Tourism in Peru

The 15 most visited destinations in Peru.

Plaza de San Martín, Lima.

The Alpaca. Huayllay Stone Forest.

Tourism in Peru is the third largest industry in the nation, behind fishing and mining. It is mainly directed towards archaeological monuments, since it has more than one hundred thousand sites of interest, ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon, cultural tourism in colonial cities, gastronomic tourism, adventure tourism and beach tourism.

According to a Peruvian government study, the satisfaction rate of tourists after visiting Peru is 94%. It is the fastest growing industry in Peru, growing annually at a rate of 25% in the last five years, the highest growth rate of any country in South America.

In 2014, Peru was chosen as the best gastronomic and cultural destination, in addition to other awards granted by the online platform based on internet voting for the public "World Travel Awards" for several consecutive years, as well as, the city of Lima won the awards for best destination, best destination with legacy, best cultural destination in the region and best stay destination in South America. On the other hand, the Swissotel in Lima won in the category of best business hotel in the region and the JW Marriott as the best hotel in South America. Also, for that year, the rate of internal tourism grows at rates of 4%, cities like Abancay and Huancavelica are being included within the national tourist destinations.

In 2016, Mincetur published a series of steps to contribute to tourism both internally and externally, officially publishing the PENTUR proclamation (National Strategic Plan for Peru Tourism). This plan's vital priority is to consolidate Peru as a competitive tourist destination, prioritizing quality and safety without neglecting the sustainable background, visualizing the year 2025 as a goal. The vision proposed by the Peruvian government ranges from educational incentives to healthy coexistence. and rooted in native peoples for their enjoyment. That is, undergraduate careers such as ecological tourism (ecotourism) are receiving priority aid regarding funds to replace inconveniences.

Regarding the latter, the ecotourism undergraduate course has been taught, for now, to a small sector of the Peruvian population. Specifically in the universities located in Madre de Dios (UNAMD), Cusco (UNIQ) and Lima (UNFV)

The most popular countries of origin for foreign tourists are Chile, the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Dynamics

Tourism has an impact of 7% of Peru's GDP and is the fastest growing sector in the country. It is regulated and stimulated by the Commission for the Promotion of Peru (PromPerú) of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR).

This sector employs 11% of the country's economically active population (484,000 direct jobs and 340,000 indirect jobs), most of them in hospitality and transportation.

The professionals in Tourism of Peru

In 1990, the College of Graduates in Tourism was created by means of Law 24915 and its statutes are given by Supreme Decree 012-90 ICTI/TUR, where in its first chapters it defines professionals in Tourism of the sector and the obligation in this country to be registered to carry out professional tourism activities.

Article 1.º- The Association of Graduates in Tourism created by Law No. 24915, is an autonomous entity of internal public law, representative of the Tourism Professionals of the Republic.

Article 2. - Membership is an essential requirement for the exercise of the profession of Graduates in Tourism.

Article 3.º- The College of Graduates in Tourism is made up of Graduates in Tourism who are legally apt to practice professionally. The College does not honor individuals based on race, sex, creed, politics, or religion.

Domestic tourism

Internal tourism, or national tourism, is understood as the trips made by visitors residing in the country, whether national or foreign, within the national territory. By definition, for statistical purposes, the trips of those people whose main reason for the trip is to receive remuneration at the destination are not counted as domestic tourism.

In 2014, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) through its report 'Profile of the national vacationer 2013', reported a total of 4,513,445 trips for recreation made by the national tourists within Peruvian territory, being driven by the emerging middle class, since 61% of national tourists belong to socioeconomic level C. The report also reports that 43% of tourists travel with their direct family, 21% with friends, 18% with their partner, 11% traveling alone and 7% with relatives. The month with the highest number of tourist movements is July (12%). February (10%), March (11%), October (11%) and December (10%) also stand out.

The place, or region, most visited was the Lima region, with 32.4% of preferences. Below, La Libertad (7.8%), Junín (6.3%) and Piura (6.1%).

