If you’re planning a trip to Peru, there’s something you must know: Peru is so much more than just Machu Picchu.
From rainbow mountains and a desert oasis to hidden waterfalls and ancient cloud cities, there is just so much to see in this beautiful country.
After living in and traveling all over Peru for 6 incredible months (and coming back multiple times to visit), here are my 10 other must-see destinations in Peru:
#1 Huacachina: A Desert Oasis
We weren’t planning to visit Huacachina twice in one trip, but we loved it so much we couldn’t help ourselves. Huacachina is a huge, sandy desert with a little palm-tree and turquoise lake oasis right in the middle. It’s absolutely breathtaking.
If you’re the adventurous type, you’ll love this fun part of Peru. In Huacachina, you can go sandboarding, go on a crazy dune buggy ride at sunset, and even go paragliding over the desert.
No matter what adrenaline rush you choose—and even if you just sit on the sand dunes and enjoy the view—this spectacular part of Peru might just become one of the most memorable parts of your trip.
📍 Where is it? Huacachina is located in Ica, a city about 4-5 hours south of Lima, Peru’s capital city.
🚗 How do you get there? You can take a day trip to Huacachina from Lima, rent a car, or take a bus to Huacachina and visit on your own.
🗓️ How many days to stay: If you only have time for a day trip, that’s great. However, if you have more time, I recommend staying in Ica for 2 days to do all the adventure activities your heart desires.
#2 The Gocta Waterfall
One of the tallest waterfalls in the world, the Gocta Waterfall is 2,530 feet (771 meters) tall. And boy, is it a sight to behold.
I’ll never forget spotting the waterfall from the tuk-tuk on my way to the little town of Cocachimba. We whipped around a corner, and there it was: a gushing white paintbrush swipe in between towering green mountains. White clouds crowned the natural beauty, and even from a distance, the sheer size of the waterfall was jaw-dropping.
Though locals have known about this beautiful waterfall for centuries, it was only recently “discovered” by a German researcher in 2002. So, unlike almost all of the other destinations on this list, the Gocta Waterfall is still very much a hidden treasure. (I went in March 2022, and during the 7-mile out-and-back hike to the falls, I saw only a handful of people on the trail.)
📍 Where is it? The Gocta Waterfall is located in the small town of Cocachimba in Peru’s Amazonas district.
✈️ How do you get there? It’s a trek. And I’m not just talking about the hike to the waterfall. First, you’ll need to arrive in the city of Chachapoyas (there are very few flights from Lima to Chachapoyas, so you’ll need to be a little flexible—or you can take a very long bus ride). Then, you’ll take a bus and then a tuk-tuk to the town of Cocachimaba, where the trailhead is.
🗓️ How many days to stay: I recommend staying in Chachapoyas for 1-2 days and in Cocachimba for 1-2 days.
Get the full guide to visiting the Gocta Waterfall here. It’s got places to stay, other fun things to do, and exactly how to arrive at this beautiful destination.
#3 The Famous Rainbow Mountain
Ever since I first saw pictures of Vinicunca, Peru’s incredible rainbow mountain, I knew I would go someday. On my first trip to Cusco, I bought a beautiful painting of the rainbow mountain—and then my tour to actually hike it the next day was cancelled.
The second time I went to Cusco, my dreams came true. Yes, I almost died hiking up the mountain (vomiting and nearly passing out during the final stretch), but it was worth it. The snow-capped mountain’s vivid colors were unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
Plus, the entire hike leading up to the rainbow mountain is stunning. When we went in January, a foggy morning dissipated and revealed the ginormous Andes mountains spotted with llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. The hike itself is not too steep, until the final stretch. But, because of the extreme altitude—Vinicunca is 17,060 feet (5,200 meters) above sea level—it is challenging.
📍 Where is it? Vinicunca, La Montaña de Siete Colores, is located about 85 miles (140 km) from Cusco, Peru.
✈️ How do you get there? You’ll definitely want to fly into Cusco, wait a few days to get acclimatized, then take a bus to the rainbow mountain. I recommend a full-day tour like this one from Cusco.
