Best of Peru

Peru’s capital is a fantastic city to tour, dotted with a multitude of cultural sites and beautifully preserved architecture. Founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima was first named ‘City of Kings’ – a biblical reference to the ‘Three Wise Men of the East’ – before its name was changed by the Spanish colonialists. The most significant historical buildings are located around the Plaza Mayor, the most notable being the Government Palace, where one can still observe the changing of the guard performed by the Húsares de Junín. The beautiful Cathedral and the various small palaces and colonial balconies also play also their part in the beauty of the city. Another highlight is the famed Larco Herrera Museum, documenting the millennial cultures that preceded the Inca civilization and containing a priceless collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including some of South America's finest pre-Inca erotic pottery.

The Peruvian Amazon is one of the few remaining pristine environments on earth, sprawling across 60% of the country’s land mass and composed of roughly 80% primary forest. The best way to experience the region is by taking a ‘canopy tour’, or enjoying a dawn cruise down the area’s expansive system of waterways. The area is known for its incredible melange of wildlife, which includes vividly coloured macaws and parrots, vociferous red howler monkeys, capybaras, and enormous Goliath bird-eater spiders, to name but a few. The main tourist hub here is Puerto Maldonado, from where a proliferation of tour companies can transport you to the far reaches of the forest.

Also known as Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is located in the Peruvian Andes, beneath the world-famous site of Machu Picchu and not far from Cuzco, the unofficial Inca capital. This fertile valley is fed by a network of waterways and encompasses a wealth of archaeological sites, including Ollantaytambo, renowned for its extensive Inca ruins; Tipon, which features ancient agricultural terracing and a working irrigation system; and Pisac, with its ancient vestiges and colourful weekly market.

Located more than 6000 feet above sea level in Peru’s mountain peaks, Machu Picchu is one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. This legendary lofty city was abandoned by the Inca Empire, reclaimed by the jungle and lost to humanity until its rediscovery in 1911. Built by the Incas on the summit of "Machu Picchu" (Old Peak), in the middle of a tropical montane forest overlooking the canyon of the Urubamba, the 'Lost City of Machu Picchu' is a site of extraordinary beauty and enormous archeological significance. The complex reflects the Inca Empire at its height, with giant walls, terraces and ramps that appear to have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The phenomenal technological skills of the Incan engineers can be seen in multiple facets of the site: the exacting precision of the massive stone buildings, the water channels that reveal a deep understanding of hydraulics, and Intihuatana ("the highest point of the Sun"), which served as a solar calendar that regulated planting and harvesting.

Once called the ‘Navel of the World’ by the Incas, Cuzco remains a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with older, more austere remains of pre-Columbian glory – one can still see the foundations of Inca structures on many of its city streets today. Cuzco’s most important landmarks include sites from both Inca and colonial times, such as the Korikancha (the ancient Temple of the Sun), the Inca street of Loreto with its 12-cornered stones, the cathedral, the Museum of Colonial Art, the archaeological park of Saqsaywaman (the fortress-temple), the nearby funerary shrines of Kenqo, and the water-worship site of Tambomachay.

Situated high in the Andes Mountains on the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is considered the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. The area was once a stronghold of Inca culture – and this ancient legacy is still evident in the many Inca ruins dotted across the shoreline, as well as the vibrant traditional handwoven textiles and clothes. Among the lake’s most popular attractions are the 42 floating reed islands of the Uros people, accessible from Puno in the east. On Santa Maria, the largest of these, tourists can arrange tours into private local homes to experience traditional culture.

The gorgeous city of Arequipa is a perfect blend of ancient architectural treasures and modern buildings, blessed with an average of 300 days of sunny weather a year. It is also known as ‘The White City’ – a nickname that stems from its numerous white buildings, which form a striking contrast with the green surroundings. It is Peru’s most elegant city and the best place to visit if you’re a foodie on the hunt for fine dining opportunities, with an array of fabulous restaurants offering spicy local specialities such as rocoto relleno, chupe de Camarones and ocopa. This city has an illustrious history and its distinctive traditions make it a truly unique Peruvian destination.

The spectacular Colca Valley is famous for its dramatic scenery – rolling mountain folds that plunge into the depths of the Colca Canyon, through which the Colca River runs for some 50 kilometres, passing ancient Spanish villages where women still dress in traditional Andean garb. The residents of this valley are the descendants of the Cabana-Quechua valley people and the Collagua, a pre-Inca highland tribe known for their impressive textile art and stone carvings. Highlights of the region include visits to the valley’s various colonial churches, horseback tours and condor spotting expeditions.