Llamas are a part of everyday life in Peru’s Sacred Valley, and other rural parts of the country. This one is being led out for a stroll by his young owner.

Touring Peru is a life’s dream for many travelers, and no small feat for those who actually manage to make it happen. Rugged terrain and transport logistics, along with long international flights to even arrive in the nation of the Peru can make following this particular travel dream seem daunting. For those that are willing to do what it takes to make the experience happen, pure magic awaits. Here are some of the must-see attractions and destinations when vacationing in Peru.

Arequipa, home to Juanita the Ice Maiden, experiences a nearly eternal “springtime” climate.

Mummy Juanita, otherwise known as the Inca Ice Maiden was found near Arequipa and now calls the town’s Museo Santuarios Andinos her permanent home. A major world discovery and arguably one of the best preserved mummies ever found, Juanita the Ice Maiden is one of the main exhibit draws for the area. That being said, Arequipa has other cultural treasures to offer, not the least of which is its well-preserved colonial architecture and ice-capped volcano views.

Lima is home to the Pachacamac ruins, the Peruvian National Museum and the Lima cathedral.

With a major airport, bustling nightlife and international bus access from surrounding countries, Lima sees its fair share of Peruvian tourism. Not only is it a popular jumping off point for pilgrims headed to Machu Picchu, the city also boasts the impressive Pachacamac ruins, the Lima cathedral and the steamy erotic pottery collection at the Larco Museum.  Other highlights include the church and monastery of San Francisco and the Palacio de Gobierno, once home to Pizarro himself.

The Nazca Lines are a major world mystery and one of the highlights of any national tour of Peru.

Located south of Lima in the Nazca Desert, is a collection of giant drawings it’s nearly impossible to see unless you’re riding above them in a plane. Images include both a giant spider and a monkey, among others. The Nazca Lines are quite old, yet well preserved due to the dry windless weather conditions in the Nazca Desert.

The Sacred Valley is home to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman and a large nature preserve.

While most famous for its access to Machu Picchu, Peru’s Sacred Valley is home to a number of other archaeological treasures and attractions. The indigenous Pisac Market, the Sacsayhuaman ruins near Cusco and the ruins at Ollantaytambo are among those attractions.  Travelers experiencing Peru for the first time should make certain they schedule enough time to experience this part of the country thoroughly.

Trujillo, Peru experiences less tourist traffic, but has much to offer.

Close to the beach with a lively vibe and a stone’s through from a number of interesting daytrips, Trujillo, Peru is worth a few days of your time should the tour itinerary permit it. One of the most impressive area attractions is the ruined city of Chan Chan, which once served as the capital city to the Chimu Empire.

Lake Titicaca is home to the Yavari, the floating islands of Uros and a stone’s throw from Sillustani.

One of the most impressive lakes in the world, and certainly a crowning jewel in the South American tourist crown, Lake Titicaca is a picturesque place to unwind, and perhaps venture across the border into Bolivia.

Ayacucho is about mid-way between Lima and Cusco, and contains a number of picturesque churches.

This town has a charming, Colonial vibe and fun stopover for those who enjoy elaborate historic churches and mansions. If you’re looking for a place to take a short break on your quest to Machu Picchu, this might be just the ticket. An overnight and a walking tour will likely wrap up the Ayacucho tourist circuit, but it’s scenic enough and right on your way to the Sacred Valley from Lima.

Other things to see in Peru include cultural close-ups with the country’s jungle tribes such as the Ashaninkas, and some of the national parks such as the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and the Tambopata Reserve.

Photo Credits: The Peru images used in this article were photographed by the folks here at Trek Hound. If you would like to use them or others for your online publication, please access them through the creative commons program we have set up on our sister site, Pictures of Travel Places.

After seeing the sights and attractions in Lima, Peru, many tourists head directly to the Sacred Valley. With the town of Cusco as your base, experiences such as the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman and Pisac are all within easy reach. Other sought-after notches on the tourist belt include Tres Cruces, Paucartambo, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to experience.

Expect to land and launch from the city of Cusco.

Accessible by bus, plane and train, the city of Cusco, Peru is where most people launch their tour of the Sacred Valley. There are a number of attractions worth your tourist time in Cusco, not the least of which is the Plaza de Armas with its multiple churches. There’s an Incan archaeological museum, among others and some frequent cultural performances worth photographing for the folk costumes alone. The tourism office had discount entry passes available at the time of our visit, which allowed us to experience most of the things to do in Cusco for one flat, affordable rate.

There are also several market stalls offering alpaca sweaters, hats, mittens and ponchos throughout Cusco, as well as children selling finger puppets suitable for younger classrooms. If you’re looking for souvenir ideas you can actually put to some use when you return home, this is a good opportunity to purchase them affordably.

Take time for a wildlife experience at the Manu Biosphere Reserve

Sure, when most tourists arrive in the Sacred Valley, their agenda is all about seeing as many Incan ruins as possible. But did you know that very near Cusco, Peru there’s an impressive national park known as the Manu Biosphere Reserve? Representing a fairly diverse sampling of the Amazon Rainforest, this park is often overlooked by vacationers on the whirlwind tour of Peru. Suitable for unwinding after hiking the Inca Trail or pursuing a nature photography agenda, the Manu Biosphere Reserve is worth your consideration.

Getting the most value from your visit to Machu Picchu requires a bit of planning.

