104 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Peru - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Peru

Aguas Calientes, Peru

Machu Picchu: The Lost City of The Inca

The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu serves as a testament to Incan engineers.

Q'eswachaka Rope Bridge

Keshwa chaca, among the last handwoven Incan bridges, crosses Apurimac Canyon in Peru.

Pitumarca, Peru

Rainbow Mountain

A remote candy-striped mountain in the Peruvian Andes straight out of the pages of Dr. Seuss.

Convento de San Francisco Ossuary

The mortal remains of an estimated 70,000 people lie in the basement of a monastery in Lima, Peru.

Puerto Inca, Peru

The Boiling River of the Amazon

This scalding hot river was thought to be a myth until one geoscientist made it his quest to study the mystical waters.

Nazca Lines

Giant ancient line art drawn in the Peruvian desert so large that it can only be fully seen from the sky.

Mercado de Brujas

A market for witches is hidden within a train station.

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo Ruins

Preserved Inca city and site of the last Inca stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors.

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Unique Food & Drink in Peru

Peanut Butter Fruit

Its pulp tastes just like the creamy spread.

Ice Cream Bean

The South American bean that looks like cotton candy and tastes like ice cream.

Banana Passionfruit

This tangy fruit flavors everything from ice cream to cocktails.

Picarones

The sweet potato donuts are an integral part of the Afro-Peruvian community.

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Stories About Peru

The carved-shell llama and the gold roll are recurring motifs in Inca offerings, submerged and otherwise.

Found: A Miniature Incan Llama at the Bottom of Lake Titicaca

The centuries-old offering was nestled inside an underwater stone box.

by Isaac Schultz

August 12, 2020

Kenny stumbled upon dreamy, desolate scenes, like this playground in Peru.

How an Agoraphobic Traveler Wanders the Earth

When anxiety set boundaries on her life, this adventurer found solace and excitement in Google Street View.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

Crossing the Q'eswachaka.

Lesson Plans: The Last Incan Bridge in Peru and Scotland's Electric Brae

Join Atlas Obscura for a globe-trotting learning adventure.

by Dylan Thuras

Inca Kola stands out in a world dominated by brown colas.

How Peru’s Inca Kola Triumphed Over Coke

Appeals to patriotism helped it become the country’s signature flavor.

August 13, 2019

A black-fronted tamarin.

Two Tiny Monkeys Are Critical to Restoring the Amazon, With Their Poop

These tamarins have an affinity for disturbed rain forest.

by Isaac Schultz

Researchers recreated Wari chicha.

How Breweries Helped Keep This Pre-Columbian Empire Together

Researchers recreated Wari chicha for science and happy hour.

by Reina Gattuso

Bravo shows off a collection of cultivated tubers.

The Potato Whisperer

Manuel Choqque Bravo’s delicious, colorful creations are adored by world-class chefs.

by Alona Martinez

October 4, 2018

An agouti, perhaps trying to remember where it last placed its Brazil nuts.

Brazil Nuts Are Brought to You by Rodents

The snack wouldn’t exist without the help of one furry critter and its unusually sharp teeth.

by Abbey Perreault

September 14, 2018

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