Last Updated: December 6, 2021
Famous Landmarks In Peru (Not Just Machu Picchu)
In the stunning country of Peru, famous landmarks are abundant. The most famous of them all is Machu Picchu, also known as the lost city of Incas of one of the new seven wonders. But the ancient ruins of the Inca Empire are certainly not the only popular tourist destination in this Latin American country.
Peru is also home to Colca Canyon, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, Cordillera Blanca, the Amazon River, and many other famous attractions. Keep reading to see all the most famous landmarks in Peru and where to find them!
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Machu Picchu
Out of all the famous landmarks in Peru, Machu Picchu is by far the most popular one. Everyone and their grandmothers have heard of the ancient ruins of the lost city of Incas, and they’re the main reason why so many people visit this South American country. You can get to Machu Picchu by train, which is the best option if you want to do a day trip to Peru’s most famous landmark.
The other option is to hike the Inca Trail. It’s an 80-kilometer hike that takes about 4-5 days to complete and is considered very challenging. The maximum elevation on the trail is about 4000 meters, and all hikers are required to have special permits.
The Inca trail is suitable only for the most experienced hikers – most regular people who come to Machu Picchu just for the tourist sites will take the train to get to the Inca ruins.
Although not that many people will attempt to hike the Inca trail, most people who do make it to Machu Picchu try to climb to the top of Huayna Picchu. It only takes about an hour to get to the top of the mountain, and the views from the top are absolutely enchanting.
However, it is worth noting that the ascent to the top of Huayna Picchu can be quite dangerous, especially if it rained recently. The steep steps become very slippery and there have been incidents in the past when people have slipped and fallen to their deaths.
Fog can also obstruct the view of the impressive Inca ruins from the top, so it’s not even worth it to attempt the climb on a really foggy day.
Cusco Imperial City
Cusco is one of the most historically important cities in Peru, and it’s the best place to stay if you want to explore as many fascinating tourist attractions as possible during your stay in the South American country. Cusco is close to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Rainbow Mountain, and a few other fascinating Peru landmarks.
The city of Cusco is also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it used to be the capital of the Inca Empire between the 13th and 16th centuries until the Spanish Conquest. This historical capital is home to several famous Peru landmarks, the most notable of which are Plaza de Armas, Qurikancha, the Cusco Cathedral, the Inka Museum, the Casa Concha Museum, and many others.
Additionally, Cusco is also close enough to a lot of other famous landmarks in Peru, so a lot of people will stay in this historic city for a while just for the day trips. You can visit Peru’s Cloud Forest, Pisac, the agricultural terraces of Maras and Moray, and many others.
Because the historic city is of such huge importance to both Peruvians and tourists, we’ll cover some of its top sights in a little more detail below!
Cusco’s Architectural Treasures
Cusco’s architectural treasures are some of the most famous landmarks in entire Latin America, not just Peru, and they definitely deserve their own section! The historic city center of Cusco is home to a lot of the city’s top tourist attractions, most notably Plaza de Armas, the Cusco Cathedral, and Quarikancha.
A short walk through the city’s historic center will allow you to explore all these famous landmarks but don’t for a second think that those are the only attractions worth seeing in Cusco. The ancient city is also home to another famous Inca site, Saqsaywaman. This historic complex is surrounded by massive stones that, impressively enough, fit so tightly together that no mortar was used to bound them.
There’s another famous stone in Cusco and it’s just a short walk away from the city’s historic square. It’s known as the Twelve Angled Stone, and out of all the landmarks in Peru, this has to be the weirdest one.
It’s believed that this stone is holding the entire palace structure in place, so it’s certainly not a good idea to touch it or try to remove it. The stone is about halfway between Cusco’s Plaza de Armas and San Blas church, so it’s an attraction you can’t miss on a tour of the city’s historic center.
