The 5 destinations that you can not miss in Peru and how to get to them, are the shortest tally I have made for this beautiful country. This time you will see the most recognized destinations, such as Cusco and Lima, but I will also recommend others equally wonderful and perhaps less known, but you can not miss them for anything in the world.

1.Lima

 
The enormous historical, cultural and gastronomic experience of Lima will envelop all your senses / Photo: Daytours4u
  Whether you are stopping through on your flight, or because this is one of your destinations to visit, Lima is one of the tourist places for its excellence of going out and about. The enormous historical, cultural and gastronomic experience of the Peruvian capital will envelop all your senses. Enjoy its world renowned typical food. Places that I keep recommending for its price / quality are El Chinito Sanguchería or Mi Tercer Lugar and something more expensive but definitely worth it, is Gourmet Peru, located a few steps from the Main Plaza. In the Historic District you have many places of interest and entertainment a few blocks from each other. Almost everything revolves with the Plaza Mayor as its starting point. Visit the Cathedral of Lima, take the best photos of the viceregal balconies and enjoy the change of the presidential guard at 12 o'clock in the Government Palace. A must and unforgettable visit is to go to the Franciscan Catacombs of Lima, do not miss its impressive library either. Visit the Peruvian Houser of Literature, located at Los Desamparados Station, just two blocks from the Government Palace. Here you will enjoy exhibitions and guided tours, in addition to enjoying a delicious coffee in the cafeteria of the premises. Do not forget to go to Lima’s Museum of Art where you will find vast exhibitions of archaeological works and artifacts that range from pre-Columbian times. These are some of the many activities that will make your visit to Lima an unforgettable experience.   Trip Tip: ¡On your next trip come and enjoy everything Lima has to offer!    

2. Cusco

 
Cusco is also known as the "Rome of America" / Photo: Daytours4u
  Without a doubt and through the years, Cusco is the favorite destination to visit. Capital of the Inca Empire, this wonderful city is 3,400 meters above sea level. Also known as the "Rome of America", it is full of palaces of both worlds, Inca and Spanish, churches, and impressive constructions. Among the attractions that you can not miss are the Plaza de Armas where you can also visit the Cathedral of Cusco. A must is to visit the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, famous for its infrastructure that today remains an architectural jewel. Visit the Central Market or San Pedro Market and immerse yourself in a colorful, almost magical world. In addition to being a place for its excellence in stocking up on food and buying handicrafts. The Qoricancha, or Golden Temple, is another attraction that you can not miss, in this temple the Convent of Santo Domingo stands. Walk through Loreto Alley and get to know the famous 12 Angle Stone.   An unmissable visit is Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world. Its architectural, cultural and historical wealth is invaluable. I can assure you that Tambomachay, The Sacred Valley of the Incas, Puka Pukará known as the “Red Fortress”, Pisaq and Ollantaytambo will be etched in your mind and heart.     How to get there: The distance between Lima and Cusco is 1,165 km. The fastest way to get there is by plane. After an hour's journey you land at the Teniente Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco. If you are up for long journeys, you can also do the tour by bus or train. In case of traveling by land by bus, from Lima, the tour lasts approximately 20 hours. And if you come from Uruguay, Chile, Argentina or Bolivia, you can choose to take a direct trip or stop in Copacabana (Bolivia) or in Puno (Peru). If you do the latter, I recommend you take the train from Puno to Cusco. The tour is impressive. It was awarded as the second most beautiful route in the world. Trip Tip: ¡Don't forget to visit Cusco with Daytours4u and live the best experience of your life!  

3.Puno

 
Puno, located in southern Peru, is the Capital of Peruvian Folklore /  Photo: Daytours4u
  One of the biggest attractions of Puno is the Titicaca. The highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 meters above sea level. Sail to its floating islands of the Uros, Amantaní and Taquile. You must approach the tourist information post where they explain the routes of the islands to visit and what is included with the cost of your tour. You can navigate to one of the islands, meet the native families that live there and spend an unforgettable moment dancing and singing with them. And it is that Puno, located in southern Peru, is the Capital of Peruvian Folklore. The joy of its people is observed in its many colorful festivities and parades that led it to be declared Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. One of its most representative festivals is the Festival of the Virgin of Candlemas which is celebrated every February 9. Other highly recommended places to visit in Puno are the Minor Basilica of Puno, a 17th-century Baroque building, the Palace of Justice and the San Juan Bautista Church built in the mid-16th century and which inside the Virgin of Candlemas is located, the Patron saint of the city.   How to get there: The distance from LIma to Puno is 1,292 km. Puno can be reached by bus, train or by air. By plane, the journey takes one hour landing at the Inca Manco Capac Airport, which is 44 km away, in the city of Juliaca. And an hour from here taking a car, taxi or bus, to Puno. To travel from the southern bordering countries, the itinerary is the same as when you want to go to Cusco.    

