Snigdha TiwariHome to a section of the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains, Peru is a country in South America where the region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites.
Peru is a country of history, culture, beauty, and adventure, with a full spectrum of possibilities for travelers.
Peru is one of the most visited destinations by travelers because the diversity of the landscape, the people, and the experiences here make Peru one of the most unique destinations on the continent.
So now I will list out some of the best cities to explore when you are on your trip to Peru.
Here are the Top 7 Best Cities To Visit In Peru.
1. Lima
Home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nacion, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations, Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country’s arid Pacific coast.
Though its colonial center is preserved, it’s a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities.
Museums with great works of art, archaeological sites, beaches, the boardwalk, valleys, natural reserves, the nightlife, the thrill of adventure sports, and the exquisite cuisine give Peru’s capital an authentic personality and make tourism in Lima a unique experience in the country.
So you should visit Lima to know the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations on your trip to Peru.
Attractions: Plaza Mayor, Larco Museum, Huaca Pucllana, Park of Love, Water Park, etc.
2. Piura
Known for its colonial buildings, such as the Piura Cathedral with its ornate gilded altarpiece, Piura is the capital city of Peru’s northwestern Piura region where The cathedral faces Plaza de Armas, a trim square dotted with tamarind trees.
The Admiral Miguel Grau Museum and House contain the 19th-century war hero’s photos and mementos. San Francisco Church is where Piura declared independence from Spain in 1821.
Piura has streets lit up by the constant northern sun. Its spas and beaches destinations are popular with surfers.
Also, In Piura, you can find colonial temples and artisan towns, like Chulucanas and Catacaos.
Additionally, there are magical lakes like Las Huaringas so do not miss exploring this city where to can witness the magical lakes.
Attractions: Aqualandia, Puente Bolognesi, Plaza de Armas de Piura, Narihuala, etc.
3. Puno
Known for one of South America’s largest lakes and the world’s highest navigable body of water, Puno is a city in southern Peru on Lake Titicaca – A regional trading hub, the city’s also considered Peru’s “folkloric capital,” owing to its traditional festivals featuring vibrant music and dancing.
Puno is a legend, a multicolored festival, and home to natural and artificial islands.
Puno’s churches are characterized by their distinctive colonial architecture where Its inhabitants are proud of their Quechua and Aymara past, and their folkloric tradition that can be seen every year in the form of dances and rituals during the Candelaria festival, this is what makes Puno definitely be in your Peru travel bucket list.
Attractions: Titicaca National Reserve, Esteves, Cerrito Huajsapata, Uros Floating Islands, etc.
4. Cusco
Presently known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture, Cusco is a city in the Peruvian Andes which was once the capital of the Inca Empire where Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old city, with arcades, carved wooden balconies, and Incan wall ruins.
The baroque Santo Domingo Convent was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework.
Seductive, striking, and natural, Cusco’s history lives in its streets, squares, valleys, and towns.
Stunning destinations and captivating landscapes such as the Sacred Valley, where the mountains are clothed by terraces, Cusco really is the birthplace of the world where pictures villages where the past forms part of the present.
Attractions: Sacred Valley, Sacsayhuaman, Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Tambomachay, etc.
5. Cajamarca
Cajamarca is a city in Peru’s northern highlands, in the Andes Mountains. Baroque colonial architecture surrounds the historic main square, Plaza de Armas.
Cajamarca offers its noble Andean heart of sensual landscapes which is home to Peru’s best cattle and a remarkable dairy production that boasts magnificent colonial architecture like the Cathedral and the churches of San Francisco, Belen, and Recoleta.
Travelers in search of lovely countrysides or traces of history will no doubt find what they are looking for in this idyllic Andean setting and its colorful region that every year, in February and March, is dominated by carnivals.
Attractions: Cerro Santa Apolonia, Cumbemayo, Colina Santa Apolonia, Stone Forest Cumbemayo, etc.
6. Amazonas
Known for its dense cloud forests, rugged Andes mountain terrain, and ancient ruins, Amazonas is a region in northern Peru that borders Ecuador where its most notable archaeological site is Kuelap, a pre-Incan settlement comprising hundreds of buildings ringed by a massive perimeter wall.
Yes, it’s true that the Amazonas Region in Peru is home to uncountable mysteries. So dare to explore them yourself.
Dive in an unforgettable tourism experience where Mansions and colonial balconies and a landscape of lakes and gigantic waterfalls like Gocta and Yumbilla create a destination with endless possibilities.
Attractions: Kuelap, Gocta Cataracts, Carajia, Lake Pomacochas, Mirador de Huancas, etc.
7. Loreto
Loreto is a large region in the Amazon Rainforest in northeast Peru. It borders Brazil to the east, Colombia to the northeast, and Ecuador to the northwest.
In the northeast, the regional capital Iquitos is known for its district of Belen, built on stilts.
Here the longest river in the world that unites the people that live in the heart of the rainforest, crosses this region where forests grow on white sands and are home to an extremely diverse array of flora and fauna.
In Loreto, you will find exotic places to visit which will be an experience that you live to the full so don’t forget to explore Loreto when you are in Peru.
Attractions: Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Belen, Itaya River, Lake Cuipari etc.
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