10 Beautiful Places to Visit in Peru
Peru was on the top of my bucket list for the longest time, so when I finally visited it was like a dream come true! There are so many beautiful places it's hard to narrow it down, but here are 10 places you can't visit Peru without seeing!
For those of you that are new.. welcome to my blog! My name is Savanna Crowell and I'm a wanderer who loves to share travel tips and insights on my favorite destinations. If you are interested in knowing more about my background, travels, (or anything!) check out the 'About Me' section of my website. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram @slc_travels to join me on my journeys!
Traveling to Peru
Peru is a vibrant and diverse country to travel to, with landscapes ranging from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest and beyond! With how many things there are to see in the country, a trip to Peru definitely requires planning. We broke up our trip into '2 sections', the first half of the trip we rented a car and took a road trip starting in Lima and going down the coast to Huacachina and back. For the second half we were based in Cusco and took trips around there in the Andes mountains (yes, including Machu Picchu).
Renting a Car in Peru
Prior to my trip this is something I wanted to know all the details about, so I will give you my experience! We got our rental car for 4 days and rented through Alamo Car Rental at Lima International Airport. We had no problems with Alamo, they were very friendly, helpful, and relaxed. They had the car at the airport parking lot and ready to go upon our arrival.
Driving in Peru is another story. Getting out of Lima was one of the most stressful things.. my boyfriend was driving and I don't know what was worse - being the passenger or the driver! I say it was stressful because people drive very close to you, there are many potholes you have to avoid, and just overall the driving is a bit chaotic. Once you get out of Lima though, it is much better and relaxed. Just be prepared to be on your A-game driving through the city!
Overall, I would definitely recommend renting a car especially if you want to visit Huacachina and Paracas. There are options for day trips out of Lima via tour guides but honestly it's not worth it for a day trip (it's about a 4 hour drive one way, so most of the day would be spend in the car). Just be extra cautious while driving and you will be fine!
10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit on a Road Trip through Peru
1. Huacachina
Welcome to the desert oasis of Huacachina! Located just west of Ica (I recommend you stay in that town overnight) in southwestern Peru. I recommend you rent a car from Lima to visit this area. It's a great place to spend a day, as the lagoon's shores are dotted with restaurants and bars for when you get hungry or want a drink.
The most popular thing to do here is go sand boarding or hop on a dune buggy that takes you through the sand dunes. It's such a fun and unique activ