The study leaves Cusco behind (3.7%), this occurs because the costs have become too high, to the point of surpassing international packages such as Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) or Cartagena (Colombia).

Incoming tourism

In recent years, MINCETUR (Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism) has participated in various fairs and exhibitions held, most frequently, in Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Argentina and Brazil, with in order to publicize the cultural, natural and gastronomic wealth that Peru has.

It must also be taken into account that in Peru there are several languages, especially in the Jungle Region, examples:

• Aru Languages: JAQARU, KAWKI, AYMARA.
• Arawak languages: ASHENINCA, PAJONAL CAMPA, CAQUINTE, AMUESHA, CHAMICURO, ETC.
• Languages: BORA, MUINANE, NONUYA, ETC.
• And there are more languages and if one or more hikers come here to Peru they would like to learn these languages.

The following table shows the evolution of the number of tourists and generation of foreign currency in recent years:

In 2010, 2,299,187 international tourists visited Peru, mainly from the following countries:

Position	Visitor	Income (2011)	Position	Visitor	Income (2011)
1	ChileChile	700.944	11	GermanyGermany	53.201
2	United States	600.232	12	CanadaCanada	52,955
3	EcuadorEcuador	250.445	13	ItalyItaly	41.831
4	Argentina	127.062	14	Venezuela Venezuela	38.468
5	ColombiaColombia	125.642	15	Mexico Mexico	38,097
6	SpainSpain	120.666	16	JapanJapan	30,604
7	BrazilBrazil	94.674	17	Australia	29.659
8	BoliviaBolivia	86.181	18	Netherlands	24.795
9	France	66,985	19	SwitzerlandSwitzerland	18.217
10	United KingdomUnited Kingdom	54,182	20	IsraelIsrael	12,978

Tourist information and assistance

Iperu Logo

Peru has a free state service that works 7 days a week throughout the year, called Iperú, Tourist Information and Assistance. This service is of great help to the national or foreign traveler before, during and after a trip to Peru. Likewise, it receives complaints and suggestions regarding tourist companies, attractions and in general about Peruvian tourism.

Destinations by region

Amazon

The Amazon region is a land of varied microclimates, each containing a wealth of biodiversity. Additionally, the department was home to pre-Columbian civilizations that have left behind impressive remnants of their once great culture. The capital city Chachapoyas adds to the diversity of ecology and culture as it is home to picturesque colonial architecture. The streets of this city are narrow. It contains a main square, characteristic of Peruvian cities, and maintains colonial mansions and balconies that add to the flavor of the mestizo culture of the area. Arguably the most impressive destination in the department is the old Kuelap fortress. Often referred to as the Machu Picchu of the north, Kuelap was built by the Chachapoyas culture, an ancient tribe of warriors who resisted the expansion of the Inca Empire. The Gocta Waterfall discovered in 2005 is the third highest waterfall in the world.

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  Catarata de Gocta with 771 meters of fall.

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  Interior of the Kuélap Fortress

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  The Marañón River in its passage through the Pongo of Manseriche

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  Volcano de Bagua

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  Tactago River Valley of Cumba

Kuélap fortress

Ancash

Nevado Huascarán with 6 768 msnm, is the highlight of Peru and the entire tropical zone of the world

The Department of Áncash is home to the Cordillera Blanca, the highest mountain range in Peru. The department is the epicenter of Peru's adventure tourism sector and attracts visitors who want to participate in all kinds of activities. The department is a paradise for hikers and hikers as there is a wide network of trails. The benefit of trekking in Ancash is that only a select few trails have been commercialized. The scenery along these pre-Columbian trails is spectacular, and there are more than 12,000 lakes. Picturesque towns are scattered throughout the department and are very hospitable. The most popular excursions in the department are the Llama trek, the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash.

