4 Cities in Peru You Have to Visit

Peru is too big and too wonderful a country for visitors to keep their travels contained to Machu Picchu and Lima. You may not have heard of the cities listed below before, but your trip to Peru won’t be complete unless you take the time to visit at least one of them before you leave.

Iquitos

Iquitos is one of the most unique cities in the world. The sixth most populous city in Peru, Iquitos is the largest city in the world that is completely inaccessible by road. Thanks to its location in the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos is like an oasis of modernity in the middle of the wild South American jungle. The city can only be reached by plane or boat, any inconvenience involved in getting there is more than cancelled out by the chance to see a bustling modern city in the middle of one of the wildest places left on Earth, and for the opportunity to journey out onto the Amazon River and the surrounding jungle.

Arequipa

Arequipa is the home of the Constitutional Court of Peru, and the country’s second most populous city. Arequipa has such an important place in Peru’s culture and history, the city itself has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. The city’s importance comes from its history a national hub of both art and science: fairytale writer Mariano Melgar, poet Mario Vargas Llosa, and pioneering rocket scientist Pedro Paulet all worked and lived in Arequipa, and the city is now home to many museums featuring important works of art, archaeology, and religion.

Puno

Puno isn’t a bustling cultural center or a large modern metropolis, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most interesting places in Peru. The first great feature Puno has to offer is its cultural history sites, including many ancient churches that date back to the first century of European settlement in the area. Secondly, Puno is one of Peru’s most important agricultural centers, meaning visitors can go there to see locals raising and tending to llamas and alpacas on the plateaus and vistas surrounding the city. Lastly, Puno’s location on the shores of Lake Titicaca make it the perfect launching point for travelers who want to see the lake’s famous floating islands.

Máncora

Máncora used to be a sleepy beach town, but over the last few decades it’s been transformed into one of the hottest beach cities in the western hemisphere. The city features more than 30 beach resorts, as well as a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and other tourist attractions. Best of all, Máncora is surrounded by some of the best beaches in the world. If your main reason for visiting Peru is to relax and soak up some sun, Máncora is the place for you.

Ready to explore Peru? Contact Best Peru Tours today to book your trip and get great travel package deals. Visit www.bestperutours.com or call 866-788-5647 toll-free today.