Virtual Field Trips to Peru

Next up in my series of virtual field trips, is Peru. While it’s most famous for Machu Picchu and the Incan Empire, there are a ton of historical and natural sights to see. Kids can learn about the country with the following virtual field trips to Peru.

Get to Know Peru

Start off your virtual field trip to Peru with the following short videos. The first one is in English, and while it’s intended for kids in the UK, they included a lot of interesting and varied facts. The second video is in Spanish -it’s short, simple, and to the point.

Get to know Peru with the following short video in English.

But use this simple video for introducing Peru in Spanish.

Inca Empire

Start off with this brief summary of the Incan Empire -the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. The Incans ruled a huge area of South America that’s nearly the width of the United States. Remarkably, the Incans had no writing system, didn’t use iron or steel, they didn’t have animals for riding, or wheeled vehicles.

Qhapac Ñan / Inca Road

Follow it up with Qhapac Ñan, the Incan system of roads that spanned from Colombia to Argentina. It’s over 20,000 miles long and many chunks of the road still exist today. Kids can view portions of the road in the video above.

Then head over to this website for more information, worksheets, and printables. Activities are for kids from ages 3-12.

Machu Picchu

And, to round out the Incan Empire, no virtual field trip to Peru would be complete without a trip to Machu Picchu, the most famous Incan landmark in Peru.

El Brujo

Then for a change of pace, kids can learn about the Moche civilization by visiting El Brujo, a vast archeological complex that pays homage to the Mochica culture.

It’s the site of La Señora de Cao, the mummified remains of one of the first female leaders in Peru. In 2017, archeologists used 3D imaging to create a replica of her face.

Kids can head here for puzzles, trivia, memory, crossword puzzles, and arts and crafts. The site is available in both English and Spanish.

Peru 360°

And, thanks to Peru’s official tourism website, kids can find interactive videos, photos, and links to Peruvian attractions. You can search to your heart’s content here.

Museums

If museums are more to your liking, students can take virtual tours and manipulate 3D objects at more than 20 Peruvian museums thanks to the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.

Gran Teatro Nacional

The Ministry of Culture has also partnered with Peru’s Gran Teatro Nacional to make many of their shows available for online viewing. Take a peek at what they have to offer, like traditional folk dances and music, plus ballet, opera, and family-friendly shows.

Aprendo en Casa

Meanwhile, Peru’s Ministry of Education has set up Aprendo en casa as it’s virtual learning platform. It’s packed full of resources for educators, students, and families. Now, it’s not necessarily a virtual field trip per se, but I’ve added it to this list for the variety of culturally relevant books and poems (sorted by grade) that it offers (for free!).

After that, feel free to peruse for any lesson plan ideas and materials.

Sights

Finally, make sure your virtual field trips to Peru include the following natural and manmade wonders.

Floating Uros Islands

These manmade floating islands are home to the indigenous Uro people and are set afloat in Lake Titicaca. The lake sits on the border between Bolivia and Peru. It’s one of the largest lakes in South America and has the highest elevation of any large lake in the world.

Nazca Lines

The Nazca lines are huge geoglyphs (or drawings etched into the ground) found in Southern Peru. There are well over 1,000 designs that have been discovered from the ground, by plane, and even in space.

Huacachina

Said to be South America’s only natural desert oasis, Huacachina is a small village and lagoon surrounded by a hilly desert.

Islas Ballestas

The Ballestas Islands are located off the southern coast of Peru and are known as the poor man’s Galapagos because they are much easier to get to. Tourists aren’t allowed on the islands, so all of the wildlife remains somewhat undisturbed as people can only approach by boat.

Rainbow Mountain

Last but not least, this multicolored mountain goes by several names including Rainbow Mountain, la Montaña de Siete Colores, and Vinicunca. Have kids take a virtual hike and learn the reason behind its colorful exterior in the video above.