The capital city, Huaraz, has a small and reasonably developed ski and mountaineering industry. Mountain biking is the fastest growing sport in the region. Mountain bikes are available to the traveler at every experience level. Rafting is an important activity in the department. The Rapids vary in difficulty from beginner to expert. The department has a high concentration of peaks. The climate is temperate all year round and it is easily accessible from Huaraz. Twelve of the twenty highest mountains in Peru are found in the department, with an altitude range from 5,000 to 6,768 m a.s.l. no. m. (15,000 to 22,200 feet).

Its mountains are divided by two mountain ranges: the Cordillera de Huallanca and the Cordillera Blanca, thus creating two slopes, the Pacific and the Atlantic, in which cultures and picturesque towns developed.

• The eastern mountain range is the home of Chavín de Huántar, an ancient archaeological complex built more than 3200 years ago and listed as a World Heritage Site; the territory is bathed by several cities, which have more development at the tourist level are: Chacas, Chavin and Huari. The snowy Perlilla, recently promoted, is the world's highest ski resort and closer to the equator, has 25 hectares of perpetual snow for winter sports. While the best place for the sighting of condors is the Canyon of the Marañón with 1900 meters deep.

• The western mountain range that ends in the foothills of the coast has as its main tourist axis to the Huaylas alley, which has cities with greater tourist development: Recuay, Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz. These cities retain a unique combination of European and Andean architecture.

• The Ancashina coast has as its main destinations the beach of Tuquillo, the spa of Tortugas and the temple of Sechín, with 5,500 years old.

The department's main attraction is the Huascarán National Park, a World Heritage Site, home to the highest mountain in Peru, Nevado Huascarán.

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  The snowy Taulliraju

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  The snowy Alpamayo, declared in Münich (1966) as "The most beautiful mountain in the world".

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  Tuquillo Spa

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  Laguna Parón

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  Nevado Perlilla, its skirts are suitable for cross-country skiing.

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  Lanzón de Chavín, the only deity of ancient Peru found in its original place.

View of Ishinka and Tocllaraju nevados from Huascarán

Apurimac

The Apurímac region is located in the Andes of southern Peru and is home to many towns and cities characterized by their natural beauty. The cities of Abancay and Andahuaylas are home to Spanish colonial architecture, each with a main plaza and narrow cobblestone streets. The most important tourist activities in this area are hiking and canoeing. Since the regions are close to Cuzco, many tourists take long trekking trips from Cusco to Apurímac.

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  Laguna Uspaccocha, in the National Sanctuary of Ampay.

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  Rafting on the Apurímac River

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  Inca bridge over the Apurímac River

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  Plaza de Armas of the city of Haquira

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  Apurimac River, runs 700 km, to the Amazon River

Arequipa

The Arequipa region is one of the most geographically, culturally and socially varied in Peru. The department's main places of interest are the city of Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, adventure tourism and wildlife observation. The city of Arequipa, the second largest in the nation, is known as the "white city". The name comes from the color of the city buildings that are made of ashlar that comes from the volcanoes in the area. The city is overshadowed by the Misti volcano, which adds to the charm of the city. It is the most developed city in Peru after Lima. Arequipa's historic center is made a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its abundance of colonial Spanish baroque churches and mansions, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a city within a city with cobbled streets, plazas, and courtyards. Arequipa cuisine has remained more heavily influenced by Spanish colonial cuisine than in Lima and has remained relatively free from the later influence of immigrants who came to Lima, such as the Chinese and Japanese. The Colca Canyon is located 100 kilometers northwest of Arequipa and is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Cotahuasi Canyon is the deepest in the Western Hemisphere. The beaches of the Department of Arequipa are also highly visited, as well as those of the Provinces of Camaná and Islay.

