Best Things to Do in Peru Besides Machu Picchu

Bell | 26 November 24

Machu Picchu is undoubtedly Peru’s most well-known attraction, but is it really the only highlight? In this guide, I have listed my favourite things to do in Peru besides Machu Picchu, from sandboarding the biggest dunes in South America to hiking the bluest lakes I’ve ever seen.

Before heading to Peru, I honestly didn’t know much about the country except that it had Machu Picchu. Which (embarassingly) is also the only reason I went there from Chile, as it had been on my bucket list for years.

You can imagine my surprise when I ended up spending 5 weeks in Peru and loving every second. Sure, Machu Picchu was a highlight, but so many of my favourite memories are from other experiences. From Colca Canyon to Huacachina to Huaraz, Peru is truly so much more than just Machu Picchu.

I have summarised all my favourite things to do in Peru outside of Machu Picchu in this guide. Leave me a comment if I have missed any of your favourites!

If you are looking for accommodation in any of Peru’s main cities, you can find all of my favourites here.

How to get to Peru:

Lima is Peru’s only international airport so you will likely start your journey here at Jorge Chavez International Airport. You can find my full guide on Lima airport and things to do in the city here.

The other way to get to Peru is by land, usually by bus. I personally came from Bolivia, more specifically Copacabana and got an overnight bus to Arequipa. I have written a full guide on bus travel in Peru for you here.

You could also enter from Chile, Brazil, Ecuador or Colombia by bus. You usually have to get out of the bus for border crossings and get stamped out of one country and another stamp to enter the new country.

Top Things to Do in Peru Beyond Machu Picchu

Visit South America’s biggest sand dunes in Huacachina

Huacachina is a small desert oasis, full of hotels, bars, restaurants and most importantly, lots of adventure sports. It is located 4 hours from Lima by bus. You get off at Ica and then get one of the small TukTuk taxis to Huacachina – this shouldn’t cost more than 10 soles.

The most popular activity is sandboarding, either on a normal sandboard that you lie on or for skiers and snowboarders, with real equipment. Tours are every evening with sunset included and prices range from £15 to £45 for tours with the ski/snowboard equipment. They also include sand buggies that race you up and down the dunes, which feels like a rollercoaster. If you are a few people you may be able to haggle down the price too. I went on this tour with Dito Sand Xsports and they were fantastic.

The dunes are the largest in South America and are truly impressive. I loved climbing them and watching the sun set, turning the sand into a sea of gold. Seeing the Oasis and hotels surrounding it light up was also beautiful. At night, Huacachina is super lively with karaoke, party games and so much more.

See the bluest lakes in Huaraz

Huaraz is in the north of Peru, about eight hours by bus from Lima. It is known for some of the most beautiful hikes in Peru, arguably even in the world (just Google the Huayhuash trek – 8 days of unrivalled views). Don’t worry though, you don’t have to hike 8 days to enjoy Huaraz’s beauty.

One thing to note about this town though is the altitude. It sits at a lofty 3,052 m with a lot of the popular hikes such as Laguna 69 going up to 4600m+. I personally cannot handle altitude that well and had limited time to acclimatise so went on two easier hikes, Laguna Paron and Laguna/Glacier Rocutuyoc.

Both hikes involved 1-2 hours of hiking with breathtaking views. I have only ever seen lakes this blue in Canada before.

Huaraz was not on my original list of places to visit in Peru, but I urge everyone to put it on their list. Nature-wise, it is easily one of Peru’s highlights!

Go surfing in Huanchaco

Also in the north but along the coast, you will find Huanchaco, your typical surfer town. The vibes are relaxed and you can find some delicious food plus the nicest people.

On top of that, it is easily the cheapest place I have ever seen for surf lessons. You can find 3-hour lessons starting at just £15 – that is unheard of. Rentals are at most £5 per day, which makes Huanchaco the perfect place to learn or improve on surfing.

About twenty minutes from Huanchaco is also Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian city that is now an archaeological site. The sheer size of Chan Chan is hard to comprehend and the history of it is fascinating. Truly worth a visit.

