Peru

Places in Peru

• Abancay

  Abancay is a practical gateway to the Ampay protected area and the Choquequirao trekking route. Hikers can use the town as a base for exploring the surrounding highlands.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$34

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Aguas Calientes

  This compact town on the Urubamba river is a staging point for visits to Machu Picchu. Most visitors stay overnight before continuing to the archaeological site.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$66

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Andagua

  Andagua is a remote altiplano town in southern Peru, serving as the gateway to the spectacular Valle de Los Volcanes (Valley of Volcanoes). The town offers a rare opportunity to experience traditional Peruvian rural life relatively untouched by tourism, with friendly locals who routinely stop to chat with visitors.

  Atlas entry

• Andahuaylas

  Andahuaylas is the capital of Andahuaylas Province in Apurímac Region, known as the 'pradera de los celajes'. Population about 42,000 at 3,000m elevation.

  Atlas entry

• Arequipa

  Arequipa's historic center is shaped by pale sillar stone and a blend of indigenous and colonial heritage. Its UNESCO-listed architecture gives travelers a rich setting for wandering on foot.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$46

  Best months

  Mar–Dec

• Atalaya

  Atalaya is a remote gateway into the Peruvian Amazon. The town lies where the Tambo and Urubamba meet to form the Ucayali, making rivers central to a visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$39

  Best months

  May–Oct

• Ayacucho

  Wool and alpaca tapestries give this Andean city a distinctive craft tradition. Upright looms, natural dyes and handspun yarns create textiles with sculptural depth.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$28

  Best months

  May–Oct

• Barranca

  Barranca is a coastal port with a slower pace than Lima and a strong provincial food scene. Nearby Caral adds an archaeological focus to a stay on Peru's central coast.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$47

  Best months

  Nov–May

• Cachora

  Cachora is the most popular starting point for travelers who want to see the amazing newly rediscovered Inca site Choquequirao. Located in Apurimac department, it serves as the gateway for the challenging trek to Choquequirao, a site often called the 'sister city' of Machu Picchu.

  Atlas entry

• Cajamarca

  Cajamarca combines colonial churches, hot springs and local cheeses in a highland setting. Nearby archaeological sites and waterfalls give visitors reasons to explore beyond the city center.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$33

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Camaná

  Camaná is a modest coastal city in Peru's Southern Coast region, best known for its proximity to La Punta beach town and its exceptional fresh seafood. The area offers cold but refreshing ocean waters ideal for hot summer days, an Incan cemetery at Mirador del Inca, and a traditional plaza with cathedral.

  Atlas entry

• Caral

  The Sacred City of Caral-Supe is the oldest civilisation found in South America, dating from roughly 3000 BC — about the same age as Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisation. The 66 ha site comprises about 18 ruins of pyramids and other structures, of which 7 large pyramids are the star attraction.

  Atlas entry

• Caraz

  Caraz is one of the few places in Peru that has escaped earthquake destruction, preserving its colonial charm with red-tailed roofs, ornate balconies, narrow streets, and colorful plazas. At 2,270 m elevation, it sits near the Cordillera Blanca range and serves as the ideal base for preparing multi-day treks or enjoying day hikes in Huascarán National Park.

  Atlas entry

• Cerro de Pasco

  Cerro de Pasco is one of the highest cities in the world at 4,330 metres (14,210 ft), offering a stark, surreal urban experience dominated by an open-pit mine that has literally consumed the city center. While heavily polluted with documented lead poisoning affecting local children, it presents a unique destination for those interested in urban decay, mining history, or offbeat travel.

  Atlas entry

• Chachapoyas

  Day trips and longer treks lead to Gocta and surrounding archaeological sites. Provincial parades and traditional dress add a cultural reason to visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$43

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Chavín de Huántar

  Chavín de Huántar is an ancient ceremonial center where the Huachecsa and Mosna rivers meet. Underground galleries and the Lanzón deity pillar are central to its appeal.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$38

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Chiclayo

  Chiclayo is a gateway to Moche and Lambayeque cultural treasures, including the Sipan Museum. Plazas such as Parque Principal and Plazuela Elias Aguirre remain lively after sunset.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$46

  Best months

  Mar–Jan

• Chimbote

  Chimbote is a city on the Northern Coast of Peru, home to a prosperous fishing industry. As a transit point on the Panamerican Highway, it offers a convenient stopover with a modern bus terminal.

  Atlas entry

• Chinchero

  Chinchero combines Inca terraces, a frescoed colonial church and a living weaving tradition. Its market and plaza offer a close look at local textiles in a high Andean setting.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$59

  Best months

  Apr–Sep

• Choquequirao

  Terraces, plazas and residential ruins spread across Choquequirao. Its approach trek opens onto views of the Apurimac River and cloud forest.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$49

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Chucuito

  Chucuito is a small, quiet town on the western shore of Lake Titicaca south of Puno, best known for the 16th-century Inca Uyo (Temple of Fertility). The town offers sweeping lake views, a relaxed atmosphere, and access to a scenic viewpoint with a large white cross on the cliff above the village.