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  Convent of the Recoleta

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  Watch the Condor Cross in the Colca Canyon

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  Condor in the Colca Canyon

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  Volcano Coropuna

Plaza de Armas de Arequipa

Ayacucho

The department of Ayacucho is located in the southern Andes and contains a number of tourist sites that attract many visitors. It was decisive in all stages of the history and culture of Peru, which is why it stands out in its architecture, tradition and art. The capital city, Ayacucho, has colonial temples on every block, containing works of art of great value. The department is home to several archaeological sites of the Wari Culture. It is also internationally recognized for its artistic manifestations and festivities. The cities and towns of Ayacucho specialize in the creation and sale of handicrafts, many of these are created in Huamanga stone that is native to the department. The archaeological site of Vilcashuamán is an important Inca site.

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  Cathedral of Ayacucho

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  Arc de Triomphe y Temple de San Francisco

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  Temple of Santo Domingo

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  Pyramid Inca in Vilcashuamán

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  Cathedral of Vilcashuamán and Temple of the Sun

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  Historic Sanctuary of the Pampa de la Quinua

Cajamarca

The department of Cajamarca is a melting pot of colonial architecture, of enormous historical importance and a beautiful landscape. Its capital, of the same name, played a very important role in the history of South America, due to the fact that it was precisely in the Plaza de Armas of Cajamarca where the fall of the Inca Empire took place, after the Spanish took the Inca Atahualpa prisoner in 1532, and later formed the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The city is a candidate for World Cultural Heritage status due to its architectural beauty and world historical importance. It should be noted that the city is a focal point for tourism in the region, with 250,000 tourists in 2010, Cajamarca is among the 5 most important cities in terms of number of visits in Peru.

The most notable tourist destinations are:

• The Inca Baths, medicinal thermal waters that were built by the Incas
• Otuzco windows, inca cemetery carved in volcanic rock,
• Cumbemayo, pre-inca hydraulic engineering complex that is still in operation until today and is a unique example in global hydraulic engineering,
• The La Colpa hacienda,
• Kuntur Wasi, temple dating from 1100 a. C.,
• The museum, which has gold artifacts that are among the oldest ones produced by the Andean man,
• The zoo,
• The Rescue Room, a room that the Atahualpa Inca ordered to be filled with gold and silver to obtain his release from the hands of the conqueror Francisco Pizarro.

Panoramic view of the city of Cajamarca

Shut up

The Constitutional Province of Callao is part of the Metropolitan Area of Lima and is the transportation center of the country, where the Jorge Chávez International Airport is located, the largest in the country. Callao is the largest seaport in Peru founded in 1537. During the Viceroyalty of Peru, all the wealth extracted from the South American continent had to pass through this city. This richness is evident through the colonial mansions and carved balconies that characterize its historic center. The Real Felipe Fortress is a major tourist attraction, it was built in 1747 to protect the city from pirates like Sir Francis Drake; He played a key role in the Peruvian War of Independence. Chucuito, a neighborhood of Callao, is known for its gothic style and neo-renaissance houses, as well as brightly colored houses. The district of La Punta, was home to the beach houses of Lima's aristocracy and contains stately homes dating from the early XIX century. . The district is characterized by a promenade to the sea, pebble beaches. The offshore islands of El Camotal, San Lorenzo, El Frontón, Cavinzas and Palomino are home to sea birds and sea lions. The island of El Frontón once housed some of Peru's most dangerous criminals.

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  Fortress of Real Felipe

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  Marine birds in the Palomino Islands

Cusco

It is the most touristically developed region in Peru, industry and infrastructure have developed very well. The city has thousands of hotel rooms ranging from hostels to five-star hotels. The gastronomy is representative of all of Peru. International cuisine is also present in many restaurants in the city. The city has a wide variety of languages due to the presence of tourists, many common languages are spoken in addition to Spanish, English, German and French. In addition to these languages, Quechua is spoken by many city residents along with Spanish. Most of the tourist agencies have offices in this city. The main attractions include the historic center with colonial architecture and the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuamán, the Inca Roca palace, San Blas neighborhood, and the archaeological sites of Qenko, Pukapukara and Tambomachay. The Sacred Valley has a multitude of picturesque towns such as Pisac, Maras, Chinchero and in addition, a variety of archaeological sites such as Ollantaytambo are found in the valley. The most popular tourist attraction in Peru is located a few hours from Cusco by train: Machu Picchu. These ruins are the most beautiful and important legacy of the Inca people; It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it can be accessed by train through the South East Section of the Southern Railway or by walking along the Inca Trail. Other routes such as the Salkantay Route, Inca Jungle Trek or even the Cocoa and Coffee Route have recently been opened to access Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu Inca Complex

