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Machu Picchu may be the prized jewel in Peru’s crown, but there’s more to Peru than Machu Picchu. Here are several other wonders that you can explore when you use TOUR IN PERU to book a trip to Peru.
The Architectural Treasures of Cusco
Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you walk through the streets of Cusco, you feel like you’re wandering around a museum. It may be a modern city, but if you look closely, you’ll notice that the foundations of many of the buildings are Inca ruins, hinting at the layers of history that are waiting to be peeled back by curious eyes.
Plaza de Armas is the main square where you’ll find the legendary Cathedral and La Compania. There’s more than things to look at. There are also walking tours, plenty of places to get a meal, and people-watch during the day.
Resting on the ruins of the Inca site Coricancha is the church of Santo Domingo.
Lake Titicaca
The lake is the center of an entirely different world in Peru. The sparkling blue water is surrounded by rolling hills and traditional small villages. The mix of breathtaking scenery and culture will draw you in. It’s known for being the highest navigable lake in the world, sitting at 3,820 meters above sea level.
Small communities of Uros Indians are sustained by the Uros Floating Islands (Islas Flotantes.) They are man-made islands constructed of reeds that have sustained a traditional way of life since the days of the Incas.
The politics of tourism dictate that what you see on tours to these islands is tailored just for tours, but you still get a glimpse into a traditional way of life.
The floating islands are just one small part of the secrets of Lake Titicaca. There’s even more charm to be found in the small villages in the hills along the shores of Titicaca and on the main islands of Isla Taquile and Isla Amantani.
The city of Puno is the main gateway to Lake Titicaca where restaurants, hotels, and travel agencies can give you a base of operations. Trains, buses, and flights go in and out of the nearby city of Juliaca.
Colca Canyon (Cañon del Colca)
Colca Canyon holds the title of being the second deepest canyon in the world. Second to The Grand Canyon? Nope. Colca is actually twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Nearby Cotahuasi Canyon is the deepest.
Colca Canyon and the surrounding area has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Collagua, Cabana, and the Inca peoples. You can find stone terracing along the canyon wall that dates to 800 AD and is still in use.
The canyon is about a four-hour drive from Arequipa, a location nicknamed “La Ciudad Blanca” since the uniquely white buildings are made from a volcanic material unique to the area. It’s called sillar.
There was a time when Arequipa was so distinct from the rest of Peru, that there was once an Arequipa passport.
Arequipa boasts white, carved facades, snow-capped volcanic peaks, rich traditions, refreshing pace, and thrilling outdoor adventures. You’ll need an extended vacation to explore everything this White City among the volcanoes has to offer, including additional Inca ruins.
The Nazca Lines
You need to see them from an airplane to truly appreciate their scale, but the Nazca lines will leave you with a sense of awe, no matter how you view them.
They’re so large that the images went unrecognized for a long time until airplanes began flying over the area. Only then did people realize that they form distinct patterns and images.
The patterns on the hillsides near Nazca and Paracas can be viewed terrestrially.
Of course, that’s just a small offering of what else you can do in Peru besides visiting Machu Picchu. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to secure the smoothest voyage you can by contacting TOUR IN PERU to make arrangements.
