Peru

Peru is as rich and intricate as its finest weavings—where vibrant festivals celebrate ancient traditions, dynamic cities drive modern innovation, and nature offers breathtaking diversity.

1. Laguna Parón

Laguna Parón, the largest lake in the Cordillera Blanca — a snowcapped section of the Andes in west-central Peru — is a breathtaking destination for hikers, climbers, and nature lovers. Located within Huascarán National Park, 62 miles north of Huaraz, this stunning 17.1-square-mile lake glows with a turquoise hue due to its high lime content. Towering snow-capped peaks like Artesonraju (believed to have inspired the Paramount Pictures logo) surround the lake, creating a postcard-perfect scene.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, Laguna Parón sits at 4,185 meters above sea level. Whether you arrive by car or on foot, the peaceful atmosphere invites you to kayak, climb, camp, or simply take in the awe-inspiring views.


Getting There

From Lima to Huaraz:
Take an 8-hour night bus from Lima to Huaraz. Companies like MovilBus are reliable.

From Huaraz to Laguna Parón (Tour Option):
Join an organized tour from Huaraz or Caraz for S/50–70 per person. Book a certified guide upon arrival in Huaraz; tours typically begin around 7:30–8:00 AM. Use your first day to acclimate (Huaraz is at 3,052m/10,013ft).

DIY Route:

  1. Take a combi from Huaraz to Caraz (S/6–8, 2 hours). Vans leave from Jr. Cajamarca.

  2. Hire a taxi in Caraz to Laguna Parón and back, including a 2–3 hour wait time (S/150–180). The road is rough, and the trip takes about 2 hours.


Hiking to Laguna Parón

Adventurous travelers can hike from the village of Parón (S/8–10 combi from Caraz). The 8-mile trail takes 3–5 hours, with steep and rocky sections. Use GPS apps like Maps.me for navigation, and consider hiring a guide, as signage is limited. To return the same day, catch the last combi from Parón town before 3 PM.


Things to Do at Laguna Parón

  • Kayaking: Rent a kayak for 30 minutes (S/20) and glide across the glacial waters.

  • Boat Ride: Take a short scenic ride (S/10 per person, 15 minutes).

  • Rock Climbing: Challenge yourself on Torre de Parón, known as the Sphinx, with 13 established climbing routes.

  • Hike to Mirador: A 30–40 minute uphill trek to a panoramic viewpoint of the lake — perfect for photos.

  • Camping: Camp near the lake for free (no amenities). Bring your own gear, warm layers, and food, and be sure to pack out all trash.


Essential Tips

  • Entrance Fee: S/5, paid at Huascarán National Park.

  • Food & Water: Stock up in Huaraz or Caraz — there are no shops at the lake.

  • Best Time to Visit: April to September (dry season).

  • Altitude Warning: Acclimatize in Huaraz or Caraz to avoid altitude sickness.

  • Cash Only: Carry enough Peruvian soles for all expenses — cards are not accepted.

  • Local Eats: Try charqui (dried meat) at La Peña del Gordo in Caraz.

2. Isla Amantaní

Tucked away in the vast blue waters of Lake Titicaca, Isla Amantaní is a peaceful and lesser-visited island with a unique charm. Home to just around 4,000 residents and located north of Isla Taquile, Amantaní offers travelers a serene and authentic escape into traditional island life.

A Stay Unlike Any Other

The best way to experience Amantaní is through a community-run homestay. Upon arrival, the Amantaní Community Lodging program matches visitors with local families in a rotating system to ensure fair income distribution. Meals are shared with your hosts and often feature simple island staples such as fresh fish and quinoa. Small shops offer basic snacks.

Isla Amantaní is entirely car-free, with no roads or even dogs, which adds to its stillness and simplicity. At night, the sky glitters with stars, offering a stunning view rarely found elsewhere.

Ancient Ruins and Breathtaking Views

The island is dotted with archaeological ruins that crown its hills, including the sacred sites of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Pachatata (Father Earth). These date back to the Tiwanaku civilization, an ancient culture that once thrived around Lake Titicaca.

The islanders, who speak Quechua with strong Aymara influences, often welcome guests to join in traditional music and dance, offering a joyful and memorable cultural exchange.

How to Get to Isla Amantaní

  • From Puno: Ferries depart daily at 8:30 AM from the main port. A round-trip costs S/30, and there’s a small S/8 entry fee to the island.

  • From Amantaní: Return boats to Taquile or Puno usually depart around 4 PM daily. There’s also an early boat around 8 AM, depending on demand.

