Peru is one of the most popular travel destinations in South America and there are many reasons to visit Peru. Above all, of course, the incredibly impressive cultural treasures and Inca ruins such as Machu Picchu , which is even considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. In addition to the Inca ruins, Peru also has beautiful colonial buildings from the Spanish colonial era. Peru also has a lot of variety to offer in terms of landscape.

The third largest country in South America differs in three regions: the coastal region , which is strongly influenced by the Humboldt Current and is characterized by dry desert regions, the Amazon rainforest and the Andean highlandswith mountains over 6,000 meters high. And with Lake Titicaca, Peru shares the highest navigable lake in the world with Bolivia. Nature and culture lovers will find plenty of variety here. In this article you will find all practical Peru travel tips for planning your Peru trip.

Peru travel tips: Which highlights do you absolutely have to see in Peru?

Standing on Macchu Picchu once in a lifetime – that was the reason for my Peru trip and probably also for most tourists. But there are more highlights to see in Peru. The following Peru attractions are definitely worthwhile:

• Lima
• Nazca Lines
• Arequipa
• Colca Canyon
• Cuzco & Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Machu Picchu
• Montagnes Colorados
• Titicacaa Lake and Uros Islands

Peru Travel Tips: How long should you plan for a Peru trip?

Since the journey to Peru is quite long (flight time between 12 and 15 hours, depending on the stopover), I recommend a trip for at least 16 days , preferably 3 weeks . So you can get to know the country comprehensively, take your time and get to know all the highlights. Or you combine your Peru trip with one of the neighbouring countries like I did ( Peru–Bolivia-Chile ). You should also keep in mind that the distances are quite large – Peru is the third largest country in South America.

Peru travel tips: alone, individually or in a group to Peru?

Peru is a popular travel destination for backpackers and individual tourists. Buses and public transport are very easy to get to the tourist highlights of the country. However, I like to travel in a group where everything is organized and I don’t have to worry about anything, just enjoying the trip. When choosing a tour operator, I make sure that there is a certain level of country expertise, which means that they know the region very well, work with local companies and have fair standards. I have traveled through Peru, Bolivia and Chile with the South America specialist viventura and have had very good experiences with it.

• Group travel:  Mendese Escapes