's significant historic religious institutions.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Cusco
  25. Mateo Salado Mateo Salado
    25 45 min

    Mateo Salado

    Complejo Arqueológico Mateo Salado

    Complejo Arqueológico Mateo Salado is an archaeological complex located in Lima, Peru. The site represents pre-Columbian architectural heritage within the modern urban environment of the capital city.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Lima

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Peru be?

Ten to fourteen days can combine Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley with one additional region. Altitude adjustment and rail or road transfers need their own time, so compressing the Andes and Amazon into the same short visit is unwise.

What entry documents are needed for Peru?

Peru’s Migraciones authority publishes admission information. Passport, nationality and permitted-stay rules must be checked for the actual traveller, and any border or immigration form should come from the government service.

What is the best way to travel around Peru?

Lima is the principal air hub, with domestic services to Cusco, Arequipa and other gateways. Intercity buses cover many routes, and selected tourist trains serve the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu area.

When is a practical time to visit Peru?

May to September is the broad dry-season window for many Andean routes. Lima’s coastal conditions and Amazon rainfall follow different patterns, so an itinerary spanning regions needs separate forecasts and access checks.

What money and payment basics apply in Peru?

Peru uses the sol (PEN). Current acceptance and withdrawal charges are Not recorded here; confirm whether an operator expects soles, cards or advance payment before leaving a major city.

What practical safety details should I save for Peru?

Peru records 105 for police and 116 for fire services. Type A and C sockets use 220 V; national tap-water guidance is Not recorded, so obtain local advice.