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  Balconies of the Plaza de Cusco

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  Church of the Society

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  Inca 11 metre wall in Sacsayhuamán

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  Grain deposits in Ollantaytambo

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  Andenes en Písac

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  Coricancha

Huancavelica

City of Huancavelica

The department of Huancavelica is located in the central-south zone and is the department with the lowest income in Peru. Despite this, the department has a rich history and maintains evidence of it through beautiful colonial architecture and archaeological monuments. This department was inhabited by the Wari and the Chancas before being conquered and incorporated into the Inca Empire. After this, with the Spanish conquest of Peru, Huancavelica became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. The Spanish settled in this area because of the surrounding silver and mercury mines. Magnificent colonial mansions and churches were built.

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  Huancavelica Cathedral

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  Macho Train

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  Pampas Cathedral

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  Plaza de Armas de Huancavelica

Huanuco

The Huánuco region is divided into two distinct geographic regions, the highlands and the jungle. The capital city, also known as Huánuco, is located in the Andean highlands. It was founded in 1539 by the Spanish and since then it has been a place of typical colonial architecture of the Peruvian Andes. On the opposite side of the department, in the jungle area, is Tingo María, the second largest city in the region. It is home to the Tingo María National Park, which contains a wide variety of flora such as orchids, cat's claw and dragon's blood, as well as animals such as ocelots, jaguars, reptiles, sachavacas, guácharos, the cock of the rocks, and the howler monkey A tourist destination in this area is the home of the Barn Owl, the Cave of the Night Birds and the home of Turkey to the Cave of Abundant Vegetation.

Plaza de Armas de Huánuco

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  City of Tingo Maria, to the bottom the Sleeping Beauty

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  Union District

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  Pileta de la Plaza de Armas de Huánuco.

Ica

The Ica region was the location of several ancient civilizations that literally left their mark. One of the most popular attractions in this area are the Nazca lines, an enigma that modern archaeologists have not been able to figure out. These lines stretch for miles in the images of the desert and the shape of animals and figures only visible from the air. The Paracas National Reserve is another point in this circuit that attracts many ecological and cultural tourists alike, since it is a refuge for sea lions, otters, penguins, dolphins, more than 200 species of birds of flamingos, waders and guano birds.. In addition, in the reserve, there are magnificent beaches, such as La Mina, La Catedral and Mendieta beaches, and beautiful rock formations. In the rest of the department there is a great variety of vineyards that produce pisco and wines. The wine tasting in this area is among the best in Peru. Another popular destination is the oasis of Huacachina, on behalf of its beauty and the fact that it was the cradle of Afro-Peruvian music.