4. Arequipa

 
Arequipa declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the second most populous city after Lima  /  Photo: Daytours4u
You will be delighted by touring the beautiful streets of Arequipa, also called ´Ciudad Blanca´, because it was built in ashlar, white volcanic stone. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is the second most populous city after Lima. Once you arrive at the Plaza de Armas, which is half an hour from Rodríguez Ballón airport, you can easily explore the historic center on foot. Get to know its beautiful constructions of colonial architecture, its Cathedral located in the Plaza de Armas itself, taste a delicious 'frozen ice cream' or delight in its exquisite cuisine in its so-called 'peaks'. Try their traditional Stuffed Rocoto, and if you like seafood, cheer up with the delicious Shrimp Soup. Do not miss the tour of the Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, a citadel within the city. For a complete experience, visit one of the guides of the same monastery. It is also essential to visit the Andean Sanctuaries Museum, where the Mummy Juanita is on display, along with 17 other bodies offered in sacrifice in the Inca era. And if you are looking to raise your adrenaline, I definitely recommend a trek to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world and where the famous Andean condor lives. Arequipa night is not without fun, having in the surroundings of the Plaza de Armas multiple bars and discos for all sorts of tastes.   How to get there: The distance from LIma to Arequipa is almost 1,012 km. The simplest and most practical way to travel is by land and air. By plane, departing from Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, to Rodriguez Balboa Airport. The trip lasts an hour. By bus from Lima the tour lasts about 16 hours.    

5.Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon)

 
You can only get to Iquitos by plane / Photo: Joerg Zwingli
  More and more travelers are encouraged to get to know the Peruvian jungle, as the places and activities it offers make each excursion an adventure. If you want to navigate the Amazon, your destination is Iquitos, a city that we can only reach by sailing or by plane. The best time to visit Iquitos is from April to the end of September. If you think that apart from a lot of vegetation and impressive fauna is all you will see, be prepared because it is far away from Lima, it will surprise you with its beautiful and elegant houses of the nineteenth century, properties of the so-called Varones del Caucho in its boom season. And if it's food, you'll find the most exotic and unimaginable dishes like worm larvae called Suri, which tastes like chicken; You can also try the fried crocodile, various species of fish and venison that are a few of its specialties. The city has several markets but the main one of them and where you can learn a lot about the daily life of its stores is the Mercado de Belén. Navigate the Amazon and visit the various nature reserves and conservation projects for species such as the CREA Rescue Center, the Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm, where different animals are housed or Monkey Island. The night in the city, either in the Plaza Mayor or on the Malecon is quite entertaining. Definitely the nightlife of Iquitos has nothing to envy to any other city. There is much to know and do in Iquitos, so be sure to visit it and make the best memories at this beautiful city. How to get there: The distance from LIma to Iquitos is 1,012 km. There is more than one way to travel by air. The traditional one is from the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima to the Colonel FAP Francisco Secada International Airport in Iquitos, which is located just 7 km from the city center. The flight lasts about an hour. Another way is a direct flight from Panama, the flight duration is two and a half hours, departing from the Tocumen International Airport, 24 km from the center of Panama City. Since Iquitos does not have roads that connect it to the main cities of Peru, access is by air or by river. Navigation is an experience in itself, the most used tributaries and rivers to get to or from Iquitos are the Amazon, Marañón, the Ucayali River and the Napo River. Although in these cases the journey usually lasts between 3 to 6 days depending on the type of adventure you want to live.   The options for each destination are varied and all of them allow you to enjoy countless unforgettable adventures. Dare to explore these destinations and enrich your travel experience in Peru with Daytours4u.    
 
By: Jessica Mollá, Peruvian-Argentine journalist, audiovisual communicator, dabbling in screenplays for film and TV. Writer in Spanish for Daytours4u.