Ten Movies and Books about Peru

Hours Hours
Affiliate Disclosure

When you mention Peru, most people think of Machu Picchu and the Andes Mountains. Both are stunning sights, but there’s so much more to this country. There’s the Amazon, pisco, a fascinating blend of Incan and Spanish culture (with a surprising amount of Chinese thrown in), desert, jungle, beach, ceviche, civil war, llamas, and so much more.

It was hard to find books and movies (especially movies) about this country that didn’t focus solely on Machu Picchu and the ancient Incas, but we found some good ones and hope you’ll use them to explore this country. Even if you only have time to see Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, you absolutely should go to see it and you should use one of the below to help you prepare.

Ten Books set in Peru

A Sacred Landscape: The Search for Ancient Peru

Author: Hugh Thomson

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, Biography/Memoir, Action/Adventure, Nature/Outdoors

Places Featured: Peru

We’ve included two books by Hugh Thomson on this list because he’s just that good. This book is actually the follow-up book to The White Rock and, in it, he explores much more than the usual Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, so this one is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about off-the-beaten-path parts of Peru. He combines research and passion as he explores ancient buildings, sites, and talks to people who know about these sites–both archaeologists and locals–for a well-rounded, well-researched, fun journey.

Deep Rivers

Author: José María Arguedas

Genre: Fiction, Historical

Places Featured: Peru

With its history, Peru has both Spanish and Incan (Quechuan) influences. Deep Rivers is a coming-of-age story about how those two influences come together. Ernesto, who grew up in the Incan countryside, is sent to a Catholic boarding school at 14, where he doesn’t quite fit in to the fast-paced life of the Spanish city so he must navigate his way in a new world. Some caveats: Arguedas is a lyrical writer (who also writes in a language very difficult to translate), the book doesn’t follow a straight plot, and it is more of a series of journal entries (the story is somewhat autobiographical), but it’s still a beautiful story by one of Peru’s most famous authors.

Eight Feet in the Andes: Travels with a Mule in Unknown Peru

Author: Dervla Murphy

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir, Action/Adventure

Places Featured: Peru

Dervla Murphy has been writing travel books for over forty years (her most well-known one is Full Tilt: Ireland to India With a Bicycle). She’s a little quirky and a lot of adventure. Eight Feet in the Andes is the story of her 1979 adventure walking through Peru traveling over 1,300 miles in high altitudes–the eight feet referenced in the title are her two feet, the two feet of her 10-year-old daughter, and the four feet of their mule. It was a journey that was difficult and sometimes it was dangerous, but it was definitely interesting, even if her opinions are a bit outdated.

Keep the River on Your Right

Author: Tobias Schneebaum

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir, Action/Adventure, Historical

Places Featured: Peru

Tobias Schneebaum was a Brooklyn-based artist who won a Fulbright fellowship to travel and paint in Peru in 1955. He spent his time with the Akaramas tribe, living his life as they did–hunting with old weapons, shaving and painting his body, and, yes, eating the flesh of other humans. Schneebaum is an artist, not an anthropologist, so the book is more about his thoughts and experiences then a scientific study–but that’s what makes it interesting.

Lost City of the Incas

Author: Hiram Bingham

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, Action/Adventure

Places Featured: Machu Picchu, Peru

Hiram Bingham is one of those people you read about that had the most fascinating life–he was born in Hawaii (way before it was a state), was a professor at Princeton and Yale, served in the military, was elected governor, served as a Senator, and, relevant to this list, is credited for discovering Machu Picchu–though that is a little controversial. (He’s also believed to be the inspiration for Indiana Jones!) This book describes that discovery in 1911 in his own words with pictures.

The Boiling River: Adventure and Discovery in the Amazon

Author: Andrés Ruzo

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir, Nature/Outdoors

Places Featured: Peru

As a young boy growing up in Peru, Andrés Ruzo was told the legend of a river deep in the Amazon so hot, it boiled. When he grew up (and became a geoscientist) he decided to search for this river himself. He soon finds himself discovering a beautiful world existing deep in the Peruvian rainforest, learning about the local culture that depends on this unique resource, and realizing some of the ethical challenges that come with making a scientific discovery. (The book is a more detailed version of a TED Talk given by the author, which is fascinating enough you’ll want to read more.)

The Last Days of the Incas

Author: Kim MacQuarrie

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, War & Military

Places Featured: Machu Picchu, Peru

Just like many other books included on this list, this book focuses on the fascinating history in Peru. But, unlike the others, it is specifically focused on the invasion of the Incan Empire by the Spanish in 1532 and the bloody battle that ensued. There’s some detailed history here, but it “reads like a novel” so it’s interesting for anyone that wants to learn more. (Note: it also comes highly recommended as an audiobook.)

The Neighborhood: A Novel

Author: Mario Vargas Llosa

Genre: Fiction, Crime/Mystery

Places Featured: Lima, Peru

Mario Vargas Llosa is Peruvian writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010. He’s written many books of all genres (and several are set in Peru), but we selected this one because it’s a fictional crime story set in the 1990s that looks at the not-so-nice side of politics and privilege in the capital city, Lima. A trigger warning might be needed for those sensitive as it can be quite descriptive and, if you’re able, it’s recommended to read in its original language.

The White Rock: An Exploration of the Inca Heartland

Author: Hugh Thomson

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, Action/Adventure, Biography/Memoir

Places Featured: Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru

Hugh Thomson’s The White Rock is a great book for anyone that wants to understand Incan history, but isn’t usually into history. By combining his own travel experiences of searching for the “lost cities of the Amazon in the Inca heartland” with the stories of explorers before him, Thomson manages to bring the history of this amazing land to life (without it sounding like someone droning on about pottery shards and ancient battles).