Machu Picchu is on the bucket list for many travelers, and is by no means easy to get to.  For many, it requires a series of long international flights just to arrive in Lima. From there, it’s another layer of logistics to get to Cusco, after which you can expect to spend several hours on a train to get to the closest town at the bottom of the mountain. Did I mention you still won’t be there yet, and the altitude will be kicking your ass? And since the uber-pricy ticket only allows one entry, making the most of your Machu Picchu experience means planning your entry time carefully. Especially if you’re arriving later in the day.  If that’s the case, you’re better off checking into your hotel, having dinner and shopping for some family souvenirs in the market.

One particularly fun daytrip from Cusco is Pisac.

With impressive ruins and the Pisac market available, you may even decide to spend the night. Pisac offers stunning scenery and a chance to shop for indigenous handicrafts affordably. This makes for a nice break from climbing the various Inca ruins, and a great way to purchase unique gifts for kids on your holiday list back home. Those interested in souvenir beads can also expect to have a bit of luck at the Pisac market as well as the market in Aguas Calientes, near Machu Picchu.

Another interesting set of ruins in the Sacred Valley is located in Ollantaytambo, Peru.

Easily included on a daytrip along with Pisac, Ollantaytambo has some sturdy and climbable ruins, along with some interesting rock formations in the mountains. The small market in the town has some colorful small dolls for those needing to shop for grandchildren, and the side streets can be quite picturesque in their own right. There’s also preserved fountain carved from a single stone in the Incan imperial style. This video of the Ollantaytambo fountain was filmed during our visit there.

The Inca Trail hiking experience has earned more than a few travelers international bragging rights.

Not for the faint of heart, and certainly not known for its amenities, the Inca Trail is a multi-day hiking route through the Sacred Valley which ends at the lost city of Machu Picchu. It’s an intense, at-altitude experience requiring participants to leave the comforts of civilization behind until the destination is reached. While it isn’t for everyone, this picturesque trail has been called one of the top five treks in the world and is arguably one of the top travel highlights of the South American continent.

The fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooks Cusco in full Incan splendor.

Sacsayhuaman is an impressive fortress built in the shape of a puma head, and one of the main attractions in Cusco, Peru. Reachable on foot, you can also get there by tour bus or minivan if the altitude is too much for you. This archaeological site is an impressive place to spend the afternoon, and there are large grassy areas if you want to bring a picnic or a book and kick back. Pope John Paul II once visited the site of Sacsayhuaman to preach during a visit to South America, so it’s also well suited to large-scale gatherings.

Urubamba makes an excellent location to enjoy a little ecotourism.

While not exactly laden with archaeological or historical attractions, Urubamba is a popular place from which to explore the jaw-dropping scenery of the surrounding mountain areas. If you have time to spend the night after a visit to Ollantaytambo, this is a great opportunity to take a two-day trip from Cusco and experience even more of the Sacred Valley.

Peru’s Sacred Valley has much to offer vacationers. Archaeological ruins, natural beauty  and a number of museums along with indigenous markets and local cultural experiences are some of the things you can expect to enjoy during a visit there. After you’ve seen all there is to see, consider hopping a bus to Lake Titicaca to see the Yavari, the floating islands of Uros and the Temple of the Moon.

Photo Credits: These pictures of the Sacred Valley were photographed by the people at Trek Hound, and can be accessed for online use via a creative commons agreement through our sister web site, Pictures of Travel Places.

This gentleman provided me with one of my most magical travel moments ever.

On one the stops along our Sacred Valley tour, we got out to view some ruins and an entire mountain wall of tombs. As we were walking the trail, we could hear the music echoing over the entire valley, but had no idea where it was coming from. There was nobody else on the trail except our small group, so we felt in the middle of nowhere on this sacred hike. The music continued to build, and at last we rounded a corner to the last part of the trail before the mountainside of tombs.

There he was! In full costume and playing his heart out amongst the plants. I’ve never forgotten him. What’s your favorite travel memory, Trek Hounds?

Photo Credit: Trek Hound

Taken in Cuzco, in Peru’s Sacred Valley, this photo of an elderly woman has always struck me as poignant.

First of all, I adore photos of wisened faces. Period. I just have never seen an image of someone with a long-lived visage that I didn’t love. Factor in the colors and spirituality of the Andes mountains, and I’ll be a fan for life.

The bold blue of her coat combined with the vivid green on the park bench and the stark white cowboy hat are soothing companions to the real star of the photo show – her face. To me, this photo is a testimony to the power of simplicity. So I’m curious . . . do any of you have a photo that is powerfully simplistic? It can be from a trip to Peru or any other world destination.

Photo Credit: The team at Trek Hound photographed this image and other pictures from the Sacred Valley, which are available for online creative commons use through our sister site, Pictures of Travel Places.

High in the Andes Mountains, in the Sacred Valley of Peru, I ran into this woman somewhere between Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

Full of it, isn’t she? And I mean that in a good way. I had no way of communicating with her linguistically, but something tells me with the twinkle in her eye, she’s definitely someone I’d enjoy hanging out with. And how ‘bout that view? Living where you get to see a view like that every day is something few people get to experience.

Got a great people pic? Share the link below and join in the travel photo discussion.

Photo Credit: Trek Hound

This photo article was submitted to Delicious Baby’s February 12, 2010 edition of Photo Friday.