The Inca Trail Cusco
Courageous hikers who arrive in Peru with the intention of hiking the Inca Trail usually choose Cusco as the base of their travel. The historic city is close to Ollantaytambo, which is the starting point of this multi-day hike. I’d recommend a quick tour of Ollantaytambo before you set out on the multi-day hike – the town is famous for its Temple Hill, which features ancient ruins of various Incan buildings.
The Inca Trail can be completed in 3-5 days, depending on your stamina and physical condition. Four days is the optimal amount of time for the hike if you want to spend some time at each of the famous historical landmarks that the trail passes through. These include the Warmiwañusca, the Phuyupatamarca ruins, and the most famous Inca site of them all, Machu Picchu.
The classic Inca Trail doesn’t pass through the Urubamba Valley, but it is possible to explore this stunning site with a few detours.
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia, and it is shared by these two countries. It’s a record-breaker in many ways – this is one of the largest lakes in the world, one of the most famous landmarks in Peru and Bolivia, as well as the highest navigable lake on the planet.
Lake Titicaca is also the largest lake by volume in all of South America, and it’s even home to a fascinating underwater temple. Back in the year 2000, a team of archaeologists and divers discovered underwater temple ruins in the lake that are estimated to be between 1000 and 1500 years old.
The gargantuan lake is also home to the Uros islands, which is a group of 70 artificial islands that are floating around the lake.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Sacred Valley or the Urubamba River Valley as it is popularly called in Peru is a valley in the Andes Mountains about 20 kilometers north of Cusco. It is one of the most famous historical sites in Peru, and it’s close enough to Machu Picchu that it’s possible to visit both attractions in one day.
The Sacred Valley is best known for the abundance of historic ruins and famous landmarks, but also for exciting adrenaline-pumping activities. You can go rafting, paragliding, and even zip lining right here, in the heart of historic Peru.
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southern Peru. They are a group of geoglyphs that can be observed in the Nazca Desert. The historic geoglyphs were created by the Nazca culture, an ancient civilization that flourished in Peru from 100 BC to 800 AD.
The purpose and origin of the Nazca Lines remain a mystery even today, which is exactly what makes them so intriguing. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Peru, and countless people make the trip to the desert just to get a good view of the ancient geoglyphs.
Aerial tours are the most popular way of seeing this famous Peru landmark. They offer the absolute best views of the geoglyphs, but they’re not exactly an affordable way of exploring the ancient cultures’ intricate carvings.
Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon on the Colca river and it’s one of the deepest canyons in the world. It’s situated in southern Peru, some 160 kilometers northwest of Arequipa. The canyon is around 70 kilometers long, and between 1000-2000 meters deep. Colca Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and it truly is an astonishing sight.
It might not be as famous as the North American Grand Canyon, but it certainly is one of the most famous landmarks in Peru. Colca Canyon offers incredible views of the tall volcanoes that surround it, and the stunning vista makes the challenging hike to the canyon’s viewpoints entirely worth the effort.
Andes Mountains
The Andes Mountains are the world’s longest continental mountain range. They run the entire western coast of South America, spanning Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Andes are also the tallest mountain range outside of Asia, with the highest point being the Aconcagua peak in Argentina. The part of the mountain range that runs through Peru is known as the Peruvian Andes, and it attracts countless hikers and climbers to this spectacular country in South America.
Huacachina Sand Dunes
Huacachina is a desert oasis in the city of Ica, in southern Peru. The city was founded by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, and it’s been an important historic center in Peru ever since. Ica was hit by the devastating earthquake in 2007, but the fascinating city has managed to recover quite a bit since.
Although there are many fascinating tourist attractions in Ica, none are quite as famous as the Huacachina Sand Dunes.
Huacachina is a small resort village built around a desert oasis. It’s one of the most beautiful destinations in all of Peru, but most people visit for the exciting sand dunes that reach impressive heights of up to 500 meters.
The area around the oasis is popular for sandboarding and dune buggy rides, so consider a visit to this beautiful place if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush. The dunes are some of the most popular landmarks in Peru, so don’t be surprised to see lots of other tourists in the area.
