Travel Stories

Peru

- activities
- hiking
The 13 most incredible places to visit in Peru
9 min read • Nov 16, 2022
With mountains, jungle and sea, Peru has activities and experiences that are as varied as its terrain. Here are the best places to visit on a trip to Peru.
- public transport
- destination practicalities
The ultimate guide to getting around Peru
8 min read • Nov 12, 2022
Exploring Peru is a real adventure and worth every minute of extra planning. Here’s our guide to getting around when you get there.
- festivals and events
- art and culture
The best times to visit Peru for outdoor action and urban adventures
8 min read • Nov 11, 2022
Whether you're a city-lover stopping in the foodie capital of Lima or an adventurer heading for the Inca Trail, your perfect Peru vacation starts here.
- road trips
- destination practicalities
The best road trips in Peru, 4 adventures on 4 wheels
7 min read • Nov 6, 2022
Traveling to lesser-known pre-Incan archaeological sites, lush jungles and tranquil beaches almost always requires a bit of land transport in Peru.
- tips and advice
- destination practicalities
What are the visa requirements for visiting Peru?
4 min read • Aug 25, 2021
Find which nationalities require a visa to visit Peru, the duration of a typical tourist visa and how to extend your stay.
- wildlife and nature
- activities
Best national parks and reserves in Peru
6 min read • Apr 13, 2021
Cloud-scraping peaks, lush rainforests, and rivers teeming with life all intertwine in Peru's kaleidoscope of natural wonders. Here are our top picks for this…
- history
- art and culture
Machu Picchu: get to know Peru's icon of Inca civilization
6 min read • Sep 16, 2020
Get to know the history behind Peru's most famous site: the fascinating Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
- sports
- activities
We drove across the Americas - here are our 7 most scenic routes
5 min read • Jul 22, 2020
From desert to coast, here are some of the most beautiful drives in the Americas to inspire your next road trip.
- travelogue
- connections
'Will we ever make it back?' Returning home to grieve following COVID-19 loss
6 min read • Apr 30, 2020
A writer attempts to return to Italy from Peru upon learning that his parents had passed away from COVID-19.
- sustainable travel
- connections
Responsible trekking in Peru: What you should know about workers' rights for porters
5 min read • Jun 28, 2019
What if we didn’t have porters to help us achieve our bucket-list trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? No one to help carry our clothes, tents, gear,…
- festivals and events
- art and culture
Inti Raymi: South America's Inca solstice celebration
3 min read • May 22, 2019
The solstices hold spiritual and religious meaning in societies around the world, and many of our modern day solstice celebrations have long historical…
- food
- food and drink
The art of pisco: what makes Peru's signature spirit?
6 min read • Apr 15, 2019
In the lush valleys of southern Peru, every year between March and April, grapes designated for pisco are harvested, fermented and distilled in order to…
- food
- food and drink
Offbeat adventures in Cuzco and Peru’s Sacred Valley
4 min read • Feb 18, 2019
Cuzco and the Sacred Valley are no travel secrets – iconic Inca ruins dot the region and world-class hikes wind through its hills, drawing people from all…
- art
- art and culture
The long road to Machu Picchu for Inca Trail porters
5 min read • Oct 30, 2018
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks in the world, hosting thousands of hikers each year looking to experience the historic path that stretches…
- art
- art and culture
Northern exposure: traveling Peru's magnificent North
5 min read • Aug 21, 2018
Most travelers on a debut tour of Peru struggle to tear themselves away from the evocative ruins of Machu Picchu. But the so-called "lost city of the…
- sustainable travel
- connections
The Huayhuash trek: a high-elevation Eden
5 min read • Aug 7, 2018
More demanding than southern Peru’s Inca Trail and lesser known than neighboring Cordillera Blanca, the Cordillera Huayhuash suits most better as a…
- beaches
- activities
Peru’s best North Coast beaches
4 min read • Aug 1, 2018
While many head to Peru to explore rainforests and mountain ranges, the country's dramatic northern coast is a wonder of its own. Combine surf and…
- food
- food and drink
5 reasons you’ll fall in love with Oxapampa
5 min read • Jun 14, 2018
How did a quaint town in the Peruvian Amazon, some 280 miles from Lima, come to play host to the nation’s top annual music festival? Based on its history,…
- hiking
- activities
Inca Trail essentials
3 min read • May 12, 2018
It's the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world – and a must-do, life-changing experience. Hiking the Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley…
- food
- food and drink
How to live like a local in Lima
5 min read • May 9, 2018
Six years ago, Lonely Planet Local Agnes Rivera traveled south along the Pacific Coast and landed in Lima, Peru. Quickly charmed by the capital city’s…
- food
- food and drink
Artisanal Arequipa: Peru’s capital for modern makers
5 min read • Apr 24, 2018
If the hipster craft revival movement had a capital, it might look something like Arequipa, a southern Andean city anchored by knitters, bakers and…
- art
- art and culture
More than Machu Picchu: delve into historic Cuzco
6 min read • Mar 1, 2018
As the famous launching off point for many trips to Machu Picchu, Cuzco often serves as a convenient stop for travelers as they acclimate to Peru’s high…