Destinations
Peru
If the mention of Latin America conjures up images of ancient ruins, colourful markets, colonial cities and of course, the mighty Amazon, then look no further than Peru. Most visitors flock to the glorious Lost City of Machu Picchu, an impressive but fleeting moment in the 5,000 year history of Peruvian settlement. And you have the gastronomy - geographic and cultural diversity results in a complex cuisine with indigenous, Spanish, African and Asian influences.
Machu Picchu and ancient Inca cities and archaeological sites deservedly place Peru at the top of many bucket lists, but South America’s third largest country is also home to a treasure of incredible places and experiences beyond the Incas. Historic Spanish colonial towns, the Peruvian Amazon which covers over half the country, the stunning highlands of the cloud-topped Andes mountains, the Peruvian altiplano as well as its rich marine life along its Pacific shores are there to be explored and enjoyed.
It was not so long ago that Lima was considered just a stopover en route to Peru’s many other iconic destinations. Now a destination on its own, Lima has become one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Latin America. The capital boasts a wonderfully preserved colonial centre, a burgeoning bohemian and artistic vibe in its Barranco and Callao neighbourhoods, pre-Colombian ruins, some of the continent’s best art museums, a thriving nightlife and, at the forefront of Lima’s renaissance – an electrifying food scene. In the past few years, Lima has become, not only Latin America’s, but one of the world’s most exciting culinary destination. With multiple local restaurants consistently listed in the world’s top 50, this is one foodie destination that you will not want to miss.
Ancient Empire of the Incas
The Inca Empire was a vast empire that expanded and flourished from the early 15th century until its conquest by the Spanish in 1530. The Incas built their empire without the wheel, powerful draft animals, iron working, currency or a writing system. The empire stretched from modern-day Argentina to southern Columbia, and was divided up into four main areas which all intersected at its capital, Cusco. Today, many of the traditions the Inca carried out live on in the Andes. Textile making is still popular, the foods they ate are consumed around the world and archaeological sites like Machu Picchu are popular tourist attractions. Even their ancient language, Quechua, is still the most widely spoken of the indigenous languages surviving in the Americas. Six to ten million people in the Andes from southern Colombia through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, to northwestern Argentina and northern Chile use Quechua use this ancient language as their mother tongue.
Surely one of the most fascinating cities in Latin America, Cusco will linger in your imagination well after you leave. With ornate baroque cathedrals built on top of ancient Inca temples, this city is full of surprising contrasts. Walking down its cobblestone streets, a local woman in traditional garb leading her llama is as common a sight as the luxury boutiques and restaurants that now inhabit the centre. This ancient Inca capital also has its fair share of important archeological sites in and around the city, as well as the best foodie scene outside of Lima. Make sure you leave enough time to explore this amazing city.
There are few of the world’s wonders that live up to expectations, Machu Picchu actually exceeds it! The beauty, the architectural genius and the mystery behind this iconic site never ceases to amaze and mystify everyone who is fortune enough to behold it. Whether you trek the Inca trail or take a luxury train to Machu Picchu, you will also discover the ancient settlements and stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley, home to many important Inca sites, as well as charming colonial villages and a local Andean population with customs and traditions unchanged for centuries.
The Amazon
The Amazon is often referred to as the “Lungs of the Earth” and it remains one of the least populated and visited regions of Peru. The Peruvian Amazon covers 60% of the country and is home to massive biodiversity. Peru has the second largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazil. The area has 700 types of ferns and more than 7,300 different species of flowering plants. The rainforest is also home to a vast number of species: around 180 reptiles, over 250 amphibians, almost 300 mammals, 700 fish, 800 birds, and 2,500 butterflies.
In less than two hours, you can fly from Lima to Iquitos, the jumping off point for your luxury Amazon cruise. With 3, 4 or even 7 night cruise options available, this is the best way to explore the northern Peruvian Amazon in style. These boutique river boats can be exclusive or join a scheduled departure; either way, you will be blown away by the breathtaking scenery and pristine wilderness as you explore the unique wildlife, visit local villages and search for the famous pink dolphins of the Amazon.
World renowned because of its spectacular macaw and parrot clay licks, the Tambopata National Reserve is one of the true remaining jewels of the Amazon. Because of the reserve’s protected status and secluded location, it offers incredible biodiversity and contains pristine primary rainforest. The reserve plays host to over 1,000 species of butterflies, 100 species of mammals (including a healthy population of jaguars), around 600 species of birds and hundreds of species of indigenous trees and plants. In fact, this reserve and surrounding region is one of the most biodiverse locations on earth. More than just a natural wonderland, this region is also home to the indigenous Ese Eja people who are believed to have descended from the heavens on a thread of cotton and are one of the last remaining foraging Amazonian cultures on earth. Enjoy your stay in one of our recommended luxury lodges in coveted and secluded locations throughout the reserve.
