If the people and cities, didn’t have ya booking your flight to Peru then these 5 reasons to visit Peru will!

1. The Views

One of the best things about Peru is that everywhere you look there are unique and beautiful sights. Whether you’re exploring the Lima coast, traveling the Sacred Valley, or making the drive from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the volcanoes of Arequipa you can’t go wrong. I don’t think it is possible for us to pick a “favorite” view but there are a couple that especially stick out in our minds.

Sunsets on Lake Titicaca - I mean talk about an epic sunset! Although we only stayed two nights on this lake, we made sure to soak up the sunsets each evening from the porch of our hotel, Titilaka. The soft sunlight hitting that crisp blue water with the orange landscape, was a stunning sight, and Nathan managed to capture some of this beauty in a photo.

Those first grand views on the Inca Trail. I say the first ones because when you first enter the Inca Trail (aka Camino Inca) you get an amazing view of the Urubamba River with the dramatic Andes mountains filling your image. It was an inspiring way to begin the trek.

Pedestrian Bridge to start the Inca Trail

The view of Macchu Picchu from the Sun Gate - we think it is important to see Macchu Picchu from this view (which is still about an hour hike from the actual ruins of Macchu Picchu) because you can see it the way to Incas saw it when entering this spiritual temple. It gives you an understanding of the vastness on the Andes and the incredible feats the Incas were capable of that the Incas were able to navigate such a dense, lush forest.

2. The Lake

Lake Titicaca is a true gem, spanning both Peru and Bolivia, you really can’t go wrong with a stop here. We started off our two day stay at the lake with a bike ride in the surrounding towns around our hotel. *Bike riding while traveling is one of the ultimate ways to experience a new place. It gives the opportunity to see a lot in just a little bit of time.* We were first struck by the contrast of the blue water against the rocky landscape: it almost has a southwest US vibe. And the night sky on the lake.. OH MY, what an incredible sight. I don’t think we’ve even seen so many stars.

Our second day on the lake led us on a day trip to the floating islands of Uros and the island of Taquile. We toured around with an awesome German family and had a chance to learn a bit about their lives while also experiencing the amazing culture of this little slice of the world. The floating islands are truly amazing and there is nothing else quite like them. For hundreds of years people have inhabited these tiny man-made islands of reeds and been able to sustain life generation after generation… amazing! Next up was the island of Taquile, a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s views mimic those of the Mediterranean. Weaving has been a part of their heritage for years and to this day weaving is used by the local people to identify their relationship status and display their hopes and dreams for their lives. It was a special experience to learn about the intimacies of this society.

Besides Lake Titicaca being the perfect spot to experience culture, views, and water activities it is just an all around peaceful place to take a step back and take in the beauty Peru has to offer. During our time at the lake, we felt completely relaxed and had the opportunity to spend time together and recover from our adventures on the Inca Trail.

3. The Trail

The Inca Trail, talk about a spiritual experience! Nathan and I made the decision to embark on this epic trail about a year in advance as permits need to be secured ASAP. We wanted to put our hiking skills to the test and push ourselves on this strenuous 4-day journey to the epic Macchu Picchu. Let me tell you, hiking the Inca Trail is the best way to experience these ancient ruins. After 3 full days of high altitude, unpredictable weather, and sleeping in a tent; there was nothing like looking through the Sun Gate just after sunrise at one of the wonders of the world. Folks, it is well worth the sweat, soreness, and potential altitude sickness. We have a whole post on the Inca Trail on deck so I will leave you just with this little taste to prepare you for a detailed account of our epic journey.

4. The Food

We quickly learned how truly delicious Pervian food is! I really don’t think we had a bad meal while in Peru, even on the trail. While there we had the chance to try a couple local delicacies, guinea pig and alpaca (which I was hesitant about but I LOVE all things in the llama family). While we were in the Sacred Valley, we even saw guinea pigs on a stick at a roadside stand! I will say we were not that adventurous as our stomachs were already having a hard time acclimating to the food and the altitude but I did order guinea pig for dinner while in the Sacred Valley. It honestly just tasted like chewy chicken which worked for me.

In Arequipa, our last stop, we decided to go for it and order alpaca after hearing so much about it. Again, this was hard for me as I’ve always had a special love for these creatures but as they say, when in Rome! Nathan ordered alpaca ribs and I went for the alpaca fillet and neither disappointed! It was lean, juicy, and all around just a tasty piece of meat! I would highly recommend trying it. Also the dining experience at Zingaro was amazing!

Aside from the delicacies, Peru is also known for its quinoa (yes they are the keepers of this superfood!) and thousands of species of potatoes. There is nothing like an Andean french fry, these were Nathan’s favorite!

5. The Valley

Kol was able to provide us with the in’s and out’s of Ollantaytambo, Pisaq, Maras, Moray, and Chinchero (all of which our must-see’s). Each site had a unique insight into the Incan history and rich Peruvian culture with the colorful markets of Pisaq, the snow white salt mines of Maras, and the fascinating agricultural ruins of Moray (the Incans created thousands of different kinds of potatoes in this very area…wow!). We absolutely loved our three days exploring the Sacred Valley and were so glad we took the time to immerse ourselves in the valley. It also helped to acclimate to the altitude before hitting the Inca Trail!