Unlike Europe and the USA, where cities like Paris, Barcelona, and New York are real tourist magnets, Peru is less known for its architecture and urban life. Through this guide we’ll tell you why you should not miss out on City Tours in Peru.
Most people traveling here seek to experience the beautiful landscapes, archaeological remnants, and living culture of the coast, Andes, and jungle.
However, Peru’s cities should not be underestimated. Even though you might not spend most of your time here, Peru’s cities should not be overlooked.
When you’re in Peru visiting amazing sites like Machu Picchu, it’s well worth considering adding urban destinations to your itinerary.
You will have to spend at least a while in the cities because you need to acclimate before heading to Peru’s high-altitude destinations.
So, we suggest you use that acclimatization period to get to know the urban hubs of Peru, full of colors, culture, and gastronomy. There is a lot more to explore here than you might think.
If we have sparked your curiosity already, you might want to scroll through all of our City Tours & Activities, where you might find a suitable experience for you. Then, after having acclimatized well enough in the cities, you should be ready to embark on one of our Hiking Tours.
Or, if exploring is the driving passion behind your travels, our Off The Beaten Path Tours might be the most tempting to you. Certainly, you will find some suitable experiences for you among all of our Travel Styles. But for now, read on to find out how to enjoy Peruvian cities to the fullest.
What characterizes city tours in Peru?
To some people, going on a city tour might sound extremely dull. Why would anyone walk for hours, listening to different buildings’ histories and architectural styles?
If this is the impression you have of city tours, we’re guessing you haven’t been lucky enough to participate in a well-thought-out city experience. It’s high time to change that!
When going on a well-organized city tour, you will soon realize that it’s not only about visiting the city itself. It’s also a great way to get to know a country.
We believe that it is difficult, or even impossible, to get a holistic picture of Peru without having roamed some of its urban streets. A big part of the country lives in the urban agglomerations, which means they’re perfect places for experiencing local life.
Big cities attract people looking for jobs, and wanting to trade and do business. They receive immigrants, deciding to start a new life in a new place, such as the many Chinese and Japanese people in Peru.
They offer places to gather, socialize and make new friends. And they also provide the opportunity to express culture through the organization of festivals, markets, workshops, or other events. There is a seemingly endless array of activities you can partake of in the city.
Chat with local people
If you are lucky enough to speak some Spanish, you will also be able to chat with the local people for as long as you want. Especially the people in the markets or small shops tend to be talkative and curious about foreigners.
Sometimes, they won’t let you go, wanting to know everything about you and your culture. You will see for yourself once you come to Peru.
As you can see, touring cities can vary and depend on the places you decide to go and the activities you engage in.
To offer some clarity, we have selected four aspects that are most representative of city tours: 1. Admiring the architecture & beautiful artworks; 2. Spending time in restaurants and cafés; 3. Witnessing local life; 4. Taking part in some of the many festivities throughout the year.
Do you want to get more details about these four characteristics of city travel? In that case, continue reading, as we will elaborate on each of them and suggest some of our unique experiences in Peru’s urban hubs.
Don’t worry if you do not find the exact tour you are looking for among our examples. You can use our Peru Trip Planner & Custom Itineraries service if you would like us to tailor-make your own personal trip to Peru. If you do so, we will search for the city experience that is just right for you.
Seeing the architecture & beautiful artworks of Peru
A city’s architecture is the first aspect of characterizing the place, as it is its most visible feature. In Peru, Arequipa stands out as a very clean city, plunged in white, whereas Cusco’s reddish buildings contrast perfectly with the surrounding green mountains in the rainy season.
Lima, for its part, is the only place in Peru displaying real skyscrapers. Colonialism has left its mark in many Peruvian cities.
Different types of architectural styles can be observed in the city centers and in the outskirts of Peru’s urban hubs.
Our Lima Walking Tour is a great example of a tour taking you straight to the heart of Lima, a must-see during anyone’s visit. Here, different nationalities and cultures come together to form the interesting society of this city.
For those who like to venture off the beaten path a little bit, a Callao Get-Away (Urban Art, History, and Gastronomy) should be on the list of activities. Having been a rather dangerous place in the past, the district of Callao is starting to free itself from its bad reputation.
Different art movements have given value to this place, which is now amazingly colorful and fun. This is a district with a fascinating history.
In other places, especially Cusco, you can immerse yourself in the architecture of the Incas. Saqsaywaman, lying just above the city of Cusco, was a significant place for the Incas at the time. Seeing the immensity of the stones, it is built of, and how well preserved this archaeological masterpiece is, you will most probably be stunned.
During our self-designed Cusco Walking Tour, you will see not only Saqsaywaman but also another Inca site before descending to the city center.
Spending time in Peru’s restaurants and cafés
Of course, city travelers should not forget to take well-deserved breaks in between. Roaming through the streets and getting lost moving from one place to another is great but also strenuous. As soon as our feet become tired from all the walking, we treat ourselves to a well-deserved coffee break (and Peru has amazing coffee!).
Luckily, options for a nice drink or meal in a cozy place are abundant in Peru’s cities. Cusco and Arequipa offer great spots to enjoy stunning views over the cities, whereas Lima impresses with its ocean views.