Oasis de Huacachina

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  Plaza Armas of Ica

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  Colibrí shaped geoglyph

Freedom

Political region located on the north coast of Peru. One of the 12 provinces that make up this region is the city of Trujillo, known in Peru as the city of eternal spring. In September of each year, the city celebrates the spring festival, which is visited by tourists from all over the world, the festival's main attraction is a parade of queens called corso vernal and a great final party. In its metropolitan area are the capitals of the ancient Chimú and Mochica kingdoms such as Chan Chan and the Huacas del Sol and la Luna, respectively. Tourists are attracted by its pre-Inca monuments, such as the Huaca del Sol and La Luna, El Brujo, and the most notable of the ancient Chimú culture is the city of Chan Chan. To the northwest of Trujillo is the resort of Huanchaco, famous for its caballitos de totora - reed boats used by local fishermen since ancient times and for its waves for surfing; Trujillo's gastronomy is also a tourist attraction with dishes such as cebiche, northern-style kid, etc. Trujillo's colonial architecture is one of the best in Peru. The historic center contains magnificent examples of colonial architecture including several churches, the main cathedral, colonial houses over 100 years old, in the center of the city is the main square or Plaza de Armas with the historic and representative Monument to the Liberty of Trujillo. In January of each year the Festival of the Marinera is held in the city, which is a festival of one of the most representative dances in Peru, this dance is called Marinera, this festival includes a horse competition Peruvian step. Also in the La Libertad Region are the beaches of Chicama and Pacasmayo, which are visited by surfers from all over the world. In the Andean areas of the region are the archaeological sites of Marcahuamachuco and Wiracochapampa and nearby the Sausacocha Lagoon in Huamachuco. A museum has recently been inaugurated in Santiago de Chuco, after its restoration, in the house where the poet César Vallejo was born and lived, where tourists can appreciate some intimate environments in which he lived and which are named in his poetry. Here are some tourist attractions in the La Libertad Region:

Monument to Freedom in the Plaza Mayor de Trujillo, sculpture by Edmund Moeller

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  Marcahuamachuco, called the Northern Jewel

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  Huaca de la Luna, Mochica religious capital

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  Huaca del Sol, Political Capital of Moche Culture

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  Marinera Dancers, Marinera Festival

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  Huanchaco, Caballitos de totora

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  One of the walls of Chan Chan's citadel

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  A chalan on horseback dancing sailor.

List of important tourist attractions of Liberty:

Festivals:

• Marinera Festival, January.
• International Spring Festival, in the final week of September.
• Anniversary Week of Trujillo, in the first week of March.
• Patrons of the lord of Huamán, in the last week of June.
• Festivals of the Virgin of the Gate, in the second week of December in the city of Otuzco.
• Carnival of Huanchaco.
• San José Festival at the spa of Las Delicias.

Lambayeque

The department of Lambayeque is one of the most touristic in Peru. It was home to the ancient civilization of the Moche who have created some of the most ingenious monuments and best-known works of art in ancient Peru. In 1987, the royal tombs of the Moche ruler Lord of Sipán were discovered, the artifacts found were transferred to the Tumbas Reales de Sipán museum in the city of Lambayeque. There are also the Bruning Museum and the Sicán Museum in Ferreñafe. These museums show the work of art produced by the ancient Moche collected from archaeological centers such as the Túcume pyramids that contain in its territory more than 20 adobe pyramids 40 meters high. In 2007, more than 306,000 tourists visited Lambayeque's museums. As far as ecotourism is concerned, Lambayeque offers us places like the Chaparrí Ecological Reserve, which has abundant biodiversity; the Pomac Forest Historic Sanctuary and its enormous expanse of carob trees; and the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge. The most popular dish in this area is arroz con pato. The city of Chiclayo, capital of the department, is the second largest in northern Peru and has a vibrant nightlife.

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  The Royal Tomb Museum of Sipan

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  Tomb of the Lord of Sipan

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  Tucume Pyramid

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  Plaza de Armas de Chiclayo

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  Chalanes and Paso horses

Lime

The department of Lima is the most populous in Peru, since the capital of this country, the city of Lima, is located there; It is the transportation, cultural, economic, social, political, and tourist center of the nation. Because Peru is a highly centralized country, much of its organization and trade is centered in this city.

The City of Kings, today Lima, was founded on January 18, 1535, by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the city he founded is now known as the Historic Center of Lima, which it contains much of the colonial architecture of Peru and South America.

During the colonial era, Lima was the center of Spanish rule in South America and the administration of the continent passed through this city. Because of this, the colonial presence grew enormously until independence.

