The 8 highest tourist attractions in Peru

Peru is a country in South America whose territory is crossed by an immense strip of the Andes Mountains. This spectacular geography allows you to visit important tourist attractions such as Machu Picchu, considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. However, Peru has many tourist attractions with high mountains and even snow-capped mountains. Get to know the most popular and highest tourist attractions in the Peruvian territory.

The 7 Colors Mountain of Cusco (5,200 meters above sea level)

Vinicunca is one of the best tourist attractions in Cusco. Due to its mountain slopes of varied colors, it is called in different ways, such as: the Rainbow Mountain or the Mountain of 7 Colors. It is located approximately 100 kilometers from Cusco, in a high mountain geography at 5,200 meters above sea level. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in Cusco and Peru.

Vinicunca can be visited with an all-inclusive tour or on your own. In any case, a challenging walk of 3 kilometers on average must be done. The route is difficult due to the high Andean geography where it is difficult to assimilate the scarce oxygen. Optionally, tourists can hire a horse for this route. After Machu Picchu, Vinicunca is the most visited tourist destination in Cusco.

• Location: 100 kilometers southeast of the city of Cusco, in the province of Canchis, department of Cusco.
• Visit price: The 1-day tour to the 7 Colors Mountain costs between 50 to 100 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

Lagoon 69 in Ancash (4,600 meters above sea level)

Lagoon 69 is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Huascarán National Park in the Áncash region. It is located at an altitude of 4,600 meters above sea level. The lagoon offers intense blue waters that are perfect for taking photographs of beautiful landscapes. To get there you must take a 3-hour walk through high mountains where a characteristic local flora and fauna stands out.

The lagoon owes its name to the large number of lagoons, glaciers and mountains in the Cordillera Blanca. There, 200 kilometers of territory have been registered with a total of 722 glaciers and 400 lagoons. Lagoon 69 is under the Chacraraju mountain. In addition, the place is surrounded by snow-capped mountains such as Pisco, Huandoy, Chopicalqui and the famous Huascarán. These snow-capped mountains are higher, but they are not touristy. You can only get there with professional mountaineering expeditions.

• Location: In the Huascarán National Park in the Áncash region (about 92 kilometers from the city of Huaraz).
• Visit price: The entrance to the Huascarán National Park is 30 soles for foreigners and 11 soles for Peruvians. The 1-day tour costs between 60 and 90 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

Lake Titicaca in Puno (3,812 meters above sea level)

Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It is located in the Puno region in southern Peru (the lake is shared with Bolivia). It covers a total area of 8,372 square kilometers where you can find islands with Quechua and Aymara inhabitants, and even floating islands made by their own inhabitants hundreds of years ago. Its landscapes are one of the most beautiful in Peru and one of those that attracts the most tourists.

Although the vast expanse of the lagoon can vary, on average it is located 3,812 meters above sea level. Its main tourist attractions are: the floating island of Uros, Taquile island, Amantani island and Suasi island. There, in addition, there is an interesting diversity of flora and fauna. In 1978 to protect their customs, flora and fauna, the Titicaca National Reserve was created. There are even 5-star hotels on its islands.

• Location: In the highland region of the department of Puno at a distance of 1,293 kilometers by road from the city of Lima (capital of Peru).
• Visit price: Tours to the main islands of Lake Titicaca cost 50 to 100 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

The Humantay lagoon in Cusco (4,200 meters above sea level)

The Humantay lagoon is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Cusco region in southern Peru. Humantay owes its name to the tall snow-capped mountain that crowns the lagoon. In addition, the famous Salkantay snow-capped mountain is very close. The lagoon is famous for its turquoise waters that offer beautiful scenery. It is located 4,200 meters above sea level. The visit can be done with a tour or on your own.

The Humantay lagoon is at the top of a mountain where it can only be reached by a 3-kilometer walk uphill (approximately 2-hour route). It is believed that the lagoon was considered sacred to the Incas. Even ceremonies worshiping the mountains were held there. Today it is traveled mainly by tourists who carry out the 5-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

• Location: 128 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco, in the province of Anta in Cusco.
• Visit price: The entrance to the Humantay lagoon costs 10 soles for foreigners and 5 soles for Peruvians. The 1-day tour costs between 50 to 100 soles depending on the tourism agency you hire.

