Attractions

Lima:

Colonial Lima

Plaza de Armas Also called the Plaza Mayor or Main Square, the Plaza de Armas was the original center of the city and the site where Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535. Now heavily reconstructed, the oldest surviving element of the square is the central bronze fountain, which dates from 1651. The plaza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is surrounded by the historical cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace, which is distinguished by its extraordinary wooden balcony.
Plaza de Acho bullring Once the largest bullring in the world, the Plaza de Acho is now home to the Museo Taurino, or Bullfighting Museum.

Plaza San Martín Five blocks southwest of the Plaza de Armas is central Lima's other grand square. Inaugurated in 1921, this stately square with handsome gardens was recently renovated and contains a large monument to the South American liberator, José de San Martín.

Barrio Chino The largest Chinese community in South America (over 200,000 residents), this Chinese neighborhood is the best place to get a taste of the Peruvian twist on traditional Chinese cooking in one of the neighborhood's restaurants, called chifas.
Iglesia de La Merced Two blocks southwest of the Plaza de Armas, this 18th-century baroque church was erected on the site of Lima's first Mass in 1534. The church possesses a nice collection of colonial art, but it is perhaps most notable for the devoted followers of Padre Urraca, a 17th-century priest. Droves of followers come daily to pay their respects, praying and touching the large silver cross dedicated to him.

Colonial Palace Roundup This historic quarter of Lima once boasted many of the finest mansions in the hemisphere. Repeated devastation by earthquakes and more recent inability to maintain many of the superb casas coloniales, however, has left Lima with only a handful of houses open to the public.

Palacio Torre Tagle A few blocks east of the Plaza de Armas, the Palacio Torre Tagle is the most famous palace in Lima and one of the most handsome in Peru. Today the early-18th-century palace belongs to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry and, sadly, can no longer be visited by the public. However, its exterior, with a gorgeous baroque stone doorway and carved dark-wood balconies, is very much worth a look.

Parque del Amor The "Love Park" is a curious spot at the edge of Miraflores. The park is a small-scale imitation of Antonio Gaudí's Parque Guell in Barcelona, and it features good views of the sea, benches swathed in broken-tile mosaics, and, most amusingly, a giant statue of a couple making out.

Barranco Although it is a residential neighborhood and not immediately thought of as a tourist sight, the charming seaside district of Barranco is one of the highlights of Lima. A stroll around the tranquil side streets of brightly colored bungalows is the best way to restore your sanity in this large city. During the daytime, the barrio is decidedly low-key, but at night the area is transformed into Lima's hot spot, with locals and visitors flocking to discos and watering holes.

Cuzco

Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo Located in the Municipal Palace at Plaza Regocijo, the museum features exhibitions of contemporary art.

Museo Historico Regional Situated in the home of the Inca historian Garcilaso de la Vargas, there are many paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries on display.

Museo del Sitio del Qoricancha The museum includes information about the many different pre-Columbian cultures and displays fragments of Incan ceramics and textiles.
Galleries The stunning scenery of the Cuzco area is inspiration for many local artists. You can find cheap originals and prints of surprisingly good quality if you're prepared to shop around in the various galleries.

Monumento Pachacuteq This statue of the Inca warrior King Pachacuteq is situated atop the cylindrical base of a monument over 22 meters high. The cylindrical base can be climbed, but views are disappointing because the monument is located at a lower part of town.

Machu Picchu

Temple of the Sun Near the summit of the main city, the distinctive, closely-fit stonework of this temple deserves a close look. Observe it from the side while descending the stone staircase in the main plaza.

Condor The tour guides may try to tell you that this was a temple, but look closely and you will see evidence that the condor was used to shackle and whip prisoners.

The Sun Gate Walk back up the Inca trail away from the site. From here you can see spectacular views of each valley. It's a gentle walk (probably 45 minutes round trip) and well worth it. It is also possible to arrive early enough to catch the sunrise from here.

Huayna Picchu This is one of the hills seen in the many photos of Machu Picchu. It is a steep but short walk offering very impressive views over the site. A word of warning: The hike is somewhat strenuous and involves sharp drop-offs on either side.