Metropolitan Lima

After independence, cultures from around the world began a cultural medley to form what is now Lima. An example of this union of cultures is the gastronomy of the city. Lima's cuisine is a combination that represents all the groups of people that are part of the city; European, Asian, and Andean cuisine blend to create what is now known as Lima cuisine. The food sector is a very important part of Lima's tourist economy, as many of South America's best restaurants and chefs are there.

Not only is the gastronomic mix evident in Lima, the mix of cultures is also present. Nothing exemplifies this better than the many museums found throughout Lima, among them, the largest and most recognized are: National Museum of Anthropology, Archeology and History, Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, the National Museum of Peruvian Culture and the of Italian Art. The Miraflores district is one that often appeals to tourists due to the multitude of restaurants, hotels, parks, events, and attractions in the area. The Barranco district, together with the Miraflores district, has a lively nightlife with several discos and pubs or peñas, a special type of place that are very popular among tourists in Barranco. They also have several beaches in the area.

Parque de la Reserva and Parque de la Exposición in the city and are one of the main green spaces in Lima. The Lomas de Lachay National Reserve, located 105 kilometers north of Lima, is home to a wide variety of fauna and vegetation. Caral, located in the middle of the Norte Chico desert, is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere, having been built 5,000 years ago. Lunahuaná, south of Lima, is an adventure tourism center with rafting and other activities.

Plaza de Armas de Lima

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  Colonial Balconies, in the Historic Center of Lima

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  Government Palace

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  San Isidro financial center.

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  Reserve Park.

Loreto

Loreto is the largest but least populated department in Peru. Its geography is made up of dense Amazonian vegetation, which is the axis of the type of tourism that is practiced there. In the Loreto region there is the presence of large Euro-Brazilian infrastructures from the rubber era, the Marañón and Ucayali rivers that make up the main course of the Amazon, in the high jungle of Loreto you can find petroglyphs of ancient cultures, mostly already In addition to several cathedrals lost in the jungle, mostly built by Jesuits, Loreto is also home to large concentrations of parks and natural reserves where unique flora and fauna live in various sectors of the Western Amazon, such as the Allpahuayo Mishana reserve or the Matsés, in Loreto is also home to the only mountain ranges in the western Amazon of eastern Peru such as the Sierra del Divisor and the Cordillera Azul.

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  Houses floating in the Amazon River

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  Iquitos Central Square

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  Cordillera Azul National Park

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  Man of the Yagua Nation

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  Malecón Tarapacá

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  Petroglyphs of Cumpanama

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  River Putumayo

Metropolitan Iquitos

Iquitos, capital of the department, is the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon and the fifth most populous in Peru. The city is home to European architecture brought about by the rubber boom at the end of the 19th century. One of the main attractions is the Casa de Fierro (Iron House), a building designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel Tower. The city has buildings built during the Art Nouveau era. The Belén district of Iquitos stands in sharp contrast to the modernist architecture of other parts of the city. Belén is located on a series of canals and is therefore known as the Venice of the Peruvian jungle. The buildings are built on rafts and other flotation devices to protect against flooding. Loreto's rivers contain many beaches that serve as day trip locations from Iquitos. The Loreto region contains numerous national parks and private reserves. These protected areas are home to a great diversity of plant life unmatched in the animal world, which are attended by organized guides, many of whom can be hired from Lima or Iquitos.

Panorama del Río Itaya from the banks of the Metropolitan Iquitos.

Puno

Puno is a department of Peru located in the southeast of the country. It occupies 67 thousand km² of territory made up of the western half of the Collao Plateau, to the west of Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon Yungas to the north. It limits to the east with Bolivian territory, to the southwest with the departments of Tacna, Moquegua and Arequipa, to the west with Cuzco and to the north with Madre de Dios.

