Five awesome things to do in Peru beyond Machu Picchu

When we first started telling people we were heading to Peru the most common question we got was “Why?”.

Even people who have heard of Machu Picchu often don’t know quite where the famous Inca ruins are located, other than ‘somewhere in South America’.

But there is so much to see and do in this fascinating country. So many bucket list items to tick off, or cultural wonders to visit. From hanging out in the jungle to being awed by landscapes or Inca ruins, there is so much to see and do in Peru that it’s well worth a visit. So, for those that are planning a trip or just want to know ‘why’ we went, here are five awesome things to do.

Wildlife spotting in the Amazon

The Amazon spans nine countries, one of which is Peru. Our guide proudly tells us that the Amazon River actually starts in Peru, so while the majority (60%) of the jungle may be in Brazil, the river starts in Peru, making this it’s true home.

We were just impressed with the dense forest, the wildlife spotting and the culture of the place. I mean, where else can you go fishing for piranhas and spot rhinoceros beetles as big as your head (disclaimer, I do have a very small head, but still…!)

We spotted monkeys, macaws, piranhas, river otters. And then, on a second visit, we added capybaras to the list. As with all wildlife spotting you have to keep your eyes open and really look deep into the environment, but the diversity is fascinating.

And who doesn’t want to be able to start a sentence with ‘that time I was trekking through the Amazon…’.

Floating villages on Lake Titicaca

When I told my friend I was going to Lake Titicaca he laughed, until he realised it is a real place and not just something from a Disney movie. 

The floating villages here may seem like a tourist construct but people still live on these man-made islands. The islands are diverse, the cultures intriguing and the people so friendly.

The islands are diverse, we stopped at one that was made from reeds. Apparently when the villagers have a fight they just cut part of the land away and move the islands apart. That’s one way to solve a disagreement.

At 3812 metres above sea level, Lake Titicaca is said to be the highest navigable lake in the world and your lungs will most likely feel the high altitude, take it easy, but don’t miss this experience. 

Scramble over the Inca Ruins

You’ll want to head straight to Machu Picchu, but there are so many other amazing sites throughout Peru that show the mite and strength of the Inca people.

Check out the size of the rocks used to build Sacsayhuaman and you’ll be scratching your head for days wondering just how they moved them into position and questioning the number of lives that must have been lost in the process.

There are Incan ruins dotted throughout this beautiful country and remains have been incorporated into the footings of some of the old Spanish buildings – marrying the two cultures and the history of the place.

You could spend days scrambling over the ruins surrounding Ollantaytambo or Cusco.

Explore Spanish-inspired villages.

You could be forgiven for thinking you’ve woken up in Europe in some of the villages in Peru. Not surprising considering the heritage of the country and indeed, the continent.

Spend some time wandering the cobblestone streets and people watching in the many bars and cafes.

If you’re lucky you may just arrive in the middle of a market – there always seems to be a market. Or better still a festival celebrating the vibrant and colourful history of the nation.

Cusco, Pisac and Ollantaytambo are three beautiful towns and are all worth whiling away the hours.

Rainbow Mountain

Our guide warned us repeatedly before we headed up to Rainbow Mountain that the colours aren’t really as vibrant as you see in the promotional pictures dotted around Cusco.

She was right, of course, but it didn’t matter. The colours were spectacular and so was the valley we overlooked.

Apparently there are different sites in Peru offering Rainbow Mountain experiences. We took a day trip from Cusco and after a lengthy walk at high altitude (we reached 4990m) we had the most amazing views of a mountain range that looked as though it had been painted with brightly coloured paints.

History and llamas at Machu Picchu

Really, you can’t go to Peru without going to Machu Picchu. If only because everyone will ask you what it was like and well, isn’t it on everyone’s bucket list?

Machu Picchu is mysterious, beautiful, awe-inspiring and, aside from the ruins themselves, the location is simply breathtaking – not to mention the llamas that amble over the site.

You don’t have to do the five-day trek to get there, you can go by train to Aguas Calientes – it’s a beautiful train journey. Just one and a half hours through massive snow-capped mountain peaks and alongside gushing streams.

Once in Aguas Calientes it’s a 20-minute bus ride up to the famous Inca ruins. And then be prepared to walk. Machu Picchu was a town and you’ll want to walk through a good proportion of the town to see it from different angles.

Fast Facts

We travelled to Peru in 2018 and again in 2024.

We stayed for two weeks each time.

Was it long enough? I could have stayed longer in every place we visited.

Highlights: Rainbow Mountain was a new discovery on my second trip and was worth the effort, Cusco and Ollantaytambo are particular favourites of mine and you really can’t go past Machu Picchu. It is every bit as ‘wow’ as it looks in the photos.

This trip was part of a tour I hosted with the Australian-based solo travel company Two’s a Crowd.

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