Enjoying the golden hour in one of the many bars and restaurants is an activity not to be missed. As the sun sets, you will feel the air cooling down and look forward to falling into bed after a day of exploring.
Whereas all urban hubs have their charm, Lima certainly is the place to be when it comes to culinary experiences. If you are a fan of gastronomy, make sure to allow for enough days in the capital before heading to other regions of Peru.
One experience that deserves special attention is the Street Food and Old Taverns tour in Lima’s Historic Center. On this tour, you will experience Lima by night, learn about local life and, at the same time, treat yourself to different tastes.
Witnessing Peru’s local city life
In Peru, a big part of people’s lives happens outside, on the streets. And that is not only the case for the many people living in the countryside, in the mountains or in the jungle but also in the cities. Here, a lot of the hustle and bustle is going on day in, and day out.
A street is where people sell all kinds of goods, from fruits and vegetables to clothes and umbrellas. It seems like you can find anything your heart desires without even entering any shop.
Walking around these busy streets is a great way to witness how the people of Peru lead their everyday lives. The streets are also a place of encounter, where people get together to keep each other company.
In Cusco, to give just one example, the Plaza San Cristobal is a popular place for tourists and locals to sit down, have a drink, and enjoy the views over Cusco and the snow-capped Ausangate mountain in the distance. The square is a great place to feel like a real Cusquenian enjoying their free time after work.
In every city, life is organized in a slightly different way. Again, the best way to see the differences in habits and traditions is to go on our Walking Tours in Peru’s main urban hubs: Lima Walking Tour, Arequipa Walking Tour, and Cusco Walking Tour.
They will enable you to get a real insight into each one of these unique places and learn about people’s daily lives. As soon as you get out of the city, you will also be able to compare urban life to rural life and witness a different reality yet.
Taking part in Peru’s festivals
Peru is home to many unique festivals of Christian or Incan descent. Many of them are also a mix of both religions and thus a great example of syncretism. Each city has its traditions and customs for celebrating its religious beliefs. Hereunder, we present the most important celebration dates of Arequipa, Lima, and Cusco.
Arequipa
August can be considered the perfect month to visit Arequipa. A series of events are held during this month commemorating the anniversary of the Spanish foundation of the city on August 15, 1540.
The Entrada de Capo Parade is among the most important ones. During this event, people pick and collect the “capo”: a type of bush from the highlands near the city. Donkeys or mules originally transferred it to the main square, where bonfires were lit on the eve of Arequipa’s anniversary.
Nowadays, local dancers and music bands get together to make their way to the Plaza de Armas. Here, the party ends with performances of local folklore.
Lima
Lima is famous for an event called Señor de Los Milagros. This tradition is actually hundreds of years old, dating back to the 1600s.
At that time, the Spaniards had already conquered Lima and built their epicenter there, unlike Cusco, which was the center of the Incas. Lima was a melting pot, full of Spaniards, indigenous people, and enslaved peoples from abroad.
One day, one of the slaves painted their god on a wall in Lima, namely the Pachacamilla (Creator of the Earth). Then came October, during which many earthquakes would occur in Lima. Strong ones hit the city on the 18th and 28th of October.
However, the wall with the painting survived the earthquakes, while many other buildings collapsed. People started venerating the painting, which had survived so many earthquakes and decided to build a church around the wall of the painting.
With time, the Pachacamilla became the so-called “Señor de Milagros” (Lord of Miracles) and grew increasingly important. People reproduced the image of Pachacamilla as a painting that could be carried through Lima in a church procession.
The festivities were first celebrated in 1687 and it is a custom that has been kept ever since. If you happen to be in Lima during the month of October, make sure you don’t miss this ancient historical tradition.
Cusco
Cusco wouldn’t be what it is without the many celebrations here all year round. On these occasions, the streets fill with music, colors, and dancing people. The town is having one big party!
When in Cusco during June, you can count yourself lucky, as you will have the chance to witness the Inti Raymi. The Festival of the Sun used to be the most important celebration at the time of the Incas. On the 24th of June, close to the winter solstice, it worships the Sun God or Tayta Inti.
This colorful festivity starts early in the morning at the Sun Temple of Cusco, Qoricancha. When dances finish here, people make their way to the Plaza de Armas for a second celebration.
Lastly, the crowd ascends to the important ruins of Saqsayhuaman for the great finale of Inti Raymi. Throughout the ceremony, one truly gets the impression of going back in time and living a piece of what the Inca culture used to be.
This event is undoubtedly magical and will be remembered by those who witnessed it for a long time.
What makes our City Tour unique?
Touring through big cities might not necessarily call for sustainability. But we must not lose sight of this important concept, be it in the countryside, in the forest, or the city.
At Impactful Travel, we try to create our City Tours in the most responsible way possible, reducing emissions where possible (Walking Tours are the best anyway, aren’t they?) and maximizing contact with and profits for the local population.
Discover Peru’s urban hubs our way, and let us convince you of our approach to City Tours. If you ever have a question about any of our tours or sustainability concepts, feel free to contact us.
