Peru Hop

Peru’s capital is a fantastic city to tour, dotted with a multitude of cultural sites and beautifully preserved architecture. Founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima was first named ‘City of Kings’ – a biblical reference to the ‘Three Wise Men of the East’ – before its name was changed by the Spanish colonialists. The most significant historical buildings are located around the Plaza Mayor, the most notable being the Government Palace, where one can still observe the changing of the guard performed by the Húsares de Junín. The beautiful Cathedral and the various small palaces and colonial balconies also play also their part in the beauty of the city. Another highlight is the famed Larco Herrera Museum, documenting the millennial cultures that preceded the Inca civilization and containing a priceless collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including some of South America's finest pre-Inca erotic pottery.

A lunar-like landscape meets the ocean at Paracas, a small beach town on the Paracas peninsula in southern Peru. Stark cliffs drop into the ocean and rugged promontories jut out to sea, offering a beachfront residence to the flocks of marine birds in the area. Many visitors travel to Paracas to enjoy the beaches and the perks of a resort town, however it’s the adjacent marine reserve and outlying islands that most intrigue travellers, offering the chance to view penguins, sea lions, dolphins and seals in their natural habitat. Don’t miss the Paracas Candelabra, a mystic geoglyph etched into the rock and dating back to 200 BCE.

The hamlet of Huacachina is located in southwestern Peru, about five kilometers from the city of Ica. Set on a small lagoon surrounded by desert dunes, it seems almost otherworldly - a tiny spot of paradise amidst a rolling sea of sand. Lore has it that the oasis was created when a beautiful princess was discovered by a young hunter while having her bath there. She fled in alarm, leaving behind a pool of bathwater. Travellers can visit the lakeshore statue that commemorates the legend, enjoy a tranquil row boat ride on the lagoon, sample the local eateries, or go sandboarding or dune buggying. The town of Paracas lies roughly an hour’s drive away on Peru’s west coast and is the launching point for trips to the Ballestas Islands, where you can see rare Humboldt penguins and the mysterious ‘Candelabra’ carving - a vast, ancient geoglyph etched into a cliff face.

The gorgeous city of Arequipa is a perfect blend of ancient architectural treasures and modern buildings, blessed with an average of 300 days of sunny weather a year. It is also known as ‘The White City’ – a nickname that stems from its numerous white buildings, which form a striking contrast with the green surroundings. It is Peru’s most elegant city and the best place to visit if you’re a foodie on the hunt for fine dining opportunities, with an array of fabulous restaurants offering spicy local specialities such as rocoto relleno, chupe de Camarones and ocopa. This city has an illustrious history and its distinctive traditions make it a truly unique Peruvian destination.

Deze grote stad, gelegen aan de oevers van het glinsterende Titicacameer, aan de Altiplano van Peru, wordt genoemd de 'folklorekapitaal' van het land, bekend om zijn traditionele muziek en dans. Het staat ook bekend om zijn ongelooflijke collectie drijvende eilanden - door de mens gemaakte eilanden gemaakt van riet, die de unieke survivalistische cultuur vertonen die hier al sinds de pre-Incaanse tijd leeft. Andere hoogtepunten zijn een bezoek aan de sfeervolle, historische kerk van San Pedro, de prachtige Sixtijnse Kapel van Amerika en een wandeling langs de promenade aan de kust van het Titicacameer. Actieve types moeten de uitdaging aangaan om de 700 treden op te klimmen naar het uitkijkpunt Kuntur Wasi, dat wordt geleid door een massief metalen condorsculptuur, voor de beloning van adembenemende vergezichten over de stad en het Titicacameer erachter.

Once called the ‘Navel of the World’ by the Incas, Cusco rises in the southern Andes of Peru, where colonial grandeur meets the enduring stonework of the Inca Empire. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it serves as the main gateway to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and surrounding ruins. At its centre, the Plaza de Armas—once Huacaypata—remains alive with cafés, arcades, and the 16th-century Cusco Cathedral, built from Sacsayhuamán’s stones. Nearby, the San Blas district unfolds with whitewashed adobe houses, blue balconies, and workshops where artisans craft metalwork, woodcarvings, and sacred art. Across the city, layers of history reveal themselves in landmarks such as the Korikancha, the Inca street of Hatun Rumiyoc with its twelve-angled stone, the Museum of Colonial Art, and the ancient shrines and water temples scattered through the surrounding hills.