Discover the Best Cities to Digital Nomad in Peru

Where to Digital Nomad in Peru

Lima

Calling all foodies! Lima, the capital city, is a no-brainer when it comes to being a digital nomad in Peru. As such a large city, it has everything a digital nomad could need: plenty of coworking spaces, modern and affordable apartments, world-class eateries, and daring adventures.

The food alone is all the reason I need to stay in Lima. There are tons of Michelin Star restaurants offering multi-course tasting menus, but even the small eateries and cafeterias were on another level. The culinary standard in Peru is so elevated; even ‘average’ restaurants raised the bar.

It is a popular surf destination, although you will definitely need a wetsuit, and is only a couple hours from Paracas, a popping kitesurf destination. You’re close enough to the desert to ride dune buggies, or you can hop on a boat to see screaming sea lions.

Lima is essentially the gateway to Peru; once in Lima, choose your own adventure.

Keep reading: A Digital Nomad’s Guide to Lima, Peru

Things to do in Lima

Whether you’re chasing the adrenaline, or just prefer a fancy dinner, Lima has something for everyone.

Must-do’s in Lima:

Cusco

If you came all the way to Peru, there’s a few bucket list items you have to complete. Luckily, most are easily accessible from Cusco.

Once you assimilate to the altitude (re: coca leaves), get ready for endless adventure. Cusco is a great place to make your home-base as you digital nomad in Peru. It is the jumping off point for Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Sacred Valley, Humantay Lake, Maras salt mines… the list goes on!

Not only is Cusco close to so many magnificent sites, but the city itself is a quaint Peruvian dream. Little old ladies waddle through the streets draped in brightly colored, traditional Andean clothing. And you’ll probably see several alpacas.

Although not nearly as robust as Lima, the culinary scene in Cusco still boasts extraordinary restaurants. I normally never repeat restaurants when traveling, but in Cusco, I just had to.

Without even trying, we would wander into a restaurant and have a gastronomic experience. Peru in general has some of the best restaurants in the world, so the standards for eating out are high.

Learn more now! Complete Guide to Digital Nomad in Cusco.

Things to do in Cusco

There is almost too much to do in Cusco. From epic treks and hikes, to wandering around town trying local beers, Cusco will keep you entertained and busy nonstop.

Some things you’ll want to add to your bucket list:

Arequipa

Arequipa is a very cute little city in southern Peru, known as the ‘white city’ for all its white colored buildings.

It is definitely still under the radar, but as more people discover this quaint city, it wont be for long. By making Arequipa your home base, you are an overnight bus away from Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Huacachina, and the Nazca Lines.

Another perk of Arequipa is that the elevation is much lower than Cusco, so you wont get winded walking down the street. And in comparison, the weather is very mild.

Things to do in Arequipa

Arequipa is not a big town by any means, but you definitely wont get bored.

Some activities you wont want to miss:

Máncora

If you’re looking to drop in on some waves during your lunch break, Máncora is the place for you. Although you can surf in other areas of Peru, such as Lima, Máncora is the country’s only warm water break – no wetsuit needed.

Not only is there surfing; its an epic destination for kitesurfing as well!

Máncora is an extremely laid back place filled with surfers, yogis, and spiritual healers and enthusiasts.

And you can’t forget about the ceviche! Ceviche originates from the Pacific coast of modern-day Peru – so you know it’s going to be amazing. It doesn’t get much fresher than having ceviche on the beach.

Things to do in Máncora

From beach days to nights out, you’ll quickly fall in love with the relaxed vibe of this digital nomad destination.

Your Máncora bucket list:

Where NOT to Digital Nomad in Peru

Puno

Puno attracts many tourists as the gateway to Lake Titicaca and the floating islands of Uros. However, besides that, there is really no other reason to be here. Not to be harsh, but there is pretty much nothing else.

The people of Uros created their own islands on Lake Titicaca by stacking and tying reeds. Though only 20 minutes by boat from shore, their indigenous culture is very unique and dates back hundreds of years.

There are a few other inhabitants on the islands of Lake Titicaca, all with their own traditional yet distinct way of life.

I highly recommend visiting these islands and peoples as it’s a once in a lifetime experience. You can even book a home-stay, where you stay with a family overnight and they show you their way of life.

Beyond that, it’s a very quiet and sleepy place; I would stay here only two days or less. And for some reason every restaurant primarily serves pizza.

>>BOOK THE LAKE TITICACA Uros and Taquile Islands TOUR NOW!

Puno is a night bus away from both Cusco and Arequipa, so you can either come here for a long weekend, or use it as a pit stop on your tour of Southern Peru.

Things to do in Puno

Huacachina

Huacachina is a little oasis in the desert. It attracts quite a lot of tourists during Peruvian holidays, as well as backpackers making their way to Cusco.

Its a cool spot to come for a few days to chill at the pool or ride the roller-coaster like dune buggies, but once you’ve done that, you’ve done everything.

The town is very tiny with only a handful of hotels, hostels, and restaurants. So after a few days here, I was getting a little bored. It was a nice change of pace being able to work poolside and get some sun after freezing in Cusco. But if you’re looking for more to do than that, keep it short here in Huacachina.

As I already mentioned, the people who come to Huacachina are Peruvian weekenders and backpackers, so it’s a very transient place. Most people you meet here will be gone in a couple days, making their way to the next stop.

Despite working the entire time, Jack and I were able to do our own version of the common trek through Southern Peru outlined in this epic itinerary.

Things to do in Huacachina

If you visit Huacachina, don’t miss these:

Paracas

I actually do like Paracas, but for similar reasons as Puno and Huacachina, I would not want to stay here long-term. It has a several good restaurants and bars, but the town is extremely small.

After a few days here, I was ready to head back to Lima.

However, there is always an exception to the rule: If you are an avid kitesurfer and don’t mind chilly water, you could definitely spend some time in Paracas ripping in the lagoon. The kite beach is located 10-15 minutes (driving) outside the town, so keep that in mind when looking for accommodation.

There are also some pretty epic kiting spots in the Paracas National Reserve. If you stay in Paracas long enough, you might be able to join our favorite kite school, Kangaroo Kite, on one of their trips out there.

Things to do in Paracas

Paracas is a place for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Here are some things you wont want to miss:

Nazca

Just no.

Come for the legendary Nazca lines and motion sickness, and then leave immediately because there is absolutely nothing else in this place. I only add it to the list because Jack briefly suggested we stay there… luckily I shut him down.

Make Peru Your Next Digital Nomad Destination

Now you know the best places in Peru to digital nomad, and which ones you should skip.

If you can’t decide on just one place to digital nomad – don’t! We spent six weeks traveling around Peru, working remote from every city on this list.

With this knowledge I hope you add Peru to your list of nomad destinations. Let me know if you have any questions below!

Questions about being a digital nomad in Peru? Check out these helpful resources:

The Perfect Southern Peru Itinerary for Digital Nomads

5 Iconic Day Trips from Cusco, Peru

Digital Nomad Resources You Need Today!