Mostly known for its important historical and cultural heritage, Peru has quickly become one of the main tourist destinations in South America. But what most travellers don’t know, is that Peru has a lot more to offer than just Machu Picchu.
With astonishing white sand beaches, rainforests, desert dunes and snow-capped mountains, Peru offers an incredible diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife that also deserve to be recognized. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
Each image captures a unique aspect of Peru’s beauty, inviting you to explore further. From the awe-inspiring images of the Salkantay to the vibrant street life of Cusco, these beautiful photographs of Peru are a testament to the country’s allure.
We have made a selection of awe-inspiring photos of the best things to do in the country. Here are 15 pictures of Peru that’ll make you want to pack your bags and book your trip immediately. We have warned you!
15 Incredible Photos To Inspire You To Visit Peru!
CUSCO
Two local women walking in the San Blas area of Cusco with their Alpacas.
The former capital of the Incan Empire is rich in history with a lot of monuments and ruins to keep tourists busy before and after a visit to Machu Picchu. Make sure to check out the Plaza de Armas, the San Blas district for good restaurants and parties at night, the Temple of the Sun, the Stone of the 12 angles and the Basilica of our Lady of the Assumption.
RELATED: Backpacker City guide of what to do when you are not hiking near Cusco
Maras Salt Ponds
A worker carrying salt harvested in the ponds to the local cooperative.
The “Salineras” of Maras (Salt Ponds) have been used for the production of salt since pre-incan times. Supplied by an underground salt stream, the terraced ponds are gradually filled by the water which, once evaporated, leaves a bed salt to be collected. Each pond belongs to a local family and each has a capacity proportional to the family’s size.
Sacred Valley
Young women heading back to their farm in the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region about 15 km north of Cusco. The area is so rich that amongst the local markets and the many Inca ruins, you will also find incredible salt ponds and old Incan agricultural terraces. The main places to visit are Ollataytambo, Chinchero, Pisac, Moray and Maras. Are you planning on visiting the Sacred Valley? Would you like to see it without the crowd?
RELATED: 2-day hiking itinerary to visit the Sacred Valley without a guide
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
At 5,200m, the Rainbow Mountain shows its gorgeous colours behind a proud Llama and its owner.
3.5 hours drive from Cusco and situated at 5,200 meters above sea level sits the incredible and colourful Rainbow Mountain. Hiking there is a challenge, but once at the viewpoint the reward is worth the hard time!
To read more about the things to know before hiking the Rainbow Mountain, click here. Worried about getting there? Here is our experience and what to expect from this day-trip from Cusco.
MACHU PICCHU
Watching a marvellous sunrise over the lost citadel, Machu Picchu
The mysteries of the Inca civilisation and its legends have the power of shaking passions and enhancing dreams. Almost invisible from below, Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanish colonists during the 15th century.
No surprises that these days, Machu Picchu is one of the main tourist attraction in the world. And yet, being one of the most visited places on Earth doesn’t mean it is easy to get to. Are you planning on a visit but don’t know how to get there?
RELATED: all the ways to get to Machu Picchu explained!
SALKANTAY
Participating in an ancient ceremony at the feet of the sacred Salkantay Mountain
The Salkantay trek is one of the few trails in the Cusco region which leads to Machu Picchu’s nearby town, Aguas Calientes. It is considered as an alternative to the famous “Inca Trail” which is often fully booked at least 6 months in advance. With a lower price and the possibility to book up to two days before directly from Cusco, the Salkantay trek is an attractive hike to those on the budget or not able to plan 6 months in advance.
RELATED:8 reasons why you should hike the Salkantay Trek
ALPACAS & Co.
One of the cutest animals in Peru, the baby Alpaca.
Visiting Peru means getting to know the 4 different camelids of South America. Cousins of the African camel, the Llama and the Alpaca are smaller with an extremely warm wool. While these two have long been domesticated by humains, the Vicuña and the Guanaco are still running wild in the countryside.
NAZCA LINES
The mysterious Nazca Lines, seen from a Mirador along the Pan American Route.
Just outside of the town of Nazca, along the Peruvian coast, there are over 800 lines, 300 figures and 70 depictions of plants and animals etched into the desert floor and the surrounding hills. It is now known that the lines are roughly 2,000 years old and lay undiscovered, preserved by the desert until they were found in 1926.
However, the full-scale of the lines wasn’t realised until the first flight over the area in 1930! It was only then that the now famous figures of the hummingbird, condor, monkey and others were seen.
RELATED:everything you need to know before flying (or not) the Nazca lines!
