What are The Top 5 Activities in Peru?
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by James Bustamante
What are the top 5 Activities in Peru? There are so many amazing activities and interesting destinations in the country. From the Machu Picchu hike in the highlands to Amazon river tours in the rainforest which are the top activities that you should definitely include in a complete Peru itinerary?
Below we have outlined the top 5 activities in Peru that we feel each traveler should experience.
We’ve included what many would consider the more popular activities and some that might not be as known to anyone outside of Peru.
The Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Visiting the Inca citadel will of course be on the top 5 activities in Peru.
This ancient Inca city receives almost 1,000,000 visitors each year.
Ever since it was deemed as one of the new workers of the world in 2005, tourism to this highland marvel has skyrocketed and we receive travelers from all over the globe.
The guided Machu Picchu tour will usually start early in the morning unless you are entering during the afternoon schedule.
Most of the time travelers will prefer the early morning session in order to catch the sun rising over the Andes mountains.
Many hikers travel to Machu Picchu precisely for this particular shot. The afternoon schedule is equally admirable, there are usually smaller crowds as well.
Travelers Tip: Plan to spend a night in the town of Aguas Calientes so as to not feel like your Machu Picchu tour was rushed in any way.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
There are several hikes that lead to the stone city, however, by far the most requested way of hiking is through the classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
This member of the top 5 activities in Peru allows you to enjoy 4 days of hiking through the highlands, surrounded by nothing but mountains, local flora, and fauna.
The hike begins early on day 1 of this excursion through the Andes.
The pick-up time is scheduled for 4:40 am on most occasions, we then drive to the start of the hike.
The first day can be tough and the second day is definitely the hardest of the 4 due to the high elevation.
On day 3 of the Inca trail, we are already hiking towards a lower elevation so there is definitely some relief.
It is also when we reach the cloud forest which is closer to the Amazon rainforest than it is to the highlands when it comes to weather and nature.
On day 4 of the hike, we enter Machu Picchu through the Sun-gate to catch the sun rising over the mountain range.
No need to make Machu Picchu reservations since they are already included within your Inca trail package.
We end the guided tour of the complex and then take a train back to the city of Cusco.
The limit is 500 spots/day and as stated before they go very fast.
If you are planning to travel in October, November, December remember to bring your repellent as the mosquitoes can be a bit of a problem.
The beauty, history, and overall feel of the Inca trail definitely put this trek among the top 3 hikes to Machu Picchu.
The Nazca lines Flyover Tour
Next on the Top 5 Activities in Peru list, we have the Nazca lines flyover tour.
To begin this tour we have to drive down south from the city of Lima to the town of Ica, Peru.
This should take anywhere from 3 – 4 hours depending on traffic. We’ll have an overnight stay at a hotel in Inca.
Travelers Tip: If you arrive early enough into Inca take some time to visit the sand dunes for sandboarding and dune buggy rides.
Early in the morning we go ahead and take our transportation to the local airport where we start the journey to fly over the Nazca lines.
The flight takes around an hour to complete and we see all the geoglyphs from the hummingbird to the more humanoid silhouettes.
The plane will have a max of 4 travelers + a guide and of course the pilot. Flights generally start at 7 am out of the Ica airport.
The type of plane used will be Cessnas and it will be flown by professional, seasoned pilots who have been doing this for several years.
During the flight, we’ll see the Nazca lines known to be the most iconic and recognizable.
These include the whale, the astronaut, the monkey, the dog, the hummingbird, condor, spider, and several more.
In the extended tour, we can see over 20 Nazca geoglyphs!
Once we end the tour, you’ll receive a certificate stating you flew the Nazca lines circuit.
The Amazon Rainforest Excursion
Visiting the Amazon rainforest is our next on the list of top 5 activities in Peru.
The Amazon rainforest has been a source of mystery for as long as it has existed.
We receive travelers every year that are eager to go to the Amazon rainforest before or after their Machu Picchu visit.
When we head to the Amazon we are actually going to small reservations that are spread through the jungle.
Most are taken care of by the local government, research organizations, and hotels.
The Amazon rainforest offers plenty of day hikes through the dense wilderness, canoeing, kayaking, fishing for Piranha, bird watching, etc.
You will optimally need 3-4 days to do this part of the trip, we should point out that it takes about a day to reach the reservation and a full day to get back to Lima.
There is also the availability of the city of Iquitos where you can spend around a 1 to see the sights.
It is not really a city dedicated to international tourism but you will definitely spend time with locals.
We recommend visiting the market and seeing the varieties of exotic fruit the Amazon rainforest has to offer.
Lake Titicaca Tour
Last but certainly not least, our top 5 activities in Peru are taking a Lake Titicaca boat tour.
Yes, lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. In order to reach this highland lake we first take a flight from Lima to the city of Juliaca located in the province of Puno.
Our driver will then take us about an hour out of the city until we reach the massive body of water.
This location is also found in an area of Peru that’s in very high elevation so make sure to take it easy for the first day.
Travelers Tip: When making a plan to visit Lake Titicaca make sure to set aside 3 days on your Peru travel package at least. Remember you will use up half a day just in traveling to these locations.
During your time in Puno, you will see the floating Uros islands where you will speak to the natives that live on these small floating platforms.
We will also visit the Sillustani cemetery, Taquile Island, Amantani Island, and Isla del Sol (Bolivia).
If you are looking for something off the beaten path that will offer incredibly tranquil nights by a highland lake then Lake Titicaca is an amazing destination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Activities on the List
Which other activities are there in Cusco?
While in Cusco you can take the Cusco city tours, A tour of the Sacred Valley, The rainbow mountain tour and several others.
When should I book the Inca trail?
The best time to actually take the hikes is between April and August. The actual booking should be made at least 6 months in advance to ensure availability.
Are there hotels on the actual Lake Titicaca?
The Lake has hotels surrounding its shores as well as some hotels located in the islands within the lake.
Is it safe to visit the Amazon rainforest?
Yes the Amazon rainforest is a very safe place to visit. You will be in a nature reserve and not in the bush so there is little chance of anything going wrong.
Is the Nazca lines tour with it?
Yes. The flyover tour is simply breathtaking. You fly over the Nazca desert while catching views of giant geoglyphs scattered throughout the land. Most travelers want to take a second tour to view some of the newly discovered Nazca lines.
Can all of these activities be done in one single itinerary?
Yes. All 5 activities and all of these destinations can be visited in a 10 day Peru itinerary.
