Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Amazon and Lima's world-class food scene.
Peru is one of the world's great historical travel destinations — home to Machu Picchu, one of the planet's most spectacular archaeological sites; the Sacred Valley, lined with Inca ruins and Andean communities; the Amazon basin, accessible from the jungle city of Iquitos; and Lima, one of Latin America's great culinary capitals.
Machu Picchu requires advance planning — entry is now controlled with timed tickets and strict visitor quotas. We secure tickets as part of every Peru package. The site itself, perched on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River valley at 2,430 metres, is genuinely one of the world's most extraordinary places. We arrange either the train journey from Cusco or, for those who want the full experience, the Inca Trail trek.
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire — a city of extraordinary heritage now overlaid with Spanish colonial architecture. Altitude is a consideration (3,400m) and we always build in acclimatisation days. The Sacred Valley — between Cusco and Aguas Calientes — is lined with Inca terracing, ruins and markets, and provides excellent acclimatisation at a lower altitude.
Lima has undergone a remarkable gastronomic transformation over the past 20 years and is now widely considered one of the world's top food cities. Central (ranked in the World's 50 Best restaurants), Maido, Astrid y Gastón and Isolina all represent different aspects of Peru's extraordinary culinary heritage. We always include 2 nights in Lima.
Peru's portion of the Amazon basin is vast and one of the most biodiverse environments on earth. We arrange stays at private lodges accessible by river or light aircraft from Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado — guided canoe trips, night walks and the extraordinary experience of being in primary rainforest.
Acclimatisation is important in Cusco (3,400m) and the Sacred Valley. We build in rest days and advise on altitude medication. Most healthy adults acclimatise within 24–48 hours with appropriate rest.
May to October is the dry season and offers the clearest conditions. June and July are peak months — book 6+ months in advance. The wet season (November–April) brings more cloud cover but the site is greener and less crowded.
Yes — entry tickets now have daily quotas and timed entry slots. We secure all tickets as part of your package. Last-minute visits to Machu Picchu are no longer possible.