Things to do in Peru

Best Things to do in Peru

Planning a trip and wondering about the top things to do in Peru? From historic landmarks to modern experiences, the city offers something for every traveller, making it a perfect getaway in 2026.

With over 4514 activities in Peru, there is plenty to explore. Visit some of the most popular tourist attractions in , including iconic sites, vibrant neighbourhoods and cultural hubs. Whether you’re exploring bustling markets, sampling local delicacies or relaxing at scenic spots, every corner has something new to discover.

With experiences starting at INR 451, it’s never been easier to plan your perfect trip. Make the most of your visit to Peru in January and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Discover Peru: A Friendly Guide to What Awaits You

About Peru

Peru is a country where history, landscapes, and daily life overlap in simple but striking ways. Ancient ruins sit high in the Andes, while coastal cities buzz with markets and street food. As you move between valleys, mountains, and towns, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Peru without forcing a strict plan.

You can spend mornings walking through Cusco’s narrow streets, afternoons exploring colonial plazas in Lima, or take a train that winds through the Sacred Valley. The coast gives you ceviche and surf towns, the mountains give you hidden trails and open skies, and Lake Titicaca brings calm waters at high altitude.

Whether you’re here for a week or longer, the mix of heritage sites, lively cities, and natural escapes means the things to do in Peru always feel layered, giving you something new each day, without losing that sense of welcome.

Unique Experiences

Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson

Learning to make ceviche and a pisco sour from scratch is one of those things to do in Peru that ties directly to the flavours, smells, and feel of the city. It’s hands-on, delightful, and rooted in local ritual.

• Where: Cooking studio in central Lima, often tucked into Miraflores
• Pricing: It starts from INR 22,500 per person
• Timing: 2 hours; slots available at 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM
• When to Visit: Year-round, though early in your stay is helpful to carry that taste through the rest of your trip

Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop in Cusco

This chocolate workshop in the Sacred Valley teaches you from farm to bar, complete with tasting and making your own bar. It’s quietly one of the most immersive things to do in Peru, with chocolate smells and slow learning.

• Where: ChocoMuseo in Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,000 per person
• Timing: About 2 hours long; slots available 11:00 AM, 1:30 AM and 4:00 PM
• When to Visit: Year-round, though dry season (May to September) feels especially fitting for slower craft-based activities

From Cusco: Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour with Meals

If you’re chasing the most vivid landscapes, riding an ATV up to Rainbow Mountain packs thrill, altitude, and colour into one day. It’s adventurous, but doable. Not a rush, just a ride that switches things to do in Peru up with terrain.

• Where: Starting from Cusco, across mountain roads up to Rainbow Mountain
• Pricing: It starts from INR 6,700 per person
• Timing: Slots available at 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM; around 10 to 11 hours total, early start, full day of hiking and riding
• When to Visit: May to September, when skies are clearer and the mountain’s colours are sharpest

Top Attractions

Machu Picchu

It’s no surprise Machu Picchu often tops lists of 14 top rated tourist attractions in Peru. Walking through the terraces, temples, and high viewpoints is an experience that goes beyond photos. It’s a must if you’re planning your list of things to do in Peru, with every path giving you a new angle.

• Where: Sacred Valley, near Aguas Calientes
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,500 per person
• Timing: Open daily from 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• When to Visit: April to May and September to November for mild weather and smaller crowds

Cusco’s Historic Centre

Cusco’s old town is full of cobbled streets, Spanish colonial churches, and lively squares. It’s one of those Peru tourist attractions where history blends with daily life—you can wander, stop for coffee, and step into Inca foundations beneath old houses. For many, it’s the starting point for the best things to do in Peru.

• Where: Central Cusco around Plaza de Armas
• Pricing: Free to explore, museum and church entries start from INR 400
• Timing: Open access at all hours; museums and churches 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• When to Visit: Year-round; mornings and evenings are calmer for walking

Lake Titicaca

High up on the altiplano, Lake Titicaca stretches calm and wide. Visiting the floating reed islands here is one of the most authentic things to do in Peru, letting you see traditional ways of living alongside incredible views. It’s peaceful, reflective, and unique in every sense.

• Where: Puno region, southeastern Peru
• Pricing: It starts from INR 1,500 per person (boat ride to islands)
• Timing: Day trips typically 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• When to Visit: May to September for clear skies and smoother boat travel

Sightseeing Tours

Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco

If there’s one of the things to do in Peru that deserves every minute of your morning, this is it. You head out of Cusco before sunrise, ride the train or drive into the Sacred Valley, and spend time wandering the ruins at Machu Picchu before crowds build. This trip encapsulates a few of the 10 best things to do in Peru.

