Quick answer: The most interesting and unusual things in Peru
The most interesting things to see and do in Peru include Machu Picchu, the giant fitted stonework of Sacsayhuamán, and the circular farming terraces of Moray.
Other unusual attractions are Lima’s Parque Kennedy cat park, Peru’s blend of Inca, Spanish, African, Chinese and Japanese cooking (including roasted guinea pig, or cuy), and more than 4,000 native potato varieties.
My favorites include the Peruvian hairless dog, Lima’s San Francisco monastery and its catacombs, coca tea for the altitude, llama and alpaca sanctuaries, and the luxury Hiram Bingham train.
I have traveled to more than 110 countries, and Peru still surprised me. It is culturally layered, welcoming, and full of things you will not find anywhere else: a park run by cats, farming terraces the Incas used as an open-air laboratory, and a cuisine that blends five cultures.
I saw most of what’s below on a 6-day Machu Picchu tour with IncaExpert in July. I loved it so much I had to write about it. IncaExpert is currently offering $100 off when you mention the code “Talek” in the notes section when you book, while it lasts. You can see the tour I took here.
Machu Picchu, Peru’s most famous site
Machu Picchu is the main reason most people visit Peru, and it earns its reputation. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and certainly one of the most interesting things to see in Peru..
The Incas built it in the 15th century in the Cusco region of southern Peru, about 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Cusco city, at roughly 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level.
It is known for its sophisticated engineering: terraces and water channels for drainage and irrigation, and stone walls fitted so precisely that they needed no mortar.
The surviving ruins include temples, palaces, plazas, and water channels reflecting the apex of Inca engineering.
We still don’t know for certain why it was built. Historians generally believe it was a royal estate or retreat for Inca rulers, possibly with religious importance. Its remote, mountainous setting only adds to the mystery.
Explorer Hiram Bingham brought Machu Picchu to international attention in 1911, though local families had known about it long before.
Planning tips
- Entry is by timed ticket, and numbers are limited, so book ahead. You can buy your tickets online at https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/llaqta_machupicchu, operated by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. You can also purchase your ticket in person at the Ministry of Culture in Aguas Calientes, or through your tour operator. Make sure to bring your passport.
- Most visitors reach it by train from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, then a short bus ride up from Aguas Calientes. I took the train from Cusco.
- Allow a day or two in Cusco first to adjust to the altitude, and to see one of the most interesting cities in Peru.
Peru has more than 4,000 kinds of potatoes
From one of the seven wonders of the world to the humble potato. Peru is the birthplace of the potato, and the country is home to more than 4,000 native varieties, according to the International Potato Center.
They come in a startling range of colors and shapes: purple, red, yellow, bumpy, tiny, and long.
The Peruvian hairless dog
This gentle canine is also called a Peruvian Viringo, Inca Orchid, Chimu, or Calato, which means naked in the local Quechua language. It is as unique as Peru itself. I saw these precious puppies in a market.
Look at these precious faces! This is an ancient, beautiful breed. An unusual and interesting dog not to be mistaken for the Xoloitzcuintle, the hairless dog of Mexico.
Inca stonework at Sacsayhuamán and Cusco
One of the most impressive things in Peru is the stonework of the Incas. At Sacsayhuamán, on a hill above Cusco, and throughout the city, massive stones are cut and fitted together so tightly that you cannot slip a knife blade between them, and no mortar was used!
Some of these stones are enormous. In my photo below, compare the size of the stones to the person on the upper right.
The walls date from the 1400s, so they are more than 500 years old, and many have survived major earthquakes that toppled the Spanish colonial buildings built on top of them.
Don’t miss: the famous Twelve-Angled Stone on Hatunrumiyoc street in Cusco, which fits perfectly into the stones around it.
Video: walking along the Inca walls at Sacsayhuamán.
Peruvian food
Peruvian food is as unique and sophisticated as any of the world’s legendary, great cuisines like that of Spain, France, China, or Japan.
What makes Peruvian food one of the most interesting things in Peru? The fact that it is a blend of Inca (Quechua or native), Spanish, African, Chinese, and Japanese cultures.
Where in the world would you find such a combination of exciting and innovative cuisines?
The food is so legendary, in fact, that Central, a restaurant in Lima, was named Best Restaurant in the World in 2023.
Dishes to try
- Ceviche: raw fish cured in lime juice with chili and onion, Peru’s national dish.
- Lomo saltado: stir-fried beef with onions, tomatoes, and fries, a Chinese-Peruvian classic.
- Ají de gallina: shredded chicken in a creamy yellow chili sauce.
- Anticuchos: grilled skewers, traditionally beef heart.
- Cuy: roasted guinea pig, a traditional Andean dish that is common on menus. I tried it. It tastes similar to rabbit and is quite good.
Lima’s Cat Park (Parque Kennedy)
In the upscale neighborhood of Miraflores in suburban Lima, Peru, there is a pretty little park named Parque John F. Kennedy that is home to about 70 cats. There are all kinds of cats in all colors and sizes.
