Smart Self-Managed Tours

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.

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 — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  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.

  1. Ausangate Ausangate
    02 20 min

    Ausangate

    The Ausangate Circuit is a multi-day trekking route encircling Nevado Ausangate, the highest peak in the Cusco region at approximately 6,384 metres.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  2. Siula Grande Siula Grande
    03 20 min

    Siula Grande

    Siula Grande is a mountain in the Huayhuash range of the Peruvian Andes, located near Lima's broader region. It gained international recognition through Joe Simpson's mountaineering memoir Touching the Void.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  3. Vinicunca Vinicunca
    04 20 min

    Vinicunca

    Winikunka

    Vinicunca, locally called Winikunka, is a mountain in the Cusco region of Peru. The area is known for distinctive striped mineral colouring on slopes, commonly called Rainbow Mountain in tourism materials.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  4. Salcantay Salcantay
    05 20 min

    Salcantay

    Nevado Salkantay

    Salcantay, known locally as Nevado Salkantay, is a mountain in the Vilcabamba range of the Peruvian Andes near Cusco.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  5. Sara Sara Sara Sara
    06 20 min

    Sara Sara

    Sara Sara is a place of interest located in Cusco, Peru. The site is recorded in OpenStreetMap data as node 4275668643 and linked to Wikidata entity Q2652409.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  6. Rasac Rasac
    07 20 min

    Rasac

    Rasac is a place in Lima, Peru, identified in OpenStreetMap data under node 1503674397. The Wikidata entry Q7294700 associates this identifier with the name Rasac.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  7. Awkiwatu Awkiwatu
    08 20 min

    Awkiwatu

    Volcán Auquihuato (Ver Cerro Auquihuato)

    Awkiwatu is the Quechua name associated with Cerro Auquihuato, a 4,980-metre volcanic cone in Páucar del Sara Sara province, Ayacucho. It is not a viewpoint in central Cusco, despite its current placement in the Cusco content pool.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  8. Solimana Solimana
    09 20 min

    Solimana

    Solimana is a volcanic mountain in the Andes of southern Peru, situated in the Arequipa Region rather than immediately adjacent to Cusco city proper. It forms part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  9. Chicon Chicon
    10 20 min

    Chicon

    Chicón

    Chicón is a mountain peak situated in the Cusco region of Peru. Located in the Andes, it forms part of the dramatic mountainous landscape surrounding the historic city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  10. Pumasillo Pumasillo
    11 20 min

    Pumasillo

    Pumasillo is a mountain in the Cusco Region of Peru, situated within the Vilcabamba mountain range.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  11. Ampay Ampay
    12 20 min

    Ampay

    Nevado Ampay

    Nevado Ampay is a mountain peak located near the city of Cusco in Peru. The local name emphasizes its status as a snow-capped summit.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  12. Callangate Callangate
    13 20 min

    Callangate

    Qullpa Ananta

    Callangate, known locally as Qullpa Ananta, is a mountain in the Cusco region of Peru. It stands within the Vilcanota mountain range, part of the larger Andes.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  13. Ccarhuarazo Ccarhuarazo
    14 20 min

    Ccarhuarazo

    Ccarhuarazo is a locality in the Cusco region of Peru, situated within the broader Sacred Valley and Andean highland area. The settlement reflects the dispersed rural pattern common to many Peruvian altiplano communities, where agriculture and traditional livelihoods persist.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  14. Cunurana Cunurana
    15 20 min

    Cunurana

    Cunurana is a locality in the Cusco region of Peru, situated in the Peruvian Andes. The area forms part of the broader Sacred Valley landscape, a historically significant zone of Inca civilization.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  15. Pariacaca Pariacaca
    16 20 min

    Pariacaca

    Paryaqaqa

    Pariacaca, locally known as Paryaqaqa, is a mountain in the Lima Region of Peru. It holds significance in Andean cosmology as a sacred peak.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  16. Chankuwaña
    17 20 min

