Peru holidays

Holiday highlights

Shrouded in a dream like mist for most of the year, Lima is rich in architecture, gastronomy and culture. Peru’s capital and largest city is characterised by a compelling mix of styles from the colonial structure of the Monastery of San Francisco through to baroque churches and the more modern Magic Circuit of Water. Lima is a bustling and rugged coastline city but it is veiled in the beautiful and profound history of the Inca Empire.

This former capital of the great Inca Empire is a treasure trove of archaeological remnants. Impressive churches and mansions were built on the foundations of the old Inca citadel by the Spanish. Cuzco offers a fantastic base for those who wish to visit iconic Machu Picchu.

Built in the clouds by the Incan Emperor Pachacútec in the 15th Century, the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ is revered for its impressive architecture, fascinating history, breathtaking setting and mysterious origin. Take a spectacular train journey to the ruins or if you are feeling adventurous then hike the legendary Inca Trail. A trip to Peru would not be complete without discovering the awe-inspiring splendour of this legendary citadel, now officially recognised as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.

Nine miles north of Cuzco lies the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, a 26 mile-long valley carved by a winding river, once the heart of the Inca Empire. This fertile area is home to Inca ruins, colourful markets and small Andean Indian towns.

The enchanting Peruvian Amazon is astonishingly rich in biodiversity and boasts the most species of birds in the world. The remote north is accessible via the city of Iquitos, the starting point for a number of luxurious river cruises that visit the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, home to endangered pink river dolphins. The southeast city of Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to the Tambopata and Manu Biosphere Reserves where rustic lodges lie hidden in the heart of the rainforest and offer nature walks and canoe trips. Flights operate from Lima and Cuzco to Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado.