Peru holidays

No Peru tour would be complete without visiting the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, an archaeological wonder set high in the Andes. This 15th-century site is remarkable both for its ornate stone buildings and its beautiful setting, high on a mountain ridge overlooking the Sacred Valley. The backdrop of mist-covered peaks, as well as the curious llamas pottering around, make it all the more special.

Our guided tours explain the history and significance of Machu Picchu’s most important monuments, including the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana ritual stone and the Inti Mach'ay cave, where the Incas used to celebrate the Festival of the Sun.

The remote site can be reached by train and bus from the city of Cusco. Or, if you want a real adventure, you can walk the famous Inca Trail. The hike can take up to five days, and you’ll get to visit sleepy villages and age-old ruins along the way.

Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America. It’s also home to the Uros, a group of Indigenous people living on 62 man-made floating islands crafted from totora reed. Old meets new here, as enturies-old practices mingle with modern conveniences like TVs, powered by solar panels.

The most common way to explore Lake Titicaca is by boat from the dock in Puno. Tours of the islands allow you to meet local people, learn about their customs and traditions, and buy handicrafts. You can also experience an overnight stay on the larger natural islands of Amanataní and Taquile, which are inhabited by the Indigenous Aymara people.

Alternatively, Isla Suasi is the lake’s only privately-owned island, where Peruvian hotel chain Casa Andina runs a luxury lodge.

Nearly two-thirds of Peru is Amazon rainforest, which is densely packed with exotic plants and wildlife, such as jaguars, river dolphins and giant otters. So, if you’re a nature-lover, make sure your Peru tour includes some time in the jungle.

A short flight form Cusco, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Manu National Park is a huge and extremely well-preserved area of the Amazon. This place is home to sloths, alligators and howler monkeys, as well as the Indigenous Machiguenga people. It’s virtually impossible to visit Manu without joining a guided tour, which allows you to enter this 1.7-million-hectare park and learn about its rich greenery, animals and birds. Tours also include boat rides on the Madre de Dios River, and overnight stays in rustic lodges.

For an unforgettable South American experience, choose an adventure-packed tour that ticks off Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil. This epic trip starts with two nights in Lima before a flight to Cusco, from which you can journey to the amazing Machu Picchu. Your final stop in Peru is Lake Titicaca, where you’ll then sail across to the Bolivian section of Lake Titicaca.

In bustling Bolivia, you can spend some time in the exciting capital, La Paz, and the mesmerising Moon Valley with its bizarre rock formations. Then you’ll continue on to Argentina and its capital city, Buenos Aires. Here, you can explore lovely streets, busy squares and peaceful parks. You’ll also get to watch a tango show and tuck into juicy Argentinian steak.

The tour continues into Brazil, via the exhilarating Iguazu Falls. Your trip wraps up in colourful r, where you can see Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain. And, on your final night, you can enjoy a Brazilian barbecue and samba show.