Like all countries in South America, Peru is a captivating destination, offering visitors an impressively rich blend of historic landmarks, colonial-era cities and awe-inspiring natural sites, from the riveting beauty of Machu Picchu to the lush landscapes of the Amazon.
Cities such as Arequipa and the sprawling capital, Lima, are the centre of artistic, cultural and culinary scenes that help Peru more than match its larger neighbours on the continent.
Much like Brazil or Colombia, Peru also benefits from an abundance of magnificent natural landscapes around towns like Puerto Maldonado and Chachapoyas, so there is even more beyond exceptional food and landmarks, whether that’s trips to the Amazon rainforest, hikes in the Andes or sandboarding in the desert.
Peru’s size and the spread of its population means it requires some research to make the most of a trip here. To help you plan, here are the best cities and towns to visit during your holiday.
1. Lima
We recommend: Meander along the malecón, a smooth six-mile coastal path
Peru’s capital showcases a little bit of all the things that make the country a great destination. Starting on the Pacific coastline beside the Miraflores neighbourhood, the city spreads inland towards the historical centre, Lima Centro, where a slew of colonial buildings lead to the Plaza de Armas (these plazas served as the heart of New World cities, with all construction taking place in grids stemming from them).
Many visitors will choose to stay near the coast in Miraflores, where the malecon, Lima’s six-mile promenade, is the star of the show (along with beaches such as Costa Verde, where swimming, paddle boarding, surfing and even paragliding are popular). Alternatively, trendy Barranco is the city’s bohemian nightlife capital, while San Isidro has become a slightly more glitzy area and the safest neighbourhood.
Visitors can stroll through the Art Gallery of Lima and museums such as the Larco (which exhibits artefacts from ancient Peru), but this is a city where culture and history can easily be absorbed in the streets, plazas and parks. Aside from the architecture, nowhere is this more relevant than in the city’s culinary scene, where some of the world’s best…
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