PERU HOLIDAYS

Peru symbolizes the magic and mystery of South America with Lost Inca cities, dense jungle and conquistadors questing for gold

The legend of ‘El Dorado’ the lost city of gold has been attracting explorers for hundreds of years with Cuzco generally as the starting point and it remains one of the most popular destinations in Latin America. Peru has 3 regions that you can visit on your holiday: The Andes, with massive peaks, steep canyons and ancient sites; The Amazon lowlands and the coastal desert to the West.

A Peru holiday is more than a visit to Machu Picchu, other striking Inca ruins are found in the Sacred Valley, close to Cuzco. The Spanish heritage is evident in flower-filled plazas, colonial cathedrals and monasteries. Natural wonders like the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon basin offer awe-inspiring holidays of immense variety. In the vast coastal desert are found the enigmatic Nazca lines. For an active holiday to Peru we can include trekking, river-rafting, mountain-biking or even boarding over rolling sand dunes.

In the north among the lofty, snow-covered peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, hiking and climbing are popular or you can to visit pre-Inca archaeological sites, such as Chan-Chan. We can organise visiting any region you wish on a bespoke Peru holiday.

The Inca culture is still present in the people today; the colourful costumes are worn as part of daily life and even more flamboyant ones for the frequent fiestas and carnivals. For an ‘experiential’ holiday to Peru we can arrange home-stays which can be combined with language courses or to learn how to cook like a native. Peru’s cuisine is making waves internationally with a modern twist.

Typical Peruvian dishes are tasty and vary regionally. Seafood is, understandably, best on the coast, while the Inca delicacy - roast guinea pig - can be sampled in the highlands. Other dishes include: lomo saltado (chopped steak fried with onions); ceviche de corvina (white sea bass marinated in lemon, chili and onions, and sopa a la criolla (a lightly spiced noodle soup with beef, egg, milk and vegetables). A local spirit forms the basis of the cocktail 'Pisco Sour'.

When to go:

Peru's climate varies considerably by region and altitude. The best time for trekking is June to September, when days are sunny but nights are cold. The wettest months are January through March (when the Inca trail is often closed). In the mountains, night-time temperatures become considerably colder. The eastern slope of the Andes, like the Amazon basin, experiences very heavy rainfall during the wet season, so best time to visit would be April to October.

All our tailor made Peru holidays are individually designed, but as a guide we can arrange a 12 day itinerary from £3,500 including flights

View our Peru Holiday Ideas

1. Iquitos
2. Chiclayo
3. Trujillo
4. Huaraz
5. Manu
6. Tambopata
7. Lima
8. Machu Picchu
9. Cuzco
10. Paracas
11  Nazca
12. Colca Canyon
13. Puno & Lake Titicaca
14. Arequipa