🗓️ How many days to stay: To enjoyably experience all that Cusco has to offer, I recommend staying at least 5 days in this magical city. There’s just so much to explore.
#4 The Mysterious Nazca Lines
The Nazca lines are giant, incredibly precise, and continuous linear drawings that can only be seen from the sky. There are over a thousand of these ancient geoglyphs, but the most famous ones include the monkey, the spider, the hummingbird, and the condor.
They’re thousands of years old, and no one knows for sure how they got there. Some say it’s the work of the ancient Nazca people. Others claim it had to be done with extraterrestrial help.
Regardless of who did it, the Nazca lines are incredibly unique works of art. Spotting them from the window of a small plane is an unforgettable experience that few people have the privilege of experiencing.
📍 Where is it? The city of Nazca is in southern Peru; it’s about a 7-8 hour drive from Lima.
🚗 How do you get there? While there is an airport in Nazca, it’s only for tourism flights to see the Nazca lines. You can’t actually fly into Nazca. You can only get there by bus or car—and it’s about a 7-8 hour drive from Lima.
🗓️ How many days to stay: Besides the Nazca lines, there isn’t a lot to do in Nazca. One day is enough to explore this city.
#5 Paracas Nature Reserve
This coastal nature reserve is home to Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and tons of seabirds. It’s been called the “Galápagos of South America” for its diverse marine ecosystem and stunning views of coastal cliffs.
When you visit, make sure to take a boat ride to the famous Ballestas Islands, where you can watch penguins dive into the water and sea lions sunbathe on the rocks. You’ll also pass by the mysterious “Candelabra” geoglyph, carved into a dusty orange mountain—like the Nazca lines, no one knows how it got there.
If you have time and like hiking, make sure you do the Caminata de las Sombras Doradas (Golden Shadows Hike) for incredible views of this beautiful coastal region of Peru. You might even spot a few flamingos as you summit the rocky coastal cliffs.
📍 Where is it? The town of Paracas is located on Peru’s southern coast, about 155 miles (250 km), south of Lima.
🚗 How do you get there? You can take a bus or car from Lima to Paracas and arrive in about 3.5 hours.
🗓️ How many days to stay: You can spend a half day or a full day in Paracas—it’s a small town and the nature reserve is the most popular attraction.
#6 Chan Chan: A Giant Adobe City
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chan Chan is the largest adobe city in the world.
It was the capital city of the Chimu people: an advanced pre-Inca civilization that lasted from 900-1470 AD.
They built their city one mud brick at a time, but with style. Since their ancient civilization was very connected to the ocean, many of the details you’ll see in Chan Chan are very marine-centric: wall designs that look like fishing nets, carvings of fish, lines of waves, and even a marine calendar.
It’s well worth a visit, and if you love ancient history, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of this unique, lesser-known site. In this full-day tour, you can see Chan Chan, plus the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna, another impressive archaeological site in Trujillo, Peru, made by the ancient Moche people. Today, both sites are still being excavated, and archaeologists are discovering more and more about these incredible ancient civilizations.
📍 Where is it? The Chan Chan archeological site is located right outside of the city of Trujillo, on Peru’s northern coast.
✈️ How do you get there? I recommend flying into the Trujillo airport (a 1-hour and 15-minute trip from Lima), then taking a bus or taxi to the archeological site. By bus or car, Trujillo is about 9 hours from Lima.
🗓️ How many days to stay: I recommend spending 2-3 days in Trujillo. There are so many fantastic places to eat and rustic beaches (like Huanchaco) near the city as well.
#7 Kuélap: Ancient Cloud City
One of the largest stone ruins in Latin America, Kuelap is an impressive ancient walled city atop a mountain. Also known as “the city in the clouds,” Kuelap was built by the Chachapoya civilization (long before the Inca were around).
To get to the Kuelap fortress, you’ll take a 20-minute cable car ride over the Utcubamba River Valley to the 9,842-foot-tall mountain where the archaeological site is located.
During your tour, you’ll see their unique architectural style, circular stone dwellings, and anti-seismic creations (and maybe even a few llamas). Plus, you’ll get breathtaking views from a city that really does feel like it’s in the clouds.