  Atlas entry

• Colca Canyon

  Colca Canyon combines dramatic canyon scenery with indigenous Andean culture. Condor watching at Cruz del Condor and local homestays give visits a focus beyond the viewpoints.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Cuispes

  Cuispes is a small Amazonas village used as a base for Yumbilla waterfall and cloud-forest walks. Its quiet trails offer butterflies, birdwatching and chances to see the Andean cock-of-the-rock.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$52

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Cuzco

  Colonial architecture rises above Inca walls in the former imperial capital. The UNESCO-listed city rewards walks focused on its surviving stonework and historic buildings.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$45

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Huacachina

  A small desert village wraps around a lagoon beneath high sand dunes. Sandboarding and dune buggy rides shape much of the visitor experience.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

  Best months

  Apr–Nov

• Huancavelica

  Huancavelica sits at 3,680 m elevation in Peru's Southern Sierra, surrounded by mountains exceeding 4,000 m. The colonial-era plaza features well-preserved churches open 17:00-19:00, while the thermal bath offers warm-water soaking at temperatures between 18-22°C with daily basin refills early morning.

  Atlas entry

• Huancayo

  Huancayo sits in the Mantaro Valley, where pre-Inca Huanca heritage remains part of the landscape. It makes a base for archaeological visits and treks toward Huaytapallana.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$30

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Huanchaco

  This relaxed northern coastal town pairs surfing with a working fishing tradition. Local fishermen still use caballitos de totora, boats made from reeds.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$32

  Best months

  Oct–May

• Huánuco

  Huánuco is a regional capital with 75,000 residents in Peru's Central Highlands, positioned at 1,913 m elevation. Its mild semi-arid climate offers pleasant temperatures year-round with warm days and cool nights.

  Atlas entry

• Huaral

  Huaral is a historic agricultural city that serves as a gateway between Lima and the northern highlands. Founded in 1551, it offers colonial-era architecture centered around its Plaza de Armas, regional cuisine like the famous chancho al palo (pit-roasted pork), and access to the pre-Hispanic Rúpac archaeological site.

  Atlas entry

• Huaraz

  Huaraz is a high-altitude base for trekking in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. Mountain walks are the main reason to linger in this Andean city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$26

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Ica

  Ica combines vineyard visits and pisco traditions with easy access to the dunes around Huacachina. The nearby oasis offers sandboarding in a stark desert landscape.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$41

  Best months

  Mar–Dec

• Iquitos

  Amazon jungle trips are the main reason to base yourself here. Excursions range from day outings to extended lodge stays.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

• Isla Amantani

  Family homestays, mountain hikes and ancient ruins draw visitors to Isla Amantani. Traditional dance gatherings add a cultural dimension to an overnight visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$43

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Jaén

  Jaén is a warm high-jungle stopover linking northern Peru with Ecuador. Travelers use its bus connections to continue toward Chachapoyas and Loja.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$31

  Best months

  Jun–Oct

• Jauja

  Jauja is a quiet Andean city with a slower pace than nearby Huancayo, offering more significant ruins despite fewer tourists. Its nickname 'país de Jauja' (land of milk and honey) reflects its former glory as capital of Spanish Peru before Lima's founding.

  Atlas entry

• Juliaca

  Juliaca is a high-altitude commercial city and a transport gateway to Puno and Lake Titicaca. Textile markets and colonial churches offer a glimpse of everyday Andean urban life.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$37

  Best months

  May–Oct

• La Merced

  La Merced offers waterfall outings, jungle excursions and Ashaninka crafts. Its tropical setting makes a convenient base for visitors seeking rainforest scenery without a remote expedition.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$35

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Lima

  Lima's Miraflores district offers plentiful visitor accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. Barranco adds colonial architecture and an artsy atmosphere.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$66

  Best months

  Nov–Apr

• Los Organos

  Los Organos suits travelers looking for peaceful beach time and fresh seafood. Surfing at Punta Veleros adds an active option to a slow coastal stay.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$38

  Best months

  Apr–Jan

• Machu Picchu

  Closely fitted Inca stonework links temples and astronomical structures high in the Andes. The mountain setting gives the archaeological remains a striking backdrop.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$160

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Máncora

  Máncora is a northern Peruvian beach town with surfing and a lively nightlife scene. Holiday periods bring crowds and competing beach bars, so the atmosphere can be noisy.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$40

  Best months

  Apr–Jan

• Maras

  Maras provides access to the salt pans at Salineras and the agricultural terraces at Moray. These sites make a focused Sacred Valley outing from nearby towns such as Urubamba or Pisac.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$56

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Moyobamba

  Moyobamba is an Amazon gateway known for orchid exhibitions and jungle drinks. Nearby waterfalls and mountain hikes make it a useful base for exploring northern Peru.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$34

  Best months

  Jun–Sep

• Nazca

  Ancient animal and geometric geoglyphs draw visitors to this desert town. Aqueducts, pottery workshops and the tombs at Chauchilla give the surrounding region more to explore.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$30