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

Author: Mark Adams

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, Biography/Memoir

Places Featured: Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru

Anyone hiking the Inca Trail and traveling to Machu Picchu should read this book. Mark Adams is an editor for adventure and travel magazines, so he knows a thing or two about good writing and he’s able to expertly weave the history of this ancient land with his own real-life adventures in an engaging way that not only informs but also makes you laugh (not-an-actual-spoiler: turns out he’s not as good at the actual adventure part).

Honorable Mention Books about Peru:

Bonus Children’s Books Set in Peru:

Ten Movies Set in Peru

Secret of the Incas (1954)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Action/Adventure

Places Featured: Amazon, Peru

The legendary Charlton Heston stars in this film as Harry Steele, an adventurer looking for an ancient Incan artifact. Of course, it’s a difficult task and there are many who want to stand in his way, so the movie has some twists and turns and some exciting scenes (well, for 1954). Film fans will notice a lot of similarities to Raiders of the Lost Ark–the costume designer admitted that the inspiration for Indiana’s costume was Harry Steele.

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Rating: PG

Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama, Musical

Places Featured: Peru

Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, played perfectly by Klaus Kinski, loves the opera…so he wants to build an opera house in the middle of the jungle. I don’t think it’s considered a spoiler for me to tell you that it’s a bit of a challenge. There’s some gorgeous scenery in this one (and, if you’re into it, some great opera). And, to be honest, just as interesting as this movie is a documentary called Burden of Dreams–which is about the making of Fitzcarraldo (a pretty bizarre story)–I almost recommended that one instead.

La Boca del Lobo (1988)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Drama, Action/Adventure, War & Military

Places Featured: Peru

Peru’s civil war between the Government and the Communist Party (known as Shining Path) began in 1980–as with all wars, it was (and still can be) bloody and ugly and sad. La Boca del Lobo examines the tragedy of this war by telling the story of a small village in the Andes invaded by the Shining Path. An ambitious soldier must face his own conscience as he is asked to do his duty. (Note: it might be difficult to find with English subtitles and I couldn’t find any record of a dubbed version ever being made.)

Juliana (1989)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Drama

Places Featured: Lima, Peru

Juliana examines several societal issues in Lima, Peru: Juliana is a young girl, abused by her stepfather, who escapes to the streets of Lima. Living on the streets isn’t easy for anyone, but Juliana soon discovers that it’s especially difficult for girls, so she changes her appearance and lives as a boy. Despite her struggles, she’s feisty, and she stands strong. The characters are well-developed and the story is emotional, but it’s one that needs to be told. (Note: This one might be difficult to find.)

Anaconda (1997)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror

Places Featured: Amazon Rainforest

Anaconda is one of those movies that’s so bad, you kind of love it…(or maybe it’s just me that likes that kind of movie?!?) It has a great premise: a National Geographic documentary team traveling in the Amazon Rainforest is taken hostage by an insane hunter who is searching for the world’s largest (and deadliest) snake. It also has a famous cast: Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube. But, of course, it’s cheesy and it’s over-the-top…and it’s very entertaining.

The Dancer Upstairs (2002)

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Crime/Mystery

Places Featured: South America

The Dancer Upstairs was John Malkovich’s directorial debut and it tells the story of conflicted Detective Agustin Rejas, played by Javier Bardem, who is searching for a revolutionary guerilla leader and for balance in his life. The two searches–and struggles–collide in a ballet teacher. There’s corruption and violence and passion. Technically, this movie is set in an unnamed country in South America, but the story is inspired by Shining Path, a guerilla organization in Peru and the search for its leaders.

Asu Mare! (2013)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Biography/Memoir, Comedy

Places Featured: Peru

Carlos Alcántara is a well-known comedian in Peru (possibly the most well-known). This movie adapts his comedy show and tells the story of how he grew up, his relationship with his mother, and how he tried to find his place in show business. It was wildly popular in Peru (and has two sequels), so it’s a good choice to round out your movie selections before a visit.

When Two Worlds Collide (2016)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Documentary

Places Featured: Peru

The invasion of tribal lands by multinational-corporations looking to clear the land so they can mine and drill is a hot topic all around the world, but especially in the Amazon–and has been for years. This documentary explores that conflict as it takes a look at Alberto Pizanbo, a leader in the Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest, and his battle with the government to include native groups in decisions made–which came to a head in 2009. It’s a one-sided look, but it’s a side that should be heard.

Peru: Hidden Treasure (2017)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Documentary

Places Featured: Peru

This documentary is basically an advertisement for tourism to Peru, but that’s okay, because it has beautiful scenery, a variety of interesting stories (a surfer, a family, a shaman, a chef), and it shows all that Peru has to offer. It’s also available on Netflix, so that alone makes it worth checking out. (Even if you do have to watch it with subtitles.)

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Rating: PG

Genre: Action/Adventure, Children’s/Young Adult, Comedy

Places Featured: Peru

Yes, there is a special section below for children’s movies, but we included this one on our main list because it’s been applauded for its efforts at authenticity. Based on the cartoon, in this movie, Dora is a teenager on a quest to find her parents, who have disappeared while attempting to solve the mystery about a lost city of gold. Dora and her friends head out into the Peruvian jungle to save her parents and, of course, find the truth about the treasure.

Honorable Mention Movies Featuring Peru:

Bonus Children’s Movies set in Peru:

Jen Price is the creator of Travel Books and Movies, where she helps readers explore the world through stories on the page and screen. Currently living in Italy, she shares her love of travel, books, and films through personal guides, reviews, and itineraries that blend real-world destinations with unforgettable stories.