The Marcahuasi stone forest in Lima (4 thousand meters above sea level)

Lima, in addition to a vast coastal strip, has an important mountain chain with high altitude tourist attractions. One of these is Marcahuasi, a stone forest located four thousand meters above sea level. This wonderful natural landscape is 90 kilometers from the city of Lima. It is famous for its mountain landscape where many visitors like to camp under the stars, a campfire and the inclement cold.

In Marcahuasi, as a result of erosion for thousands of years, rocks have been formed with different zoomorphic and human figures. Granite figures stand out such as the Monument to Humanity (several human faces in one). In addition, its lagoons, flora, wildlife and even remains of pre-Hispanic cultures stand out. Many visitors like to camp there during the July 28 holiday (Independence Day of Peru).

• Location: In the district of San Pedro de Casta in the province of Huarochirí, in the department of Lima (about 90 kilometers by road from the city center).
• Visit price: General admission costs 10 soles per person. There are also 2-day tours for 150 soles on average (varies depending on the tourism agency you choose).

The Colca Canyon in Arequipa (3,800 meters above sea level)

The Colca Canyon is the second most visited tourist attraction in Peru after the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. In addition, it is considered one of the deepest canyons on the planet, at 4,160 meters. In addition to its spectacular geography, Colca is famous for its ‘Cruz del Cóndor’ viewpoint. There you can see the flight of Andean condors every morning, the second largest flying bird in the world.

The Colca Canyon is located in the valley of the same name. It belongs to the district of Chivay in the province of Caylloma, Arequipa region. It covers different latitudes and landscapes that generate great Andean biodiversity. To get there you can take an interesting hiking route of 2 days or more. Due to the influx of tourism, in its towns (such as Chivay and Cabanaconde) there are hotels and restaurants of excellent quality.

• Location: In the district of Chivay, province of Caylloma and department of Arequipa. The trip from the city of Arequipa is 166 kilometers by road.
• Visit price: The entrance costs 70 soles for foreigners and 40 soles for Peruvians. 1-day tours cost between 60 to 120 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

The Kuelap fortress (3 thousand meters above sea level)

Kuelap, although not located at a very high altitude, is one of the best tourist attractions in the Amazon region in the high jungle of Peru. Kuelap was a citadel – refuge belonging to the Chachapoyas culture (800 A.D. – 1470 A.D.). It has stone constructions in a difficult geography, in the high jungle of the Amazon region. It is 3 thousand meters above sea level. To access there it is necessary to ascend by cable car through wonderful landscapes. From the top you have amazing views and buildings with a lot of history.

The Kuelap fortress, as its name indicates, had high stone walls necessary for protection in case of invasions. In addition, it has squares, enclosures, streets and paths. And everything is in an almost inaccessible geography. Today Kuelap is one of the best tourist attractions in the eastern Andes of Peru. To get there you have to take a final walk of 30 minutes on average.

• Location: Kuelap belongs to the Tingo district, in the province of Luya, in the department of Amazonas. From the city of Chachapoyas you must travel 67 kilometers (the last section by cable car).
• Visit price: The entrance to Kuelap costs 20 soles. The 1-day tour costs between 80 and 120 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

The snowy Pastoruri (5 thousand meters above sea level)

The Pastoruri snow-capped mountain is in the Huascarán National Park, a vast area full of glaciers, lagoons and exuberant flora and fauna. In this area, an immense snow-capped mountain stands out, at the foot of which visitors can reach after an arduous walk. This is Pastoruri, whose summit is located 5,240 meters above sea level. Its snow peak is appreciated. On its northern slope there is a glacier. All this makes it a highly visited tourist attraction.

The walk to the foot of Pastoruri is 3 kilometers of ascent along paths surrounded by beautiful landscapes. In the local flora, the Raimondi puya stands out, a species that can reach ten meters in height. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the density of the snow and the glacier is gradually being lost. The Pastoruri can be visited on your own or with a tour departing from the city of Huaraz.

• Location: In the Cordillera Blanca (Huascarán National Park). It belongs to the district of Aquia, province of Bolognesi in the department of Ancash. From the city of Huaraz, approximately 108 kilometers by road and on foot.
• Visit price: The entrance to the Huascarán National Park is 30 soles for foreigners and 11 soles for Peruvians. The 1-day tour costs between 60 and 90 soles, depending on the tourism agency you choose.

By Machupicchu Terra – Last updated, December 20, 2023