Top 5 Peru Car Tours: Discover the Andes and Beyond

Peru, that absolutely striking land of the Incas, certainly has a bunch to offer those of you with a real taste for exploring! It’s almost calling out for a proper road trip, offering landscapes that will take your breath away, going from the towering Andes to those mysterious ancient sites. Finding just the right car tour can really make your Peruvian adventure shine. I mean, we want it to be amazing, right? So, I took a good look at a whole lot of different options to bring you the absolute top five. Get ready to discover Peru in style, right from the comfort of your rental car.

1: The Classic Andean Adventure: Cusco to Machu Picchu

The route from Cusco to Machu Picchu? Oh, man, that’s a total must-do. Seriously, you just have to experience it to believe it. First off, you will start in Cusco, which, just so you know, sits really high up in the mountains – like, over 11,000 feet! So, maybe take a day to get used to the altitude, alright? Then, get yourself a reliable ride, you see, something that can handle a bit of rough road. A 4×4 tends to be an outstanding shout for those back roads and steeper inclines.

As you actually make your way out of Cusco, get ready for views, is that insane landscapes passing by your window. That Sacred Valley? Oh, that’s full of farms. The farms are terraced that looks as though they’ve been there since, well, forever, along with all those cute villages where life goes by at its own sweet speed. Maybe, just possibly, take a moment to check out Pisac Market for sure, because they definitely have those vibrant textiles and local crafts to show off, and I am talking memorable gifts. And, you know, there’s Ollantaytambo. It’s a fortress, that’s imposing with its huge stone walls – really sets the mood as you get ever so much nearer to Machu Picchu.

Alright, alright so, here is a key detail. It’s almost not possible to drive all the way directly to Machu Picchu itself. Actually, most people leave their cars in Ollantaytambo and grab a train for that final segment into Aguas Calientes, you see, which lies at the base of Machu Picchu. That train trip is very nice. The scenery’s just gorgeous as you go alongside the Urubamba River, which I am really trying to sell, but believe me! Wake up early, even though that could be tricky after your days of travel, to go see Machu Picchu when things are still so quiet. The morning light? So amazing on those old stones. You’ll understand completely why it’s an actual Wonder of the World. Read our full review: Cusco to Machu Picchu Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cusco to Machu Picchu)

2: Coastal Cruise: Lima to Paracas and Nazca

Looking for a different sort of Peru vibe? Why don’t you think about taking the scenic route along Peru’s coast? You get yourself a car in Lima. Probably, you need to make sure that its cozy, maybe with great air because the desert can actually be darn warm. As a matter of fact, the Pan-American Highway tends to be your main street there, so too it’s usually smooth driving that really just hugs that rugged coast.

About three hours south of Lima lies Paracas, that little beach city with a cool chill vibe. So maybe sign up for a boat excursion around the Ballestas Islands, where loads of sea critters are. Like your penguins and those sea lions. So if you want, you could call them “the poor man’s Galapagos”. Plus, if you are really feeling it, swing by the Paracas National Reserve. Those desert landscapes falling onto that ocean? Breathtaking. The sunsets there? Some of the nicest around.

Now then, carrying on south gets you to Nazca, and if you go there, it is obviously famous for its lines that were etched into the ground a while back, maybe millennia or centuries even. I am talking big time, because of that dry desert climate has actually kept those lines fairly intact all the time. Seeing them from up above? Totally worth it. So go for a scenic flight, so that you may grasp just how vast and interesting they actually truly are. As a matter of fact, if heights are very slightly your thing, maybe check out the Maria Reiche Museum and get your information there, but even so, you’re getting close to experiencing a bunch about this location. Basically, you’ve got deserts, ocean views, along with historic artwork all right in one gorgeous, easy trip. Read our full review: Lima to Paracas and Nazca Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lima to Paracas and Nazca)

3: Northern Exposure: Trujillo and Chiclayo

Alright now, lets head up north of Peru, so this portion’s brimming over with age-old cultures that seriously pre-date the Incas, which is in no way a lie. What you’ll want to do is start in Trujillo, alright? Then, from here it’s absolutely simple to explore sites like Chan Chan, that former adobe city that the Chimu people built – some of the most interesting places for those types of dwellings there actually are! So if you’ve only just started to travel the world then, this is a totally easy starting point.

