Peru
Sacred abundance
Although most famous for ancient Incan masterpiece Machu Picchu, Peru lives up to the meaning of the Quechuan Indian word from which its name is derived - land of abundance. Cusco’s Spanish Colonial architecture, The Sacred Valley’s fertile farmland, Lake Titicaca’s deep still waters and Amazonian tributaries deserve uncovering.
A World Wonder of Ancient Ruins
The peaks and valleys, and mountains and beaches of Peru are awe-inspiring. 15th-century Incan citadel Machu Picchu is of course a must-see, but Colco Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, shouldn’t be missed either. The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth, and is home to Amazonian pink dolphins. Visit The Nazca Lines, where giant human and animal geoglyphs appear in the desert, or The Cerro Blanco, one of the world’s tallest sand dunes.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
- Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Visit the floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca
- Sandboard the giant hills of soft sand
- Spot famous pink dolphins on a jungle cruise in Peruvian Amazonia
WHEN TO VISIT
The winter, May to September, is the driest season and therefore the best time of year to travel to Peru. It rarely rains and days of endless sunshine offer great views of the rugged mountain peaks against a clear blue sky.
Mountain bike the steep roads of Palcoyo Mountain
Meet a Quechua girl and her “crias” in their village
Watch the clouds clear and the sun shine on Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu
Participate in a private ceremony with a shaman in the Sacred Valley
Ferry through the floating island of Lake Titicaca by reed boat
Get a condor’s-eye view of the Sacred Valley
Tour Maras’ thousands of salt pools dating back to Incan times
Old monasteries become luxury Andean getaways
Watch llamas graze along the cliffs of Machu Picchu
Incan ingenuity is on full display at Moray terraces
Even the Amazon jungle’s mighty predator needs to sleep sometimes
