My Peru Musts
Petting the alpacas at Palcoyo Mountain
Peru is a MASSIVE country that even I couldn’t fully tackle in two months of traveling around.
When I say this country has everything you could ever dream of… I am not exaggerating.
From mountains and surf towns to deserts and rainforests… Peru takes the cake in terms of global landscapes– in my opinion! But what do you do when you can do SO much in one country?
In hopes of not overwhelming you with everything… I listed what I would consider my main recommendations for places and experiences in Peru.
—Disclaimer: I, sadly, did not make it to the Amazon, so I cannot comment on those regions of the country. I spent much more time than I expected hiking and will have to return for a jungle experience! —
Exploring Lima City Center
Lima: A Food Lover’s Paradise
If you are coming to Peru for its incredible gastronomy… Lima is your hub. Although I wouldn’t necessarily label it a proper representation for the beauty of the country, Lima is a vibrant capital with a lot to offer. The food scene here is top-notch, and if you stay in the right area you can really enjoy your time here.
Restaurants I highly recommend in Lima:
Punto Azul (Miraflores): I ordered the smoked octopus ceviche as recommended by my server. WOW. I couldn’t thank him enough for it. I went back a couple days later because I couldn’t get this dish – and their pisco sours– off my mind! Also, I think the prices are quite reasonable for the quality.
Siete Sopas*: This restaurant is a local favorite and I came to that conclusion myself because every time I went the lines were insane. On my first trip there I wondered if the 45 minute wait was worth it and it absolutely was! I had the Tacu Tacu de Lomo Saltado and I actually went back three times total… because I was obsessed.
Their store name actually translates to “seven soups,” but they sell a good variety of dishes. Their traditional soups are amazing and they offer even a tiny size if you’re just looking to try one! You will find soups everywhere in Latin America so it’s best to dip your *spoon early.
*There are two locations in Lima, one in the Miraflores neighborhood and another closer to the historic center. Expect to wait!
Exploring the local market and Barrio Chino (Downtown Lima): You can also head to the Mercado Central which is a large indoor market with everything from fresh meat and herbs to local food stalls and clothing. This market is perfect for walking around and soaking up the bustling energy of local merchants. The Mercado Central is also right by Lima’s famous Barrio Chino (Chinatown) which is a picturesque, exciting, and delicious neighborhood where you can find Chifas (Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisines). Just make sure to keep an eye on your belongings here!
Arepa Cafe (Barranco near Viajero Hostel): If you are craving Venezuelan food (which is perfect when you are hungover)— you must go here! Their arepas are AMAZING and their service is spectacular!
Where to stay:
If I could recommend a place to stay in Lima it would 100% be the Barranco neighborhood. The historic center is great to visit in the daytime for the beautiful government buildings, museums, catacombs, etc., but it’s not the safest. Miraflores is safe, but I found it to be very commercialized with fast food restaurants in every corner. Barranco is safe and beautiful with a bohemian vibe. I stayed at the Viajero hostel there and I had SO much fun and made a ton of friends. It’s a very comfortable and beautiful hostel with a massive bar on the side of the building. I wouldn’t necessarily label it a “party” hostel, rather a social one where people can easily chat and then head off to the cocktail street after 11pm (when the hostel bar closes).
You can easily access the historic center and Miraflores via bus (super cheap and easy to figure out) or by rideshare (Uber works here).
Viajero Barranco Hostel— if you stay at any Viajero Hostel’s save your guest bracelet! You will receive a discount on your stay if you show it at reception.
Cusco: Gateway to Adventure!
Cusco is THE Peruvian city everyone loves!
It’s colorful, lively, fun, and the starting point for many incredible adventures like Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu. I visited the city in June which is a month of nonstop celebration due to the winter solstice that occurs near the third week of the month. The weather was cool, but the sun was strong and with the endless parades– it felt like a great time to be around!
Things I did in Cusco that I highly recommend:
Palcoyo Mountain:
Even though I mentioned Vinicunca or “Rainbow Mountain” above, I actually didn’t go to it. At the time I was traveling with a friend and after some research we decided to do the trek to Palcoyo Mountain instead. This is also considered a rainbow mountain, but less crowded and at a lower altitude than Vinicunca. Since Cusco sits at 3,399 meters / 11,152 feet above sea level we just decided we wanted to test out our lungs with a slightly easier trek. I can’t compare the two or say choosing Palcoyo over Vinicunca was the best decision because I didn’t do both, but I was extremely happy with our Palcoyo experience. The views were ABSOLUTELY breathtaking and we had plenty of freedom to take pictures without any photobombers.
P.S… It was still physically challenging, but nothing terrible.
The Salkantay Trek + Sacred Valley:
My friend and I did the Sacred Valley + Salkantay trek with Alpaca Expeditions and it was incredible. This was my first ever multi-day hike and the Alpaca expedition team was extremely professional and equipped. The food was always amazing, and the campsites were always set up by the time we arrived so we could jump into our sleeping bags and rest on camping days. The guides were stellar and by the time we reached Machu Picchu our walking group was one big family!!
Except at the after-completion party when people in our walking group started to like each other a little less like family and a little more Love Island style haha.
