Fun things to do in Peru

Probably your second step in Peru will be worldwide famous Machu Picchu ruins. They really deserve the visit. No matter haow much you have heard or read about it, being there is really unforgettable experience.

They are close to Cuzco (2 or 3 hours by train), so you'll have to fly there (buses take up to 30hours!) and dedicate at least a whole day for it.

A marvellous way to visit Machu Picchu is doing the Inca Trail (see next tip), a 4d/3n trekking along the Andes till the ruins. But you better do some training before you do it!

Entrance: 26 USD

Many foreigners come to Peru just to do the Inka Trail. This is a 4 days / 3 nights trekking from Ollantaytambo (near Cuzco) to Machu Picchu, 42 kms later, going up to heights of 4200 metres. You don't have to be a sportman or a professional to do it, but you better do some exercises or walking the previous months, and stay a few days in Cuzco before, to get used to altitude.

You can book it in Cuzco once you arrive, but recent visitors restrictions make it advisable to book in advance (at least 2 months) via internet. You mail the agency you choose, make a money transfer of 30% and pay the rest once in Cuzco.

Here are some well known agencies:
United Mice
SAS
Qente
Peru Treks
Andean Life
Inca Explorers

I did it with Andean Life (285 USD) and they did an excellent job!

Lake Titicaca is located in the south of Peru, sharing its waters between this country and Bolivia. It is the world's highest lake navigable to large vessels (3,810 m above sea level).
To visit it you can do it from:
- Peruvian side: go to Puno and there you will find many tours to Uros Island, Taquile island, or even tours of several days around the lake.
- Bolivian side: cross the border to Copacabana and from there visit the Sun Island.

Sleeping in the lake (either in Taquile or Sun Island) is a really nice experience, is such a peaceful place (no cars in the islands) with endless wide horizons and quite interesting cultures and villages.

A big part of Peru is mostly jungle. When you think of Peru you think of Machu Picchu, Incas, Spanish conquerors, Nazca lines, but Amazon river is born here and goes a long way across this country.

You have mainly 2 options for visiting the jungle:
- South: in Puerto maldonado, not far from Cuzco. Most of the people doing the Machu Picchu choose this jungle, as is close to Cuzco and many agencies there offer stays in lodges and excursions for 3 or more days.
- North: You have to fly to Iquitos and there take a boat that will take you far from this town (2-3 hours by the river) to the National Parks.

Both options are OK, maybe there are some more animals around Iquitos, and there is more "deep Amazon", but Manu Park in the south is also a good option for a first visit to the jungle (is not the Amazon river, but very similar).

Also named Cusco, this old colonial white city with red tiled roofs is probably the most touristy place in Peru (and maybe in all South America).
It deserves a 2-3 days visit, not only for its narrow charming cobbled streets and interesting museums, but also for the many ruins around that can be visited in 1 day tours.
It is also a good basecamp to visit the nearby ruins of Machu Picchu.

Iquitos is the largest city on earth that has no communication by road. It is located in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, on the shore of the Amazon river, north of Peru.
It is a tropical laid back town with many many moto-taxis, few cars (as there are no roads) and beautiful colonial houses with pleasant colours and marvellous tiles.
In its best times it was the capital of the rubber empire in the Amazon, big fortunes grew here, and big fortunes vanished. Walking along the streets you can see this town lived better times.

This is a good basecamp to join a jungle trip or spend a few days in a jungle lodge, or even just to sail up or down the Amazon river.

Puno is considered the "capital" of the Peruvian Titicaca lake. This is the place where people come to start boat tours around the lake, or as a stopover on the way to Bolivia from Cuzco.
It is a small provincial town, nice to walk around an afternoon and an excellent place to buy quality alpaca stuff (pullovers, coats...), but it has no special tourist attractions.

In retrospect, I am really happy that I hiked the Inca Trail. But, I won't lie, there were times during the hike, when I was not all that happy. It was the kind of trip that you loved and hated at the same time. The hate part, is the thousands of steep and ackward steps along the journey. The love part was on day 3, hot, tired and sweaty when you made it to the campsite and the hostel overlooking Machu Picchu for a cold beer (knowing that you were going to make it all the way) and of course the other great highlight on Day 4, waking up early, sitting on the top of the world as the clouds parted and the view of lovely Machu Picchu was in sight. It was a once in a lifetime trip. But, don't go into this hike thinking that it will be easy. It is a challenging hike. In fact, our guide said that the Incans made this hike difficult on purpose, for spiritual purification. So prepare yourself and enjoy!