Peru is a wondrous place, full to the brim with places to visit and explore which is why there is no wonder why there are so many tours in Peru to choose from. Here at Peru Hop we offer travelers a unique opportunity of exploring alone and in a group. You can check out how we work here. From escaping from the big, beautiful city of Lima into the desert wilderness of Paracas and Huacachina, to setting your sights on Puno and Lake Titicaca. Whether you’re on a long trip, quick trip or just want a day out, we have you covered.
For those with time to get to know as much as Peru as possible, these options are the perfect ones to choose from. From a variety of destinations to start from and end in covering the whole south of the country, discover Peru like a local and avoid being a typical tourist.
The concept of a hop-on-hop-off bus isn’t new, but this is the first time it has been used countrywide. It takes on years of knowledge and experience of traveling, and it condenses it into one easy package for all kinds of travelers. With Peru Hop you can enjoy the comfort of pickups directly from your hotel, luxury reclining seats, and a completely spotless safety record. This bus has optional hopstages in all sorts of places like Cusco and Arequipa as well as places you wouldn’t think to visit, such as Paracas, the town where the desert meets the ocean, and you can enjoy the poor man’s Galapagos, the Ballestas Islands. Surf the sand in Huacachina, the only desert oasis in South America, and many other exclusive stops along the way.
There’s a ticket for everyone with Peru Hop, whether you want to start in Cusco and finish in Lima, or even if you want to start in Lima and finish in Bolivia. We visit the highs of Puno, slide down the slopes of Huacachina to the seaside town of Paracas. You can spend your days wandering the white stone streets of Arequipa, or tasting restaurants in the red roof tops of Cusco. We go everywhere that you want, so you don’t need to worry about anything.
The capital city is a must for all travelers coming to Peru, and for most, it is an obligatory stop coming in or out of the country. Filled with rich history and culture, there are many things to see and do within Lima, but many more to see just a couple of hours outside. Experience the biggest, the best and the unique little niches that Peru has to offer, all of which are unknown by the typical tourist, giving you the chance to experience the REAL Peru.
For those who are craving 1, 2 or 3 day escapes from Lima in a quest to discover what is outside the city, there are plenty of options for you. From day trips to weekend breaks, enjoy Paracas and its red beach, where the desert meets the ocean, Huacachina oasis hidden deep in the largest sand dunes of South America, and the ancient mysterious Nazca Lines. All of these are wonderful hidden gems just a couple of hours outside of Lima.
Just a few miles into the ocean from Paracas lies the Ballestas Islands, a paradise of wildlife. Sit back and enjoy the boat as it goes through the water to the Ballestas Islands. Often referred to as the “Poor man’s Galapagos”, the Ballestas allow you to get up close and personal with exotic wildlife, such as sea lions and literally millions of birds, including penguins. Dolphins are also occasionally spotted along the way! All of these animals are wild, and all call these islands their home.
That’s not everything that Paracas has to offer, as it is home to a 200,000 hectares nature reserve, one of the largest on the continent. With us you can explore the best bits, like the red beach. As the name may suggest, it is a beach with gorgeous ruby red sand and a contrasting brilliant blue water. With us, you can learn everything there is to know about it from people who have been there, done that, love it, and want to share it with you.
Huacachina is a special place, not just in Peru, but in all of South America. It boasts the largest sand dunes and hidden in these enormous dunes is the only natural desert oasis in the whole continent. You can enjoy the town, sample some traditional Peruvian food at one of the family run restaurants around the water, browse some of the small stalls selling traditional Peruvian handicrafts or rent a boat to paddle through the oasis.
After you have relaxed a little, it is time to ramp up the excitement. The main event of Huacachina is the dune buggies and sand boarding. Fly up the dunes in a buggy and throw yourself down them at incredible speeds on the sandboard. This is the Peruvian answer to a rollercoaster, and is certain to raise your heartbeat (while being completely safe). You can enjoy all the thrills and unforgettable views of the dunes, then watch an unforgettable sunset in the Peruvian desert before using the luxury buses to be transported not just back to Lima, but right to the door of your accommodation.
Home to the mysterious Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert in the south of Peru.The lines, some over 2,000 years old, have blown away historians and archaeologists for hundreds of years, and even today there is no uniform agreement as to how or why they were created. They spread over almost 80km of desert, where a flight over the Nazca Lines is the only way to do justice to these incredible landmarks (included in our Day Trips to Nazca).
It’s easy to walk around a city and look at the sites (when you can find them that is!). However, the significance and the history of each place is often lost. You know that it’s the cathedral, but do you really know the history of it, and its significance to the city? The Lima Free Walking Tour is widely regarded to be the best, and the cheapest (free), tour in the city. Walk the streets like a local as you discover the history of the City of Kings, and the life of the average citizen. The tour leaves for the center of Lima at 9:30am, and the Miraflores tour at 3pm, from Avenida Larco 799 (the Tourist Information Center) every day except Sunday.
When people say Peru, you probably think of Cusco. Whether it be for the magnificent Machu Picchu, the indigenous textiles or the world class cuisine, there are endless reasons to visit the Inca capital. However you will soon discover that there is more to this city than just that, and even more laying just outside it. Whether you want to escape for a day, or two, there’s so much here that you can experience that is unlike anything else that you have ever seen before. This is Cusco, this is Peru.
If you’re in Peru then Lake Titicaca is a must see, and if you don’t have the time to visit for long, then a day tour is the perfect option.
Visit the unforgettable and unique Lake Titicaca. You can climb aboard one of our luxury buses in the evening and arrive in Lake Titicaca as the sun rises, giving you the full day to appreciate the beauty and to explore the incredible place. The tour begins with a boat out to the famous Uros floating islands. These islands are made entirely out of totora reeds, and have been used by locals for hundreds of years for a place to live, ever since the Inca people invaded their lands and forced them onto the water. After a few hours chatting to the locals and getting to know about life on the islands, you will then climb back aboard the boat and cruise through the highest navigable lake in the world until you reach one of it’s islands, Taquile.
Once you land in Taquile you will enjoy a guided tour, taking you round to the most beautiful points on the islands, telling you all the history and stopping for a delicious lunch, which is included in the price. Once everyone has had their fill of the island then you will reboard the boat and return to the mainland, where you will have time to explore Puno before getting back on the bus to Cusco. This is the perfect way to explore Puno and Lake Titicaca if you’re short on time but want to see Puno.
If you have a little more time then you can also explore another island of Lake Titicaca, Amantani Island. Amantani Island is home to around 3,600 inhabitants, and while you are here you can stay in a local home and take part in intercultural activities through the day as well as a traditional dance and bonfire to see out the evening. The two day tour also allows for more time on Taquile Island, meaning that travelers can learn more about the history of the island, and the culture of the people who call it home. We even manage to squeeze in just enough time for you to let you explore the town of Puno at your leisure. The two day tour is the best way to really get to know the different people, cultures and the history of Lake Titicaca.
The Rainbow Mountain is a recently discovered gem in Cusco, and it has roared into popularity, finding itself as the second most visited site in Cusco, right after Machu Picchu. Previously only known by locals, Rainbow Mountain is located in the Red Valley, which is (as the name suggests) a valley of rock which is an unbelievable ruby red. The Rainbow Mountain however, has more to tempt travelers. With its striking array of colors and its steep peak, this is a place that is quickly becoming all but compulsory for those in Peru.