• Where: From Cusco, head to Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
• Pricing: It starts from INR 30,000 per person
• Timing: Around 12 to 16 hours total; starts at 7:30 AM
• When to Visit: April to May and September to November for the clearest views and fewer visitors

Half-Day City Tour: Four Ruins Around Cusco

If you’d rather ease into things to do in Peru, this half-day tour outside the city walks you through four nearby sites: Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. It’s a soft introduction to Inca life without needing a full day or high altitude hike.

• Where: Departure from Cusco city centre to surrounding archaeological sites
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,600 per person
• Timing: About 5 hours in total; slots available at 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM
• When to Visit: Year-round, though morning sessions feel especially calm and engaging

Day Trips

Full-Day Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco

This drive takes you through Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and the salt mines of Maras. You’ll see how the valley’s terraced fields still feed communities and have history that’s visible in every stone. It’s one of the most immersive things to do in Peru, giving you culture and countryside in one go.

• Where: Pick-up from Cusco then head to Sacred Valley sites (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras Salt Mines)
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,600 per person
• Timing: Tour starts at 7:00 AM (about 12 to 13 hours total)
• When to Visit: May to September offers dryer days and brighter skies, key to enjoying the Peru tourist attractions in full light.

Maras, Moray, Salineras Salt Mines Tour from Cusco

This one takes you off the main trail, heading past Inca agricultural experiments at Moray and the thousands of salt pans carved into the hillsides. It’s an easygoing activity that stays away from crowds while giving you local life and ancient engineering in one outing.

• Where: Starts in Cusco then head to Chinchero textile centre, Moray and Maras salt mines. Finally, return to Cusco
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,100 per person
• Timing: About 7 hours; tour starts at 8:30 AM
• When to Visit: Year-round, but April to October brings milder weather and clearer skies, making it one of the 10 best things to do in Peru

Boat Tours

Boat Tour of the Ballestas Islands in Paracas

Sea lions, penguins, and pelicans, this boat ride gives you a glimpse of marine wildlife without needing to dive. You skim across to the Ballestas Islands, see birdlife, and the Candelabra symbol carved into the sand. It’s one of the more lively things to do in Peru, especially for nature lovers.

• Where: From Paracas harbor to Ballestas Islands round-trip
• Pricing: It starts from INR 1,800 per person
• Timing: 2 hours total; slots available at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
• When to Visit: April to September, when seas are calmer and wildlife activity is high, this counts among the things to do in Peru that feel energising

Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros & Taquile Islands

Cruising Lake Titicaca and stepping onto floating reed islands brings you close to the traditions that still thrive here. The locals are welcoming, the boats ride gently, and that layered view across water and sky gives you a moment of pure calm. One of those very real things to do in Peru that touches roots of life.

• Where: From Puno, head to Uros floating islands and Taquile Island
• Pricing: It starts from INR 4,600 per person
• Timing: About 9 hours; starts at 7:00 AM
• When to Visit: May to September, dry season helps keep logistics smooth and views reflective

Getting Around

• Domestic flights: Peru is wide, and flying saves time if you’re linking Lima with Cusco or Arequipa. It’s useful when you’ve got a long list of things to do in Peru spread across different regions.
• Trains: Scenic rides like the one through the Sacred Valley are practical and memorable. They’re not just transport, they add to the journey between top tourist attractions in Peru.
• Buses: Long-distance buses connect most cities and are common for travellers. They’re slower, but if your plan for the best things to do in Peru includes seeing more of the countryside, this works well.
• Taxis and private cars: These make short city hops easier and give flexibility for remote ruins. They’re handy if you want to explore local Peru tourist attractions at your own pace.
• Walking: In historic centres like Cusco, Lima, and Arequipa, walking is often the simplest option. You’ll find smaller markets, plazas, and even casual activities in the corners that vehicles can’t reach.

Traveller Tips

• Plan around altitude: Cities like Cusco and Lake Titicaca sit high up, so give yourself a day before tackling big hikes. It makes your list of things to do in Peru easier to enjoy without struggling to catch your breath.
• Book timed entry for Machu Picchu: The entry slots are fixed, and mornings are best and it’s one of the most famous tourist attractions in Peru, so locking in your ticket ahead saves you the stress of missing out.
• Carry coins in markets: In places like Pisac or Chinchero, many stalls prefer small change and if your day of things to do in Peru includes market visits, carrying coins means smoother buys for snacks or souvenirs.
• Try local buses in towns: They’re busy but give you a closer look at daily rhythms. It’s one of the more unique things to do in Peru if you want to watch how locals move around their cities.
• Mix city days with quieter ones: Balance Lima’s plazas or Cusco’s museums with open-air time in the Sacred Valley. It’s the best way to keep your things to do in Peru list varied without burning out.