Early sunlight across Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu

Western South America

Peru

Inca paths in the clouds, high-altitude lakes and a cuisine worth flying to Lima for alone.

Photo: Ed Wingate / Unsplash

Peru is a country where history is still underfoot. In Cusco, Spanish colonial buildings rest on flawlessly cut Inca walls, and in the Sacred Valley farmers still work terraces laid out more than five centuries ago.

Yet Peru is far more than the Andes. Within a few days you can descend from the calm blue of Lake Titicaca into the humid green of the Amazon, then sit down in Lima, on the Pacific shore, to one of the world's most exciting cuisines — from a simple ceviche to long tasting-menu dinners.

The real challenges here are altitude and distance, so a well-shaped route is half the journey. A few easy days in the valley before a trek, sensibly planned flights and time to spare let you feel Peru rather than rush through it.

Why go

01
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
The former Inca capital, with its stone lanes and the artisans' quarter of San Blas, and below it the Urubamba Valley: Pisac market, the circular terraces of Moray, the salt pans of Maras and the fortress of Ollantaytambo.
02
The ways to Machu Picchu
The classic Inca Trail climbs over mountain passes and through cloud forest to the Sun Gate. For a different path there are the Salkantay and Lares treks; for those who'd rather not hike, a panoramic train runs beside the Urubamba River.
03
Lake Titicaca
A lake lying more than three and a half kilometres above sea level, where life on the shore keeps its own rhythm. Floating reed islands, the woven textiles of Taquile and a night with a local family on Amantaní.
04
From the Amazon to Lima's table
A short flight from Cusco and you're gliding along Amazon-basin rivers to the calls of monkeys and macaws. End the journey in Lima, where markets, cevicherías and chefs tell the story of the whole country through its produce.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Adventure & active travel
The Inca Trail, the Salkantay or Lares treks, the trails of the Colca Canyon and day hikes in the Sacred Valley — with time built in to adjust to the altitude.
Culture & discovery
The legacy of the Inca and far older civilisations, Andean weavers and village markets — with guides who show how the past lives on today.
Tailor-made journeys
Altitude, domestic flights and trains arranged so your body has time to adjust and the journey flows without rushing.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Courtyard houses in Cusco, quiet haciendas in the Sacred Valley, eco-lodges in the Amazon and family homestays by Titicaca.
Small-group adventures
Trekking to Machu Picchu in a small group — a shared goal, experienced guides and evenings over dinner with fellow travellers.
Family journeys
The train to Machu Picchu, llamas in Andean villages and jungle trails — Peru becomes a real adventure for children, at an unhurried pace.

Peru

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

0110–12 days
Cusco, the valley and Machu Picchu
A start in Lima, a few easy days in the Sacred Valley, the train to Machu Picchu and time to discover Cusco without hurrying.
Culture & discovery · Tailor-made journeys
Plan something like this
0214–16 days
On foot to Machu Picchu
Acclimatising in the valley, four days on the Inca Trail or the Salkantay trek, then time to unwind by Lake Titicaca.
Adventure & active travel · Small-group adventures
Plan something like this
0316–19 days
From the Andes to the Amazon
Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco with the Sacred Valley, and a few days at a jungle lodge in the Amazon basin.
Wildlife & nature · Culture & discovery
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

In the Andes the dry season generally runs from around May to September — sunny days, cold nights and more travellers. December to March is usually the wettest period. Lima's coast is often grey in the southern winter (June–October), and in the Amazon rain can fall at any time of year. Conditions vary from year to year.

How long to allow

For a first visit we suggest at least 10–12 days; with a trek, Titicaca or the Amazon, two to three weeks is more comfortable. Altitude asks for time, so keep the first days gentle.

Natural combinations

Peru pairs naturally with Ecuador and the Galápagos, and on a longer journey with Patagonia to the south. For more Caribbean warmth, Colombia makes a fine continuation.

Areas to explore

Lima and the coast
The capital on cliffs above the Pacific — markets, museums and its celebrated food.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
The Inca capital, valley villages, terraces and the routes to Machu Picchu.
Arequipa and the Colca Canyon
A city of white volcanic stone and a deep canyon where condors often soar.
Lake Titicaca
A high-altitude lake, reed islands and the villages around Puno.
The Amazon
Riverside jungle lodges, wildlife and an entirely different rhythm.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey