Language · 11 published
Country guide
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.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Corminos · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · gertrudis2010 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
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Typical visit duration
The Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo is a significant colonial religious complex in Lima's historic centre.
Iglesia de San Blas is a small parish church in the historic San Blas quarter of Cusco, Peru. It sits within the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Cusco.
Santa Ana Church is a colonial parish church located in the Santa Ana neighbourhood of Cusco, Peru. It forms part of the Historic Centre of Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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.
The Cusco Cathedral, locally named Catedral Basílica de la Virgen de la Asunción, stands as the preeminent colonial religious monument in Cusco, Peru. It dominates the historic Plaza de Armas, the city's central square.
The Church of the Society of Jesus, known locally as Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, is a Jesuit church located on the eastern side of Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru.
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.
The Sanctuary and Monastery of Las Nazarenas is a significant religious complex in Lima, Peru. It serves as the home of the Lord of Miracles image, a revered crucifix that has become central to the city's largest religious tradition.
La Ermita Church of Barranco is a historic religious structure in the Barranco district of Lima, Peru. Its local name is Iglesia La Ermita de Barranco.
San Sebastian Church, known locally as Iglesia de San Sebastián, is a historic parish church in Cusco, Peru. It stands in the San Sebastián district, representing Cusco's older settlement beyond the compact tourist centre of the city.
Iglesia de Santa Clara is a colonial-era church located in Cusco's historic centre, near San Pedro Market. The building forms part of the architectural heritage of the Historic Centre of Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