Accessible only by road and then boat from both Cusco and Puerto Maldonado, Manu National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Famous for being where the Amazon basin meets the Andes, this pristine natural wonder has been protected by its isolation and by its indigenous people who live deep in its rainforest, some of whom have had very little contact with the outside world. Manu has some of the best wildlife viewing in Peru with over 4,000 different animal species including jaguars, pumas, tapirs, giant otters, and various monkey species not to mention its colourful macaws and their clay licks.
The Altiplano and the high Andes
The South American Altiplano or "high plateau" originates northwest of Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and extends almost 1,000 kilometres southeast to the southwestern corner of Bolivia. Nestled between two ranges of the rugged Andes Mountains, it is a vast, windswept plateau and near the Altiplano’s northern edge is Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake, both by surface area and volume and the highest navigable lake in the world. The sparkling, snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Real mountains reflected in the brilliant blue water are breathtaking sights, both figuratively, thanks to the crisp atmosphere and magical lighting, and literally, because of the very thin air at 3,800 meters elevation. As for the Andes, it stretches over 7,000 kilometres and is the longest continental mountain range in the world, and the only mountains that are taller are the Himalayas in Asia.
Take a short flight from Cusco, or for the more adventurous, a spectacular overland luxury train journey, and you will arrive at mystical Lake Titicaca. Shared by Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the most sacred site of the Incas, believed to be the ancestral birthplace of the Incas as well as the Sun God. This massive high-altitude lake, flanked by the towering snowcapped Andes, is home to several inhabited islands with ancient Incan ruins and colourfully dressed villagers. Do not miss the floating reed islands and their inhabitants famous for their perfectly crafted reed boats.
Guarded by three dramatic volcanoes and locally known as “La Cuidad Blanca” (white city) for its sparkling white buildings, Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city and, considered by many, its most charming. Renowned as a cultural and culinary capital, Arequipa is blessed with world class museums, a dazzling white Plaza de Almas and a colourful monastery and is surrounded by the snowcapped Andean peaks, making it a visual delight. Once considered a jumping off point to visit the nearby Colca Canyon, Arequipa is now firmly on the map as a must-see destination on its own.
Slicing through the High Andes like a giant fissure for more than 100 kilometres, Colca Canyon is the world's second deepest canyon, nearly twice as deep as the United States’ Grand Canyon and, in our opinion, twice as magnificent. Located just 160 kilometres from Arequipa, the canyon is one of the most impressive sights in the entire Andean mountain range and is definitely one of Peru’s most underrated and under-visited highlights. Famous for breathtaking hikes, this is the best place in Peru to see the majestic Andean Condor, the largest flying bird on earth. The Colca Valley is a colourful Andean valley with pre-Inca roots, and towns founded in Spanish colonial times, still inhabited by people of the Collagua and the Cabana cultures. The local people maintain their ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces. A recently opened luxury lodge located right in the valley makes this a must on any Peru itinerary.
Descending down to around 450 metres above sea level, one of the world’s great ancient mysteries is revealed. Peru’s Nazca lines over the desert have stayed largely intact for at least 500 years and still baffle archaeologists, historians, and explorers to this day. Covering an area of over 1,000 square kilometres deep in the heart of the Peruvian desert plains, more than 300 exquisitely accurate and immaculately preserved giant geoglyphs, which are only visible from the air, evoke a mysticism which can only be explained once you have witnessed this sight.
Luxury train journeys around Peru
For trainspotters and railway buffs, Peru is Latin America’s ultimate destination to experience that old-world romance of rail travel. Dine and dance your way from Cusco to Machu Picchu in glamorous 1920’s style carriages or just sink into your armchair and take in the majesty of the Sacred Valley on your way to this once-in-a-lifetime destination.
For the ultimate train journey, travel from the Inca capital of Cusco, across the Andean plains to the white city of Arequipa. Take in the region’s most spectacular sights, including Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon. Let yourself be enchanted as you pass through some of Peru’s most spectacular scenery in the lap of luxury on this three-day overland journey.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mexico City, the oldest capital city of the Americas as the only one to have been founded by Ameridians, was built on the ruins of the great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and is sinking at a rate of over 10cm a year. It was originally built on a lake and as the population grows so too does the need to pump water from its aquifer, which is now in danger of collapsing.
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