I guess when you disconnect from the internet and walk 72–76 kilometers (45–48 miles) together some of you are bound to hit it off.
Anywho… I will say that although this experience was magical it came with a big price tag!
And my friend and I barely secured our spots on this trek even two months in advance! I was shocked at how many companies were booked out. So–my advice is to plan in advance when it comes to any treks to Machu Picchu. Affordable and reliable companies book out quickly!
Some people try their luck and search in person for cheaper options, but it’s very risky.
For more information on my experience doing the Salkantay trek stay tuned! I will be writing an article soon! Better yet– sign up for email updates so you never miss a post.
Restaurants I highly recommend in Cusco:
Coca Kintu’s: Delicious and CHEAP local food. Since Cusco is a tourism epicenter things can get a little pricey compared to the rest of Peru. This restaurant offers you a “menu del dia” consisting of a soup, beverage and choice of entree. There’s usually three different entree options and the soup and beverage change every day. The family that runs the restaurant is so warm and welcoming. I ate lunch here almost every day! The price was about 14 soles total (less than $4USD!!)
Mare: surprisingly nice food in a cute and relaxed setting! My friend and I stumbled into this restaurant completely by chance. When our food came out we were blown away by the presentation and then the flavors! I had the lamb shank and he had the alpaca steaks. Both fantastic. Each plate was about $10USD.
San Pedro Market: This market is fun and vibrant and you can find local food stalls with a cheaper price tag!
Huaraz: A Hiker’s Dream
Day 1 on the Huayhuash Trek
Wow, where do I even begin? This town took my heart and sealed it away forever. I was supposed to stay there for 3-4 days and before I knew it I was two weeks in!
Huaraz is the ultimate hiker landing spot and it profoundly impacted my experience while in Peru. I am not really a hiker– or at least I wasn’t at the time– so when I arrived in Huaraz I thought maybe I made a mistake. Yes– there are tons of incredible day hikes to stunning lagoons and more, but the buzzing topic no matter who I spoke to was “Huayhuash.” The Huayhuash trek is considered one of the top 5 most beautiful hiking circuits in the world. The trek takes between 8-15 days depending on the route you take and peaks at 5,465m (17,930 feet) above sea level. As soon as I heard about it I was like “no way. No way! Eight days?! No.”
But the seed was planted. I was already there and I could push myself to be a hiker. What I couldn’t do was walk away from a challenge.
I spent seven days (my walking group unanimously opted to skip the first campsite– as advised by our tour guide) walking 8-12 hours a day for an entire week beginning on my birthday.
The experience was completely different from the Salkantay trek and even though in the moment I struggled– I will never regret that experience. It was probably the coolest thing I have done in my life.
Aside from the Huayhuash, I hiked Laguna Paron. The hike itself was stunning and easy (only a steep one-hour round trip). The drive from Huaraz to the laguna was lengthy, but comfortable.
Hiking Laguna Paron
Overall, Huaraz was lovely, safe and affordable. If I had more time and more energy to hike I would have definitely wanted to complete the 3D/2N Santa Cruz trek and visited Laguna 69. Next time!!
For more information on my experience doing the Huayhuash trek stay tuned! I will be writing an article soon! Better yet– sign up for email updates so you never miss a post.
Mancora: A sunny beach get-a-way!
Lounging at Selina Hostel by the sea
I will never not smile when I think back to my time in Mancora! Some travelers I interacted with didn’t see its magic, but I really enjoyed my time here. This town was the only warm and sunny place I experienced while traveling in Peru, mid-May to late-July, which made it perfect for some post hiking R & R. There are plenty of coffee shops, [affordable] surf schools and hidden restaurants to check out.
Restaurants I highly recommend in Mancora:
Blacksheep Cafe: Delicious with vegetarian and vegan options!
Tokuyo: Tucked away but INCREDIBLE sushi and baos!
La Biodega: A bit pricey compared to other places, but very high quality.
Palmeras Eco Tienda y Café Máncora: Best smoothie bowls! So cute here– the staff is amazing.
Where to stay:
Selina Hostel: Beautiful and modern with an amazing pool
Casa Naranja: Very affordable private rooms and a nice atmosphere
Honorable Mentions:
Huacachina: An incredible oasis in the middle of the Ica desert! This was awesome to see and sandboard around, but it was very small. You only need two days here. If you’re short on time, I would say it’s not absolutely necessary to go here, but it is very cool to see.
Huanchaco: Another surf town in northern Peru. Huanchaco wasn’t anything spectacular, but the ATMA hostel was awesome. If you really want to surf and don’t mind the colder sea water, Huanchaco is a great place to take it easy. The ATMA Yoga hostel was the best for making friends and feeling at home with easy access to great yoga classes.
Arequipa: Although many travelers rave about Arequipa, I wasn’t super impressed by it. The historic center was beautiful and you can travel here to hike through Colca Canyon which is one of the world's deepest, but my friend and I were short for time and couldn’t make it. I think we would have left more in love with the town if we had done that hike.
But other than that– it was a very long journey to Arequipa from Cusco and in my opinion, not worth it unless you explore the canyon and plan to head into Bolivia after.
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