📍 Where is it? The ancient city of Kuélap is about 2 hours by bus from Chachapoyas.
✈️ How do you get there? First, you’ll need to get to Chachapoyas, preferably by plane if you’re starting in Lima. You’ll need to be flexible with your dates because there are very few flights that connect these two cities.
🗓️ How many days to stay: I recommend staying in Chachapoyas for 1-2 days. During your visit, you can also see the Gocta Waterfall, which is nearby!
Unlike the destinations above, which I have visited and experienced myself, these last three destinations are still on my Peru travel bucket list. I hope to visit them sometime soon!
#8 Laguna 69: A Turquoise Lake in the Mountains
The Huascarán National Park is a stunning part of Peru with more than 400 lakes nestled in between ginormous snow-capped mountains. Laguna 69, with its impressive turquoise water, is one of the most popular lakes.
The hike to Laguna 69 is at a very high altitude, and it’s about 9 miles (14 km) long. This full-day trek is challenging, but the spectacular view of Laguna 69 is well worth the effort.
📍 Where is it? This lake is located near the city of Huaraz, in Peru’s Áncash region.
✈️ How do you get there? Your best option is to fly from Lima to Huaraz; the flight is only an hour, and it’s much easier than going by land (though there are also buses from Lima to Huaraz that take 7-8 hours).
🗓️ How many days to stay: Since Huaraz is a high-altitude city, you’ll need at least 2 days to become acclimatized. If you enjoy hiking, I recommend staying for 3-5 days. (While in Huaraz, you might also like to see the Paron Lagoon or the Pastoruri Glacier).
#9 Colca Canyon: Where Condors Soar Overhead
One of the deepest canyons in the world, Peru’s Colca Canyon is a stunning natural wonder located near Arequipa. Here, you can bathe in natural hot springs, enjoy nature, and maybe even see a few condors flying overhead.
To see the Colca Canyon, enjoy the thermal baths in Chacapi, and visit the town of Chivay in two days, check out this super affordable 2-day tour that takes you through Arequipa to Puno.
📍 Where is it? The Colca Canyon is located in southern Peru, about 3-4 hours by bus from the city of Arequipa.
✈️ How do you get there? It’s about a 1.5-hour flight from Lima to Arequipa. Once you get to Arequipa, it’s about 3-4 hours by car or bus to the Colca Canyon.
🗓️ How many days to stay: I would probably plan to stay in Arequipa and the nearby cities for 2-3 days.
#10 Puerto Maldonado: The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest
Puerto Maldonado is known as the gateway to the southern Amazon rainforest. Here, in a little city wedged in between a curve of the Madre de Dios River, you can begin your journey into the Amazon rainforest.
Kayak in the river, visit an island filled with monkeys, and zipline through the rainforest on a day-trip. Or, enjoy a longer 4-day Amazon jungle adventure complete with a nocturnal hike and lots of wildlife sightseeing—you’ll be venturing into the jungle home of white alligators, giant river otters, colorful parrots, and even river wolves!
📍 Where is it? Puerto Maldonado is in southern Peru, close to the Peru-Bolivia border.
✈️ How do you get there? From Lima, you can take a 1-hour flight to the city of Puerto Maldonado. From Cusco, you could also opt for an affordable 10-hour bus ride.
🗓️ How many days to stay: 2-4 days; there are options for both a shorter trip and a more in-depth adventure.
Peru: The Ultimate Adventure Destination
Looking for breath-taking hikes to rainbow mountains and turquoise lagoons? Come to Peru.
Want mysterious ancient geoglyphs and ruins of ancient cities? Come to Peru.
Craving an immersive adventure into the Amazon rainforest? You guessed it: come to Peru.
(What about the best cuisine on the face of the planet? Oh yeah. Peru’s got that too.)
You could spend a lifetime exploring Peru and still not see it all. But these 10 must-see destinations are a great place to start.
With absolutely incredible sights, adventures to be had, and incredible flavors and dishes that will capture your heart (and stomach) again and again, Peru simply has it all.
Come to Peru. Bring your highest expectations. You will not be disappointed.