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DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
ESSENTIAL PERU BUCKET LIST ITEMS BY US
VISIT THE FAMOUS PISAC MARKET IN SACRED VALLEY
There’s no better place to pick up some traditional souvenirs than Pisac Market, where local Peruvians come every Sunday to sell their handicrafts and produce. Be sure to check out the beautiful Quechuan handwoven wares and the castillos de cuyes (literally, mini castles for guinea pigs).
EXPLORE THE "CITY OF THE KINGS", LIMA
Get to know Peru’s capital city on a Lima sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist. It’s all about grand buildings, historic monuments, superb food and a beautiful coastline here, and we’ll hop around all the icons like the Plaza Mayor and Cathedral, the Gaudi-style architecture of Parque del Amor, and the buzzing Miraflores neighbourhood.
DISCOVER THE ANCIENT SACSAYHUAMAN
The Sacsayhuaman fortress is one of the world’s most impressive buildings and a Peru must see. We’ll let you in on all the secrets of this engineering marvel, built by the Incans around the 13th century with some of the biggest blocks ever found in Incan construction. They’re fitted together so tightly that you can’t even fit a piece of paper between some of them!
PERU TAILORED BY YOU
Katie B.
happy Get Going past guest
VISIT MORAY AND MORAS
History buffs will love Moray, an ancient greenhouse with four platforms that seem to disappear into a huge crater. It's thought to have been used by the Incas to study which plants they could use for agriculture. The village of Maras is just as fascinating, with salt mines that have been used since the time of the Inca. We met the villagers who shared their ancient salt mining techniques and even let us have a go!
Ella C.
Costsaver team member
HIKING TO THE INCA BRIDGE
Hiking to the Inca Bridge takes about 40 minutes from the entrance of Machu Picchu and whilst it is a relatively easy walk it is not for the faint of heart as at points the trail can be narrow and has a sheer drop off of several hundreds of meters. The walk itself is incredibly scenic and when you get to the end you will be able to observe an original Inca draw bridge that was used to protect the Western entrance to Machu Picchu.
Karine C.
Costsaver team member
GO TO A ROOFTOP BAR IN CUSCO
The beautiful city of Cusco is a great way to explore by foot or local taxi (4 to 6 soles per trip within the general city area). Take a walk up to one of the tallest points in the city and have a local cocktail while taking in the red-tiled rooftops of Cusco city. Have the friendly staff introduce and share some interesting stories behind the cocktails while you are at it.
WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN PERU
From hearty potato stews and delicious beef stir-frys to creamy caramel desserts, Peruvian food is sure to be one of the best parts of your Peru trip.
LOMO SALTADO
If you love a good stir fry, you have to try this delicious fusion dish that mixes the Chinese stir-fry with classic Peruvian ingredients. Tuck into marinated strips of sirloin tossed with fried potatoes, yellow chilli pepper, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and soy sauce, served with fluffy steamed rice.
SUSPIRO A LA LIMEÑA
It doesn’t get sweeter than this romantic dessert that got its name from the poet husband of its creator. The name means ‘Sigh of a Lima lady’, because the pudding was soft and sweet like the sigh of a woman. Made from a creamy caramel and topped with meringue and a sprinkling of cinnamon, this is simply divine.
CHUPE DE CAMARONES
Soups have been a huge part of Peruvian food for centuries, but one stands out above the rest. Chupe de Camarones is a hearty shrimp stew, made with a tomato and hot red pepper broth, thickened with vegetables like yuca, potatoes, corn and rice. It’s a volcano of texture and flavor and is sure to keep you satisfied for hours.
WHEN IS BEST TO VISIT PERU
Whether you want to cruise across Lake Titicaca or explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, here are some of the best times to visit this incredible country.
BEST TIME TO EXPLORE MACHU PICCHU
December to April are the wettest months, plus Machu Picchu is closed in February, so visit any time between May and November for the warmest weather and safest walking trails.
BEST TIME TO VISIT PERU’S CITIES
If you want to explore the famous cities like Lima and Cusco, head to Peru between May and November for the best weather - although Lima tends to be foggy in June!
BEST TIME TO CRUISE LAKE TITICACA
Venture to the high altitudes of Lake Titicaca during the dry season between April and October, for almost constant sunshine and cooler temperatures.
PACKING TIPS FOR PERU
HOW TO TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY IN PERU
Shop local
Peru has some seriously talented artisans and we’ll take you to the famous Pisac Market where you can buy wares from the locals, like hand-woven clothes and toys.
Ask before snapping
We’re sure you won’t be able to stop snapping pictures on your Peru sightseeing adventures, but it’s important to ask people if you can take their photo and it's always nice to thank them with a few pesos.
Say no to plastic
Help reduce plastic waste in Peru and bring reusable items like bags and water bottles to use while you're out exploring the spectacular sights.
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