  • From Llachón: A private boat taxi to and from Amantaní costs S/100.

3. Monasterio de Santa Catalina

Even if you’ve already had your fill of colonial architecture, Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa is unmissable. Enclosed within towering high walls and spanning over 20,000 square meters, this vast complex is more than just a religious building – it’s a self-contained citadel steeped in history, mystery, and spiritual serenity.

Founded in 1580 by a wealthy widow, Doña María de Guzmán, the monastery occupies an entire city block. Its quiet, colorful alleys and hidden corners make it one of Peru’s most captivating historical sites. Entry is from the southeast corner, and from there, you step into a timeless world.

Exploring the Monastery

Guided tours (available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese) cost S/20 and last about an hour. These insightful tours provide rich historical context and highlight the most fascinating parts of the complex. Afterwards, you’re free to explore on your own until closing time.

For a more atmospheric experience, visit on one of the monastery’s evening openings, when the candlelit paths give a haunting glimpse into how the nuns once moved through the silent halls.

A Journey Through the Cloisters

Start your visit at the Novice Cloister, entered beneath the arched silencio (silence) sign. This courtyard, anchored by a rubber tree, was where new nuns spent their first four years in solemn reflection and strict discipline. Families paid steep dowries to secure their daughter’s place here. Upon completing their novitiate, the young women chose whether to take their final vows – a decision that carried great weight and social consequence.

From there, step into the Orange Cloister, named for the orange trees that symbolize rebirth and eternal life. Here, you can view the Profundis Room, where deceased nuns were mourned. Portraits of the dead line the walls – painted within 24 hours of their passing, as painting them alive was forbidden.

Walk along Córdova Street, where the nuns’ former cells vary from humble to luxurious, reflecting each family’s status. Further along, Toledo Street leads to a quiet café serving fresh pastries and espresso, as well as a communal washing area, where servants once used mountain runoff collected in massive clay jars.

Continue down Burgos Street, passing through the former kitchen, originally used as the convent’s church until 1871. Then reach Zocodober Square, where nuns once traded handmade goods like soap and bread. Nearby is the cell of Sor Ana, a legendary figure believed to have performed miracles and made astonishingly accurate prophecies until her death in 1686.

The Great Cloister & Chapel

Conclude your visit in the Great Cloister, framed by a chapel on one side and an art gallery on the other. Once a communal dormitory, the gallery space now houses religious murals depicting scenes from the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The building itself forms the shape of a cross, reinforcing the deep spiritual symbolism that runs throughout the monastery.

4. Museo Larco

Housed in an 18th-century viceroy’s mansion, the Museo Larco offers one of Lima’s most impressive and immersive experiences for history and art lovers. Founded in 1926 by pioneering archaeologist and collector Rafael Larco Hoyle, this museum holds over 50,000 ceramic pieces, forming one of the most comprehensive collections of pre-Columbian art in the world.

Wander through beautifully curated galleries showcasing masterpieces from ancient Peruvian cultures such as the Cupisnique, Chimú, Chancay, Nazca, Wari, and Inca. Among the highlights are the remarkable Moche portrait vessels, presented in minimalist, dramatically lit displays that capture their emotional intensity and realism. Another standout is an intricately woven Wari textile with an astonishing 398 threads per linear inch – a technical marvel that still holds a record.

Unexpected Treasures

In addition to ceramics, the museum features a dazzling display of pre-Columbian gold, silver, and precious stones, testifying to the craftsmanship and spiritual symbolism of ancient Andean civilizations.

Perhaps most famously, Museo Larco is also home to a separate gallery of pre-Columbian erotic art. These explicit and often humorous pieces illustrate the openness with which ancient cultures depicted human sexuality, including a notable display on sexually transmitted diseases that offers both insight and intrigue.

Café & Location

After exploring the galleries, unwind at the Café del Museo, an elegant spot overlooking a private bougainvillea-draped garden. This serene setting is the perfect place to enjoy a ceviche or a coffee while reflecting on Peru’s rich cultural past.

Getting There

To reach the museum, take a ‘Todo Bolívar’ bus from Av. Arequipa in Miraflores to Bolívar’s 15th block. From there, follow the painted blue line on the sidewalk, which conveniently leads to the museum entrance. You can also continue along this route to visit the nearby Museo Nacional de Antropología, Arqueología e Historia del Perú, just a 15-minute walk away.

