How To Visit Ruins In Peru
One of the biggest highlights of a trip around Peru, there are all kinds of incredible archaeological sites to explore throughout this Andean country.
Whilst it seems simple to just turn up and start taking photos, it’s good to know a few handy tips before that will help you get the very most out of your visits.
How To Visit Ruins In Peru
In this guide, we’ll explore how you can visit ancient ruins in Peru, and why they are worth the trip. We’ll also cover key considerations to keep in mind such as ruins etiquette, pre-booking your entrances as well as ways to have the very best experience.
Why Visit Ruins In Peru?
Ancient ruins really are an unrivaled way of getting a glimpse into lost civilisations that once roamed these same lands that we are now exploring.
Many of the ruins in Peru have remained in almost perfect condition, which is unbelievable given many were destroyed or damaged during the Spanish Conquest (those that survived were more remote and never found – such as the site of Machu Picchu).
We’ll also find that ruins come in all kinds of shapes and sizes here too, both varying by the culture that built them as well as the biome that they are found in.
For example on the coast we’ll find various adobe pyramids built by civilisations like the Moche and Caral, whilst around the high Amazon Basin we can find more unorthodox creations such as the Karajía Sarcofagi near Chachapoyas (which sit on top of a mountain and house the remains of their elite tribe leaders).
Pre-Booking Your Entrance Tickets
Many of Peru’s ruins have become really popular nowadays, which means it’s ideal to visit early to avoid the crowds. Even then, some can end up having long lines, however you can avoid wasting time by buying your tickets in advance.
Machu Picchu is a classic example, so it’s worth buying your tickets online beforehand and making your way up early. It’s important to know that this ancient citadel is located quite a few hours away from Cusco, so you’ll need to take buses and walk a few hours to get here.
For this reason, we highly recommend joining this day tour of Machu Picchu which has all logistics organized for you, as well as the option of the panoramic train ride.
Many other ruins around Peru would also best be visited with guided tours given their remote settings. One is Caral which was the oldest ever civilisation in the Western Hemisphere, which can be visited with this day tour (it’s located quite a few hours north of Lima in the desert).
Another amazing yet difficult-to-reach set of ruins is Kuelap, which is a jungle fortress located near Chachapoyas in Northern Peru. You can head here with this guided tour which includes the legendary Cable-car ride between the tall mountains.
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How To Visit Ruins In Peru – Key Considerations To Keep In Mind
Below we’ll now look at some key things to keep in mind before visiting ruins in Peru. Not only will these help enhance your experience, they’ll also keep you safe (as well as the site for years to come).
Etiquette Of Exploring Ruins
As you can imagine, years of hard work and painstaking efforts went into finding and carefully excavating these abandoned sites.
This is why following each site’s rules are important, which help keep the ruins preserved for future generations to come and explore. Many of these etiquettes are based around not walking where you shouldn’t, which again prevents irrevocable damage being caused.
However they’re also there for your own safety too – given accidents and even deaths have occurred when tourists decided to pass the safety ropes.
Learning About Peru’s Ancient History Before You Enter The Ruins
This advice is one that I (George) failed to follow during my first visits to ruins in Peru, and as a result I have nice photos but not a clue of what they are actually of.
This is why visiting a museum is a great way of getting prepared beforehand – and is especially good since Peru’s museums are very interactive and have all kinds of mesmerizing artifacts and remains all on display.
The very best site is Larco Museum in Lima, which is arguably the most comprehensive museum in all of Peru.
We highly suggest heading on this guided tour which includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, where your professional tour guide will teach you everything when in the museum. You’ll also visit the ruins of Pachacamac along the way too!
Personal Preparation Before You Visit Ruins In Peru
After you’ve learned a little more about the ruins (and will actually understand what you are seeing), the last step now is to make sure that you yourself are prepared.
Many of these ruins are located outside, and you may end up spending a lot of time in strong sunlight (especially along the coast and in the Andes).
For this reason you’ll want to apply sunscreen and bring lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated during your visits. You’ll also want to make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, a fully-charged phone/camera as well as a map if necessary.
Overview Of How To Visit Ruins In Peru
And that’s all for this guide on how to visit ruins in Peru.
With thousands of years of incredible ancient history, Peru has a deep passion for preserving its old ways which can be seen through its various ruins.
Not only will this help us imagine what life was once like throughout this South American nation, it will also help us to understand some traditions and cultures which remain well and truly alive today.
Be sure to check out this guide to unique places to visit in Peru, which also includes some unforgettable ancient ruins around the country.
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