No one bothers them. The cats are friendly. They lounge about on park benches, in trees, in flower beds, and even on the laps of the willing humans that delight in petting them.
Visitors have even built a little cat hotel erected in the park by cat lovers who want them to have shelter. The sign outside the cat hotel says, “I’m your friend, Maggycuky. When you’re cold I’ll keep you warm. You are my rainbow.”
Legend says that in the 1980s, the park had a rat infestation. Because the park was, and still is, a tourist attraction surrounded by a lovely colonial church and many outdoor restaurants, someone had to address the rat problem.
Cats were recruited, and the rat problem was quickly solved. But the cats remained.
In appreciation, local animal organizations kept feeding the cats and providing them with shelter and medical care.
Today the park is affectionately known as El Parque de Los Gatos, the Cat Park. And there is nary a rat in sight.
Where to stay in Lima’s Miraflores neighborhood. The best place to stay in Lima.
Moray: the Incas’ agricultural laboratory
Moray rings don’t get the credit they deserve. They are by far one of the most unique, unusual and interesting things to see in Peru.
This site in the Sacred Valley, near the town of Maras and roughly 50 km (about 30 miles) from Cusco, is a set of enormous, concentric circular terraces sunk into the earth. It looks like something from a science fiction film, but they are real.
The Incas weren’t only warriors. They were also skilled agricultural scientists. Each level of the terraces sits at a different depth and has a slightly different microclimate, and the temperature difference between the top and the bottom is often cited as being as much as 15°C (27°F).
That allowed the Incas to experiment with how different crops grew in different conditions. Standing in the middle and looking down through the rings, it’s hard not to be moved by the thought that someone stood there centuries ago thinking about crop yields.
You can experience Moray in just a few hours. Most people visit Moray alongside the nearby Maras salt pans on a Sacred Valley day trip.
San Francisco monastery and catacombs, Lima
Founded in 1546 and completed in 1672, the Convent of San Francisco in Lima’s historic center is a lovely example of colonial architecture.
Beneath it are the catacombs, which hold the remains of thousands of people, commonly estimated at between 25,000 and 75,000, arranged in geometric patterns.
They are smaller than the catacombs of Paris, but just as fascinating. Photos are not allowed inside, so if you want to see what the catacombs look like, this guide from Peru Travel shows some of them.
Coca Tea (and how to handle the altitude)
In every hotel lobby, every restaurant, every drugstore, and everywhere in the Peruvian highlands, you’ll find coca tea.
Machu Picchu stands at almost 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) above sea level. Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is even higher at over 11,000 feet (3,353 meters) above sea level.
At these elevations, visitors who are not accustomed to these altitudes may feel uncomfortable, experiencing shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, or nausea.
One age-old way to counter these symptoms is with a cup of coca tea. It has been used for centuries by the local population.
Important to know
- Coca tea is legal and widely sold in Peru. It is made from the coca leaf, which is also the raw material for cocaine. Drinking it can produce a positive result on a drug test, and you can’t bring coca tea or leaves back into the United States.
- Coca tea may ease mild symptoms, but it isn’t a substitute for proper acclimatization. Give yourself a day or two at altitude before strenuous activity, drink water, and go easy on alcohol.
- If you’re concerned about altitude sickness, talk to your doctor before you travel about altitude medication
Where to stay in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire.
Llamas and alpaca sanctuaries
Llamas are everywhere in Peru, and they’re something of a national symbol. At a sanctuary, you can meet llamas, alpacas, guanacos (the wild relative of the llama) and the occasional sheep, and feed and photograph them up close.
The animals more than pay their way. Their wool becomes sweaters, blankets and scarves. A fun fact: “baby alpaca” is a grade of especially fine fiber, not necessarily wool from a baby animal.
The Hiram Bingham train
Explorer Hiram Bingham, hearing rumors of a lost city in the Andes, led the 1911 expedition that brought Machu Picchu to the world’s attention. His name now appears on a number of attractions in Peru, including the luxury Hiram Bingham train.
The train runs from Cusco to the entrance of Machu Picchu along the Urubamba River valley, with a dining car, a full bar, live entertainment, and an open-air observation car at the back with great views.
What are your thoughts on the most unusual and interesting things to do in Peru? What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.
Video: Riding the Hiram Bingham train from Cuzco
Interested in South Ameirca?
Explore Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires and the majestic Patagonian region. What about Montevideo, Uruguay? It has everything Buenos Aires has but on a smaller scale.
When is the best time to visit Peru?
The dry season, roughly May through September, is the most popular time for Machu Picchu and the Andes, with clear skies and cooler nights.
The rainy season runs roughly from November to March, when trails can be muddy and views cloudier, but crowds are smaller.
I went in July and found the weather delightful.
Make sure to check out these travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Last updated October 25, 2026
Unique Peru is chock full of interesting things to see and do. What have we missed? Let us know in the comments!
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