The 5 best ways to explore Peru

Terra Explorer
April 1, 2022

Yes, Peru is synonymous with Machu Picchu, dense jungle, and gleeful llamas. But this ancient nation has more to offer than just these three. So here, at Terra Explorer, we turned to our seasoned luxury travel counselors to query them on additional ways to explore Peru, an amazing South American destination.

1. Epic adventures in the great outdoors

terra explorer glamping ausangate

Visiting Peru is a real pleasure for anyone keen on outdoor adventures. There’s a rich and mottled assortment of landscapes: from never-ending desserts to white-capped peaks and the better known Amazonia—all of them reasonably close to each other. 

This mosaic of terrains is primarily due to the towering Cordillera running across the middle of the country from north to south. And so, evergreen valleys emerge from within the mountains, some of the most profound canyons on Earth sit along this geological spine, and a myriad of rivers and lakes irrigate the Pacific and the enormous Amazon Jungle.

Evidently, a five-day trek traverses this multitude of vistas. As you might have guessed, kayakers and rafters can pick and choose where to chart themselves—fishermen too. And a birdwatching aficionado does also have a galore of locales at hand. There is no other destination garnering so many iterations of the great outdoors.

2. Motorcycle trips

We have just emoted our love for the scenic views of Peru. But one of our favored ways of immersing in the Peruvian landscapes is by hopping on a KTM and riding along foliage-filled mountains, never-ending deserts, white peaks, quaint historical towns, and archaeology jewels. We’re proud to have Dakar-veteran Carlo Vellutino on our team. He has designed two routes for a motorcycle trip where the highlight is not the destination but the getting there.

Related: Mountain biking, a different way to discover Peru

3. Soak in Art & Culture

Peru was the cultural epicenter of South America up until the 1800s. To point out one unknown fact: The oldest city in the Americas is nestled along the coastal valleys of Peru. Some of the greatest empires surged on these storied lands. They left behind architectural masterpieces —the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu, to name a couple— which bemuse historians and archaeologists to this day. 

Later, during colonial times, the Spanish set Lima as the capital of the Southern Americas. Cities in Peru developed their own architectural styles and culture over a newly established mestizo and creole social fabric. This collage of religion and traditions are the reasons behind the past and current artistic expressions turning Peru into the perfect locale for a culturally infused trip down the Equator.

4. Wellness Retreats & Community Tourism

Slowly but surely, Peru —the Sacred Valley, to be precise— has become a hub for all things wellness. And today, the likes of Vogue list it as one of the go-to places for any voyager with mind, body, and soul healing in their agenda. What sets Peru apart is the ancient cult to Mother Earth—a cult vividly active even to this day. Ceremonies like “Pago a la Tierra” evince gratitude towards nature, a concept we westerners are just timidly starting to grasp.

Over the years, the storied valleys circling Cusco have become places where shamans and wellness experts congregate to spread their restorative knowledge and practices conjunctly. Don’t miss out on this unique amalgamation.

5. Gastronomy at its finest

terra explorer comida ostras

A not-so-well-known fact: Two out of the ten best restaurants on Earth —Central and Maido— are in Peru. What’s more, the best female chef in the world —Pia Leon— is Peruvian, too. Another personage, Manuel Choqque, a potato producer headquartered in the Sacred Valley, has been laureled as one of the fifty people “changing the future of gastronomy” by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Organization. These accolades are just testaments to the phenomenon that is Peruvian cuisine. 

Lima is often cited as the culinary capital of Latin America, with chefs and restaurateurs harboring the eclectic history of immigration to their nation. Here, incoming gastronomic traditions intertwine with local ingredients to birth one of the best cuisines on the planet. Your taste buds will thank you for a visit to this scrumptious land, so don’t wait any longer and travel to Peru!

Related: Manuel Choqque: The man who saved purple potatoes

And there you have it: the best things to do in Peru to enjoy your stay in this beautiful country. We assure you that, no matter how you explore this destination, you will enjoy an unforgettable experience. So get on your calendar; maybe you’ll have to add a couple more days to soak Peru’s best! 

And don’t forget to contact us for a tailor-made trip to this South American nation we proudly call home. Whatever it might be, from reckless rides through dunes in the desert to epic Andean mountain adventures, we have you covered.

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