So what’s great? This next little bit from Trujillo to Chiclayo takes approximately three hours along the highway (coastal), but even then you’re totally going to want to have one pit stop: El Brujo archaeological site! It’s almost all that and more. Get up close to see the painted reliefs up close inside the Huaca Cao Viejo temple; which will give you ideas about how society actually was way, way before now. Moving further north will place you right within Chiclayo, so what now? Firstly, obviously, head out and explore places like Sipan, which is the final resting place and burial complex of an ancient Moche ruler.

Seriously then, make time out to actually pay a visit and witness how all sorts of relics as well objects as those are carefully shown within, which actually tells people more than only simply looking round at a bunch of old things without having learnt how things really turned out at these burial locations over time.. Still, actually, there’s way greater variety too as what some will notice here given such an easy little journey out; Huaca Rajada gives great clues around these civilizations that previously just never could’ve showed enough clues, as those discoveries assist people to uncover the truths about life that happened just simply previously prior! Driving down Northern Peru mixes historic stuff that predate everything by far (we almost forgot how important these were!). It just then presents itself in plain insight- amazing trips!. Read our full review: Trujillo and Chiclayo Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Trujillo and Chiclayo)

4: The Southern Circuit: Arequipa to Colca Canyon

Want to observe condors majestically gliding through massive canyon views? Then the journey going to see Arequipa near Colca Canyon, makes your experience so much special because you could just travel with complete flexibility!. So perhaps you arrive via air into what almost feels like someplace named ‘the white town’, also know due being designed from these eye-catching volcanic sillar buildings constructed by many centuries beforehand!. Perhaps reserve your individual little rugged sport-riding automobile – really; driving near by has various altitudes involved – especially at greater areas nearby any gorges themselves!

Setting yourself aside starting point while actually trekking over at what seems at best nearby two of them near Colca canyon takes regarding more than or maybe possibly smaller durations which should offer ample moments – specifically – observing a change about how far locations remain distant by driving by some sights across the region. While enroute; always be equipped since viewing Pampa Cañahuas where’s they will allow observers notice lovely vicuñas that happen wonder those elevated landscapes-they happen extremely similar in mannerisms that of llamas!, too consider passing in communities like this such Coporaque whereby actually viewing how lives occurs could really boost all understanding over Andean daily habits!,.

Once having successfully come near Cruz del Condor, show patience and start watching what you see nearby sunrise to start checking up to ensure your self that might display these grand displays through many bird-shaped species with a name similar such: andean birds!, it gets rather great since one begins checking with such wildlife in terms as for viewing such a remarkable spectacle happening within such depths by our gorge (the heights happen over twice something by its own magnitude)!. Taking Arequipa just right above this to reach somewhere at a distance out throughout canyons demonstrates various experiences since its very approach-you tend feel you become deeply familiar across Peruvian terrains within!.

Read our full review: Arequipa to Colca Canyon Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Arequipa to Colca Canyon)

5: Lake Titicaca and the Route of the Sun

Traveling through that ‘Route of the Sun’, and obviously beginning right inside of Puno – where it all seems a fairly convenient drive-across-way will lead someone off at Copacabana plus La Paz!. First acquire decent all-terrain sport riding style car before all because several roads may well provide unexpected rough stretches where needed!

Lake Titicaca presents unique perspectives such that touring about into isles using native locals living normally across similar ancestral rules-which often includes traveling Uros floating type of villages just put in such conditions entirely with totora roots where these all will vividly represent indigenous history/traditions; in reality by now! . In the moment by doing a journey out heading out onto Taquile where just checking from various fabrics/styles with clothing represents another cultural adventure which might teach some regarding historic artisan lifestyle that continues these day!. A travel heading onto those ‘Sun route’ goes on as we just transition to near Cusco that will give us historical moments, one great stop being at similar sites as Pukara whereby someone shall witness ancient things while they are from civilization far well-beforehand by Inca occurrences in older moments than current – if only perhaps someone remembers back within all times while seeing this spot!

Maybe give a gaze while seeing Raqchi what looks about almost an iconic type temple meant only when it comes to that of Wiracocha: deity!- plus seeing near Andahuaylillas gives even a reason because if almost you get near within an Andean type churches! because one discovers remarkable paintings when traveling at it. As a matter of fact ‘The sunlight’ just gives total flexibility that suits any explorer or people just in seeking historic background mixed alongside scenic wonderment nearby highlands on Andes Mountain as any driver tends to have control where actually they stop too depending by almost just precisely every unique point from interest just they all encounter right inside.

Read our full review: Lake Titicaca Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lake Titicaca)