    Chankuwaña

    Chankuwaña is a place located in Cusco, Peru. Its local name is Chankuwaña, reflecting indigenous Quechua linguistic heritage common to the Cusco region.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  17. Chimboya Chimboya
    18 20 min

    Chimboya

    Nevado Chimbolla

    Nevado Chimbolla, also known as Chimboya, is a mountain peak situated near Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. The summit forms part of the dramatic high-altitude landscape that characterises the region surrounding the historic Inca capital.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  18. Quimsachata Quimsachata
    19 20 min

    Quimsachata

    Volcán Quimsachata

    Volcán Quimsachata is a volcanic mountain near Cusco, Peru. Its local name, Quimsachata, reflects indigenous linguistic heritage in the region. The volcano forms part of the broader Andean volcanic landscape that characterizes southern Peru.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  19. Sarapo
    21 20 min

    Sarapo

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  20. Alcamarinayoc
    22 20 min

    Alcamarinayoc

    Allqamarinayuq

    Alcamarinayoc, known locally as Allqamarinayuq, is a place of interest in the Cusco region of Peru. The name derives from Quechua elements suggesting associations with falcons or hawks, reflecting indigenous Andean naming traditions.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  21. Allincapac
    23 20 min

    Allincapac

    Allin Qhapaq

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  22. Chumpe
    24 20 min

    Chumpe

    Chumpi

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  23. Halancoma
    25 20 min

    Halancoma

    Halanquma

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  24. Huiñao
    26 20 min

    Huiñao

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  25. Tunshu
    29 20 min

    Tunshu

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  26. Aceruta
    31 20 min

    Aceruta

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  27. Aqupallqa
    32 20 min

    Aqupallqa

    Acospalca

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  28. Chichicapac
    34 20 min

    Chichicapac

    Ch'ichi Qhapaq

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  29. Cinajara
    35 20 min

    Cinajara

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  30. Colquepucro
    36 20 min

    Colquepucro

    Qullqip'ukru

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  31. Condoriquiña
    37 20 min

    Condoriquiña

    Nevado Condoriquiña

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  32. Huila Aje
    42 20 min

    Huila Aje

    Nevado Huila Aje

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  33. Jatunhuma
    44 20 min

    Jatunhuma

    Hatun Uma

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  34. Padreyoc
    48 20 min

    Padreyoc

    Kiswar

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  35. Panta
    49 20 min

    Panta

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  36. Pumahuanca
    51 20 min

    Pumahuanca

    Pumawanka

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  37. Puscanturpa
    52 20 min

    Puscanturpa

    Nevado Puscantrurpa

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  38. Ticlla
    53 20 min

    Ticlla

    Nevado Ticlla

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  39. Uman
    54 20 min

    Uman

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  40. Yayamari
    59 20 min

    Yayamari

    Nevado Yayamari

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  41. Alcabalusa
    60 20 min

    Alcabalusa

    Allqa Walusa

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  42. Aquichua
    64 20 min

    Aquichua

    Nevado Aquichua

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  43. Auxilio
    66 20 min

    Auxilio

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  44. Carhuachuco
    68 20 min

    Carhuachuco

    Qarwachuku

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  45. Ccerayoc
    69 20 min

    Ccerayoc

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  46. Ccolcce
    70 20 min

    Ccolcce

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  47. Ch'ila
    74 20 min

    Ch'ila

    Chila

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  48. Ch'uñuna
    80 20 min

    Ch'uñuna

    Chuñuna

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  49. Chupika
    81 20 min

    Chupika

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  50. Chuqisapra
    82 20 min

    Chuqisapra

    Choquesafra

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  51. Cóndor Tuco
    85 20 min

    Cóndor Tuco

    Kunturt'uqu

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  52. Cule
    87 20 min

    Cule

    Nevado Cule

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  53. Cuyoc
    89 20 min

    Cuyoc

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Lima
  54. Huasacocha
    96 20 min

    Huasacocha

    Wasaqucha

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco
  55. Japu Punta
    99 20 min

    Japu Punta

    Hapu Punta

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Cusco

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.