It is estimated that this part of the Altiplano is the center of origin of the cultivated potato. El Collao was the territory of the ancient Tiahuanaco culture in the middle of the 1st millennium. Subsequently, various manors conquered by the Inca Empire developed in the region around the XV century. During the Colony, it was an important commercial area. At the end of the 18th century, it was an important theater of operations for the Tupac Amaru II Rebellion in its two phases. It was created as a department on April 26, 1822, replacing the colonial administration prior to the expulsion of the royalists stationed in the area, carried out only in 1824 after the Battle of Ayacucho.

Among the tourist places that this department presents, we can highlight Lake Titicaca, the Uros Island, the Sillustani Chullpas, Amantani Island and Taquille Island.

Most visited places

The most visited places in Peru by incoming tourists are Metropolitan Lima and its historic center (Callao, as the entry point to the country) and Cuzco, characterized by its Inca and colonial architecture.

Its main attractions are the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the archaeological site of Machu Picchu (chosen as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World).

The main tourist circuit in the country is the circuit south, which includes cities such as: Nazca, Paracas, Arequipa, Chivay, Mollendo, Moquegua, Puno, Cuzco, Ayacucho and Puerto Maldonado, with architectural, cultural and natural attractions. This circuit has now been extended to the jungle of the Madre de Dios region, where the Manú National Park offers the possibility of ecological tourism.

The second most important route is that of the Callejón de Huaylas and the Cordillera Blanca, in the Áncash region, the headquarters of adventure tourism (Huascarán National Park) and the main point of reference for New Andean cuisine.

Peru has many other tourist routes. Among these are those of the Mantaro river valley, with the city of Huancayo as one of its axes, and El Valle de Tarma, called by Antonio Raimondi La Perla de los Andes, as another axis that to its time is the entrance to the Central Jungle.

The northern city of Trujillo where Chan Chan is located, the largest mud citadel in Latin America, the traditional spa of Huanchaco and the Huacas del Sol and de la Luna belonging to the Chimú culture, you can also visit Chiclayo and Lambayeque from where the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum is located. These are starting points for the other northern regions of the country (Huánuco, Cajamarca, Piura and Tumbes) and the northeast tourist circuit (Amazonas, San Martín, Loreto).

The mighty Amazon River and the city of Iquitos, in the Peruvian Amazon, are also suitable for tourism. There is a good part of the Peruvian biological diversity. Close to Iquitos it is possible to visit two large national reserves: the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve.

Activities

In Peru you can do various types of tourism, such as Adventure Tourism, Ecological Tourism, Cultural Tourism, also the exploration of the Inca vestiges of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao to the pre-Inca Sillustani, the overflight of the Nazca Lines, or a visit to the Colca Canyon, the Manu forests, sailing on Lake Titicaca or hiking along the famous Inca Trail, or the snow-capped Salkantay or Ausangante, adventure sports on the coast, or the beaches of Mancora on the coast Peruvian, in addition to a variety of rivers, or Andean heights, and the realization of experiential tourism or rural tourism. As for ecotourism, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna in the Amazon jungle, or the Pacaya Samiria Ecological Reserve, the Callejón de Huaylas.

The main tourist activities in Peru are:

• Adventure tourism.
• Cultural tourism.
• Ecotourism.
• Gastronomic tourism.
• Therapeutic tourism.
• Living tourism.

Other tourist routes that Peru offers

The natural protected areas of Peru are of special interest for ecological tourism.

The most recent is the gastronomic tourism of Lima as the Gastronomic Capital of America., In addition to other options such as its hotel infrastructure that make it the venue for regional conventions and international. Experiential tourism has also developed in recent years, mostly in the Lake Titicaca area (islands of (such as the cocoa and coffee route) but also on alternative routes to visit Taquile and the island of Amantani, but also on the routes alternatives to visit.

In Peru there is also a good alternative in the department of Amazonas, since there are great tourist attractions such as La Fortaleza de Kuelap, or the third highest waterfall in the world, Gocta, a museum in Leymebamba with an average of 200 mummies in a very good state of preservation and many other materials from the Chachapoyas culture, and a great variety of typical dishes.