Huascaran National Park
Huascaran National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range in the world. The national park serves to protect the Cordillera Blanca, which boasts several of Peru’s tallest peaks. Huascaran is the tallest of them all, and at 6,768 meters, it is the absolute highest point in this South American country.
The Cordillera Blanca is part of the Peruvian Andes mountain range, and it’s the main reason why this national park gets so many visitors each year. It attracts avid hikers and climbers from all over the world, who want nothing else but to ascend the best and tallest mountains of Peru.
Huascaran National Park is also popular among birdwatchers, thanks to the myriad of different bird species that have made the NP their home.
Lima’s Historic Center
Lima is the capital of Peru and the largest city by population in this South American country. It can be the perfect starting point for a long trip through Peru, or just a quick stop – in any case, the city has enough tourist attractions that you can spend days exploring them, but it’s possible to see all the top ones in a single day.
A tour of Lima’s historic center is a must for any traveler who stops by Peru’s capital. That’s where you’ll find all the most famous landmarks of Lima, including the Santo Domingo Church, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Armas, Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, San Martin Square, and the Government Palace of Peru.
Peru’s capital is also famous for the Spanish colonial architecture, and you’ll find the best examples of it in downtown Lima. Take a walk through the capital’s narrow streets, admire the colonial buildings, and eventually make your way to Miraflores – one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the entire city.
Lima is also very close to Palomino Islands, which is another Peru landmark worth visiting if you have the time. The small islets in the Pacific Ocean are home to a huge population of sea lions and a lot of different bird species, making them very popular among people who want to explore the fauna of Peru.
There are lots of day tours that transport people to the island group for the sole purpose of observing sea lions, so don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity if you’re ever in Lima or a nearby city!
Manu National Park
Manu National Park is a vast national park in Peru. It’s a UNESCO site because of the huge biodiversity that is present in the NP. Around 850 different species of birds have been discovered at the park, as well as giant otters, giant armadillos, jaguars, and a plethora of different plant species. The national park is also home to cloud forests, which are equally as fascinating as the diverse fauna.
The Manu National Park is divided into four different zones. There’s the restricted use zone that is still home to native communities and only researchers can access this area of the park. The recuperation zone is also off-limits for visitors since its purpose is the recovery of disturbed areas.
The reserved zone is open for research and recreation, and the cultural zone is the one that most visitors to Manu National Park end up in, thanks to a wide variety of tourist attractions in the area.
Santa Catalina Monastery
Santa Catalina Monastery is a 16th-century monastery in Arequipa’s historic city center. It previously functioned as a cloister for Dominican nuns, and even today it’s still home to a small religious community.
The monastery complex spans an area of 20,000 square meters, so it’s pretty impressive in its size. This complex features living quarters, a gallery, a plaza, a chapel, and cloisters, most of which it’s possible to see on a guided tour.
The Santa Catalina Monastery is in excellent condition, especially when you consider that it’s situated in a volcanic area with a fair amount of seismic activity. It was damaged heavily by the 1958 and 1960 earthquakes, and even more during the devastating 2001 earthquake that hit Peru.
Although the monastery has undergone extensive renovations, the environmental conditions don’t really allow the building to stay in pristine condition. The entire complex is constructed from volcanic sillar stone, which is a porous stone that doesn’t react well to air pollution and the presence of salts that are both common in this part of Peru.
Northern Peru Hot Springs
A list of the most famous landmarks in Peru is not complete until we mention the many thermal springs of this stunning country. They’re all over Peru, but some of the best ones are in Northern Peru, near the city of Tarapoto.
Head to Paucar Yacu Hot Springs to really make the most of Peru’s gorgeous nature. The site has four thermal pools – one is cold, and the other three feature a temperature between 98.6º F and 104º F.
They’re outdoor pools, so you can experience parrots and oropendolas flying over your head while you’re relaxing in a hot spring and reaping all of its health benefits.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