5. Iglesia de Santo Domingo

One of the most significant religious landmarks in Lima, the Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo holds deep historical and spiritual resonance. Originally built in the 16th century on land granted to Dominican friar Vicente de Valverde – a key figure in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire – this iconic pink-hued church has undergone numerous reconstructions over the centuries, blending colonial charm with baroque flair.

A Shrine to Peru’s Most Beloved Saints

Santo Domingo is especially revered as the final resting place of three of Peru’s most venerated saints:

  • Santa Rosa de Lima – the first canonized saint of the Americas.

  • San Martín de Porres – the first black saint of the Americas, known for his compassion and miraculous healing.

  • San Juan Macías – a Dominican lay brother renowned for his piety and care for the poor.

Their tombs lie within the adjacent convent, a beautiful and peaceful cloistered complex adorned with baroque religious paintings, colonial-era Spanish tiles, and quiet courtyards.

Remarkable Relics

Inside the main church, to the right of the ornate altar, visitors will find a modest shrine containing the skulls of Santa Rosa and San Martín, reverently displayed in glass cases. These relics are among the most cherished in Peru and draw both the faithful and the curious alike.

6. El Circuito Mágico del Agua

Prepare to be amazed by Lima’s Circuito Mágico del Agua, an extravagant and unforgettable experience that delights visitors of all ages. Located in Parque de la Reserva, this whimsical series of illuminated fountains is nothing short of spectacular – even the most skeptical traveler will be left wide-eyed in wonder.

The park features a dozen uniquely designed fountains, each choreographed with vibrant lights, water jets, and music. The highlight is the 120-meter-long Fuente de la Fantasía (Fantasy Fountain), where water dances in sync with a laser light show set to an eclectic soundtrack ranging from traditional Peruvian waltzes to ABBA.

It’s theatrical, it’s surreal – and it’s pure joy. The Circuito Mágico del Agua is a must-see after dark, offering a one-of-a-kind blend of technology, art, and national pride.

7. Belén Mercado

At the southeastern edge of town lies the extraordinary floating shantytown of Belén, a unique community where scores of huts rest on rafts that gently rise and fall with the Amazon River. During the low-water season, these rafts settle on the muddy riverbed, but for most of the year, they drift freely — creating a vibrant, ever-changing mosaic of colors and life.

Home to around 7,000 people, Belén is a hive of activity where canoes glide from hut to hut, trading and selling jungle produce in a lively network of river commerce. The best time to visit is early morning, around 7 a.m., when vendors from nearby jungle villages arrive with fresh goods.

To reach Belén, take a cab to Los Chinos, then walk to the port and rent a canoe for a guided tour around the floating village. The nearby market, located just in front of Belén within city blocks, is a bustling, crowded spectacle typical of Peruvian towns. Its mud and mosquitoes are a testament to the fluctuating water levels, making it feel even more raw and authentic.

The market is a treasure trove of unusual finds — from bottled ayahuasca to insect grubs — alongside staples like rice, sugar, and household goods. Don’t miss the bark of the chuchuhuasi tree, soaked in rum for weeks to create a potent tonic popular in local bars. This and other Amazonian plants from Belén form the basis of herbal remedies for pain and arthritis, now exported globally.

Exploring Belén’s market is both exciting and eye-opening, but keep a close watch on your belongings amid the hustle and bustle.

8. Cruz del Cóndor

For many visitors, this viewpoint is the unforgettable highlight of their journey through the Cañón del Colca. A large family of Andean condors nests on the nearby rocky cliffs, and with a bit of luck, you’ll witness these majestic birds soaring gracefully on the thermal air currents rising from the canyon, sometimes gliding low enough to pass just overhead. The scene is nothing short of mesmerizing, framed by the breathtaking 1,200-meter drop to the river below and the towering Nevado Mismi across the ravine.

Unlike some overrated tourist spots, this viewpoint rarely disappoints. However, in recent years, spotting condors has become more challenging, due largely to air pollution—caused in part by travelers’ campfires and tour buses. Condors are also less active on rainy days and are generally absent during the wet months of January and February. During peak season, expect crowds of around two hundred visitors gathered for the popular 8 a.m. ‘show.’

If you’re traveling independently, large Milagro buses (S8) run here on the way to Cabanaconde, departing at 7:30 a.m. from Chivay’s bus station. Afterward, the only public transport to Cabanaconde is a minivan (S5) at around 11 a.m., which doubles as a shuttle for local women selling artesanías (handicrafts). Otherwise, you’ll face a long 12.5-kilometer walk or a lengthy wait for the next return bus from Cabanaconde.

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