Marvel at the Andean Condor in the Colca Canyon

You can reach Colca Canyon from the city of Arequipa, also referred to as the White City as it is built out of white volcanic stone. Arequipa itself is definitely worth a visit with its beautiful architecture and delicious food.

The Colca Canyon is about a four-hour drive from Arequipa, where you will pass 5000m at the highest point. I would highly recommend a 2 or even 3-day tour through this canyon as one day is quite hectic. You can either choose to hike the canyon or do a car tour, depending on your fitness.

Colca Canyon is famous for the Andean Condor, one of the largest flying birds with a wingspan of over 3 meters. Seeing it glide through the canyon is a magical feeling.

Apart from the condors, Colca Canyon also offers beautiful views, traditional communities and incredible hot springs. I did a car tour with Tierra Milenaria as I wasn’t well enough to hike and our guide was incredible. He knew all the secret spots to see the condors. If you are able to hike, it is supposed to be even more incredible – I would recommend this tour.

Eat your way through Lima

A lot of people have mixed feelings about Lima, I really enjoyed the city. First of all, the food options here are incredible. Second, the areas of Miraflores and Barranco are beautiful and there are so many things to do. Here is my full guide on what to do in Lima.

One thing you cannot miss is this food tour. The amount of different, local food we got to try was incredible. From street food to Ceviche to exotic fruit to snacks in Chinatown – you certainly won’t need breakfast before this tour. The perfect introduction to Peruvian cuisine.

If you prefer smaller groups (the free tour had up to 30 people), I can recommend this tour:

Step back in time in the Sacred Valley

If I could change one thing about my time in Peru, it would be to spend a few days in the Sacred Valley. I did a one-day tour from Cusco and it just wasn’t enough.

Sacred Valley is so full of history and culture, from the hilltop Inca citadel of Pisac to the fascinating Maras Salt Mines to the impressive Ollantaytambo Inca ruins. There are also some beautiful accommodation options there, including the Skylodge Adventure Suites where you sleep in a glass dome hanging off the side of a mountain.

Machu Picchu is often the most talked about Inca ruin near Cusco, but Sacred Valley is just as impressive and offers a much more varied look into life back in the day.

Go off-grid in the Amazon

The Amazon River is the largest in the world, originating in Peru and flowing through Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. Peru is one of the best places to see the rich wildlife of the Amazon and experience life off-grid in the rainforest.

The three main starting points in Peru for Amazon tours are Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos and Manu National Park. The easiest to reach from Cusco is Puerto Maldonado, a 9-hour bus ride or 1-hour flight.

The Amazon Rainforest is easily one of the most magical places on earth, just make sure you bring a good bug spray (minimum 20% DEET).

Where to stay in Peru:

Here are some of the top accommodations at three different price points for all of the cities/places mentioned in this guide:

Huaraz:

$ – Lhotse Hostel B&B or Kame House Backpacker
$$ – Casa de Ana B&B
$$$ – Akilpo Home (one of the most expensive in Huaraz and still only £45 per night)

How much time do you need in Peru?

I would say an absolute minimum of two weeks is required to see the main sights of Peru, 3-4 if you want to add things like the Amazon rainforest and longer hikes.

You can see a very condensed version of the highlights in one week if you are super short on time. It would likely only be Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu though.

Keep in mind that a lot of Peru is at high altitude, so you will need to add in a few days for acclimatisation for example in Cusco and Huaraz. Do not underestimate altitude sickness, trust me!

Is Peru worth visiting without Machu Picchu?

Getting Machu Picchu tickets is actually quite complicated, especially if you do it last minute. Peak times sell out up to a year in advance, so for spontaneous travellers like me it can be difficult do organise. I got lucky and managed to get a spot ont he short Inca trail with entry to Machu Picchu Circuit 1&3 only two weeks in advance, but the agency told me this was an exception.

So, if you are last-minute and not able to get that Machu Picchu reservation, is it still worth visiting Peru?

1000%!!!! Peru is so much more than Machu Picchu, I only scratched the surface in this guide. I honestly didn’t know much about Peru before arriving (except for Machu Picchu) and it has blown me away. Some of my favourite memories are sandboarding in Huacachina, the blue lakes of Huaraz and watching the Andean condors in the Colca Canyon.