HUACACHINA
Hiking up sand dunes to watch the sunset
over the Oasis of Huacachina and the giant surrounding desert.
This desert located only a few kilometres outside Ica, is the picture-perfect Oasis of an idyllic spot for weary travellers to take a break. The best part is that you can go riding down the sand dunes at high-speed in a 15-seater buggy and go sleding down the dunes on a sandboard.
RELATED: sandboarding and buggy riding the dunes of Huacachina
HUANCHACO
A local passing by ancient reed boats after surfing in Huanchaco Beach at sunset.
This charming fishing town is the perfect place to spend a few days relaxing and surfing, while also having the opportunity to visit surreal archaeological sites. Lesser known than the busy cities of Southern Peru, Huanchaco which is located right by the beach outside of the city of Trujillo, is a perfect choice to split the long bus journey to or from Ecuador.
The town is such an authentic place, popular with locals, with tasty street food and traditional reed fishing boats! Are you going to the north of Peru?
RELATED: 9 reasons why you will love Huanchaco!
MANCORA
Making the most of the windy season in Mancora by learning how to kite-surf
Located right at the border with Ecuador, Mancora is an off-the-beaten-path town that not many people decide to visit, despite all the amazing things it offers. Surfing, whale watching, swimming with turtles, you name it and you can do it.
Crossing the border with Ecuador? Stop in Mancora to witness incredible wildlife, learn kite-surfing and chill at the beach.
RELATED: AN off-the-beaten-path guide of what to do in Mancora
LOS ORGANOS
A humpback whale reaching the surface of the Pacific Ocean along the Peruvian Coast
Only a few kilometers from Mancora, Los Organos is the best place to go whale-watching, swimming with green turtles, and eat fresh Ceviche!
COLCA CANYON
An incredible hike inside the second deepest canyon in the world to reach a beautiful oasis.
The Colca Canyon is the second highest canyon in the world. Less impressive, but much deeper than the Grand Canyon in America, it is one of the best hikes in Southern Peru to help prepare for the altitude of the Andes. Hiking the Colca Canyon means also staying in an Oasis right at the bottom of the canyon surrounded by incredible red cliffs and experience what living in the countryside means.
RELATED: 2-day itinerary to hike the Colca Canyon without a guide!
AREQUIPA
The night lights of the gorgeous cathedral in the lively city of the Arequipa.
Arequipa is an impeccable and nice looking city with great bars and restaurants. The quiet streets with impressive white stone buildings showcasing the citie’s colonial past along with the proximity with the Colca Canyon trek, make Arequipa an unmissable stop in Peru. Heading south to Arequipa? Enjoy the city by visiting awesome places to eat and chill out.
RELATED:City guide to visit Arequipa
UROS FLOATING ISLANDS
The floating islands of Puno, where the Uros people live
The Uros floating Islands are found on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, just a short 5-km boat ride from the city of Puno. Home to the Uros people, these islands are entirely made of reeds which require constant care. An important attraction for the visitors travelling to or from Bolivia, the Uros Islands became highly touristy but still worth learning about.
RELATED: Visit the floating islands in 24 hours
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About the Author
Jen is the Funder, Author & Photographer behind Talesfromthelens.comJen has lived for the past 15 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling in Latin America, North America, and Europe. She has visited more than 65 countries and set foot on every continent in the world! She is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife, and outdoor activities.
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amazing pictures indeed.
Thank you so much for the lovey comment
I need to live in South America one day!
Ah that would be so amazing, have you been?
In love with all your pics!!
Thank you so much, that means a lot 🙂
Beautiful photography indeed!!! So colorful!
Thank you Dalibro. The colours are really what we loved photographing the most in Peru.
What a treat! Peru has been on my bucket list for years now. I became fascinated with it after making a friend from Peru. He shared all kinds of stories about his people and culture and history. I especially love the bit about the unknown – the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu – what a treasure of our world. Your photography is absolutely stunning, btw. ✌️ from sunny LA
Hi Jess, Thank you for your kind words. We totally agree with you about the mysteries of Peru, it is fascinating. We had the chance to go to those places and it felt surreal. Are you planning a trip to Peru and to maybe visit your friend if he lives there?
Hi Jenny, My friend no longer lives in Peru. He lives in WA State now which is where I met him and, so, I think I’ll pick his brain and use your educational blog post in prep for a future trip to Peru. Also, I am not planning an upcoming trip to Peru but to the Philippines with friends and next year. You’ll have to drop by my blog sometime to see how that adventure goes. ✌️ from LA!