  Best months

  Apr–Nov

• Ollantaytambo

  Ollantaytambo is a living Inca town with an ancient cobblestone grid. Stone foundations built centuries ago still support inhabited homes.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$61

  Best months

  May–Oct

• Oxapampa

  A wooden church on the main square and an orchid garden give this town a gentle sightseeing rhythm. Near Tsachopen, artisans make pottery and jewelry from plant seeds.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$39

  Best months

  May–Oct

• Paracas

  Paracas is a small beach resort town on Peru's Southern Coast, also known as 'El Chaco'. While the local beach is modest, it serves as the gateway to the stunning Paracas National Reserve with miles of sandy shores, dramatic desert landscapes, and the famous Ballestas Islands.

  Atlas entry

• Paucartambo

  Paucartambo is a small Andean city in Peru's Southern Sierra region, known for hosting one of the most colorful festivals in the country: la Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, held from July 15-19. Unlike many Peruvian destinations, Paucartambo remains largely untouristed, offering authentic interactions with locals and their traditions.

  Atlas entry

• Pichanaki

  Pichanaki is a small frontier town at 525 meters elevation on the Rio Perene, serving as a transit point between La Merced and Satipo in Peru's Southern Sierra. The area is known for nearby waterfalls including Catarata de Bayoz and Velo de la Novia, both accessible via Puerto Yurinaki turnoffs.

  Atlas entry

• Pisac

  A traditional Sacred Valley town sits below Inca ruins on a steep mountain ridge. Its Sunday market and archaeological setting give visitors distinct reasons to linger.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$45

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Pisco

  Pisco is a medium-sized fishing town on Peru's Southern Coast, located just south of Lima. While the town itself has little to offer tourists, it serves as the primary launchpad for trips to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas national reserve.

  Atlas entry

• Piura

  Colonial architecture and shaded plazas give this busy northern city a center worth exploring. It also makes a base for Pacific beaches and mountain villages.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$34

  Best months

  May–Nov

• Pozuzo

  Pozuzo is a small town with distinct Austrian-German heritage, more pronounced than in neighboring Oxapampa, though German language knowledge is declining. The town sits at 823 meters above sea level along the Rio Hauncabamba, offering a unique cultural blend and access to mountain trails with waterfalls.

  Atlas entry

• Pucallpa

  On the Ucayali River, this port city is a base for outings to Lake Yarinacocha. Lake excursions and visits to nearby indigenous communities shape much of the appeal.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$49

  Best months

  May–Aug

• Puerto Malabrigo

  Puerto Malabrigo (also called Puerto Chicama) is a small surf town on Peru's northern coast, 20 km northwest of Paiján and 50 km north of Trujillo. It draws surfers from around the world for one reason: the legendary point break at Chicama produces the longest left-hand wave on the planet, sometimes stretching over 2 km.

  Atlas entry

• Puerto Maldonado

  This frontier city is a base for jungle lodges and expeditions into Tambopata National Reserve. River views, moto-taxis and affordable restaurants shape a relaxed stop between excursions.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$46

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Puno

  Puno is a high-altitude port on Lake Titicaca and a base for visits to its islands. Its central square and pedestrian Calle Lima offer restaurants and bars between lake excursions.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Santa Rosa Island

  Santa Rosa is a small Peruvian island settlement in the Amazon's border region with Brazil and Colombia. Its quiet atmosphere contrasts with nearby Tabatinga and Leticia.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$37

  Best months

  Jun–Sep

• Tarapoto

  Tarapoto is a base for waterfall excursions and visits to wildlife reserves. It connects travelers with both Amazon jungle and highland destinations.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$41

  Best months

  May–Oct

• Tarma

  Pre-Inca ruins, caves with ancient paintings and mountain waterfalls surround this highland town. Roads lead toward the jungle for a change of landscape.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$28

  Best months

  May–Sep

• Trujillo

  Trujillo combines a colonial center with visits to the adobe citadel of Chan Chan. It also offers coastal seafood, marinera dance traditions and easy access to Huanchaco's surf scene.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$42

  Best months

  Year-round

• Tumbes

  Tumbes is a northern Peruvian transit hub for travel toward Ecuador and along the coast. Nearby beaches, mangroves and protected landscapes give travelers reasons to pause beyond the bus terminal.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$45

  Best months

  May–Nov

• Uros Islands

  Floating reed islands lie among Lake Titicaca's marshes near Puno. Their channel setting offers a distinctive view of the Peruvian Altiplano.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$54

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Urubamba

  Urubamba is a small, calm town in Peru's Sacred Valley. It offers a relaxed setting for a slower stay among the valley's sightseeing destinations.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$47

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Villa Rica

  Villa Rica is a small highland town at 1500 meters elevation in Peru's Central Sierra. Its main claim to fame is Cerro de Sal (Salt Mountain), a distinctive landmark visible from town.

  Atlas entry