#47 best destination in the world

Larco Museum

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  • Privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art
  • #20 of the top 25 museums in the world
  • Museum shows an overview of 4,000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian history
  • Well known for its gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery

Historic Centre of Lima

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  • Noted for its high concentration of historic monuments constructed in the time of Spanish presence
  • Founded in 1535
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, Lima

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  • Church and monastery that contains a library and catacombs
  • In this church, Jude the Apostle is revered
  • At the feast of Saint Jude Tadeus a one and a half ton weighing silver stand is carried round in procession by 40 people, starting from the convent
  • Completed in 1674
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Caral

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  • Was a large settlement founded in 2600 BC and abandoned in 2000 BC
  • The most ancient city of the Americas
  • One of the oldest buildings in the world
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Huacachina

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  • Village built around a small oasis, surrounded by sand dunes
  • Popular tourist attraction for sand boarding and dune buggy riding on the sand dunes
  • Local legends say the water and mud of the area has curative powers, leading people to often bathe in the waters or mud

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

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  • Protected area that includes the archaeological site of Machu Picchu and its surrounding environment
  • #21 of the top 25 landmarks in the world
  • Located in a cloud forest
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ollantaytambo Sanctuary

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  • Incan archaeological site used as a city, fort and royal estate with big terraces and a ceremonial area
  • Altitude 9,160 ft

Peruvian Amazonia

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  • Area of the Amazon rainforest included within the country of Peru
  • The region comprises 60% of the country and is marked by a large degree of biodiversity
  • Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon

Vinicunca

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  • 17,060 ft above sea level
  • Tourist access requires a 2 hour drive from Cusco, and a walk of about 3.1 miles or 3.5 hour drive through Pitumarca and 0.31 mile steep walk (1-1.5 hours) to the hill
  • As of 2019, no robust methods of transportation to Vinicunca have been developed to accommodate travelers, as it requires passage through a valley

Sacsayhuamán

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  • Citadel first built in about 1100 by the Killke culture
  • Citadel was expanded and added to by the Inca from the 13th century
  • Dry stone walls are constructed of huge stones, carefully cut to fit together tightly without mortar
  • Location is 12,142 ft above sea level
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Queshuachaca

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  • Last remained Inca rope bridge, made of twisted dried maguey and grass
  • Even though there is a modern bridge nearby, the residents of the region keep the ancient tradition and skills alive by renewing the bridge annually, in June

Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena (Arequipa)

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  • Monastery of nuns of the Dominican Second Order, located in Arequipa

Historic Centre of Arequipa

Arequipab

  • City founded in 1540 during the Colonial period
  • Religious, colonial, and republican architectural styles blend European and native characteristics
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Costs

Number of Days: 24 days

Best Time To Fly: May-June, Sept

Airline tickets: $861

Seattle -> Lima (round trip) $789
Cusco -> Arequipa (one way) $31
Arequipa -> Lima (one way) $41

Food: $8/day x 24 days = $192

Entertainment: $739

Airbnb: $58/day x 23 days = $1,334

TOTAL: $3,126