Where to go in Peru

In the native Quechua language Cusco means “navel of the world”, and, true to form, the city was once the capital and geographic centre of the powerful Inca Empire. Nowadays, it's more the historical and tourism capital of Peru, and the gem of a city emanates history through its stunning architecture, Inca sites, and iconic landmarks. Nestled right in the Andes mountains, the setting is dreamy: picture narrow cobblestone streets and a sea of terracotta tiled roofs against the backdrop of the mountains and azure skies. So, what to do? Climb the streets of artsy San Blas for the best views, visit the bustling San Pedro market, explore the city’s Inca ruins, check out the local gastronomy followed by an exciting night out, or set out on a quad bike adventure across the nearby mountains... However you choose to spend your day in Cusco, you’ll go to bed with a smile on your face.

Under an hour’s drive from Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas sits at a much friendlier altitude (about 2,800 metres), making it a great alternative to kick off your acclimatisation process. The stunning natural setting of the valley - carved by the Urubamba river - is truly hard to rival, but it’s not all just pretty views: this spiritual place is home to countless Inca ruins and is testament to the mind-blowing engineering skills of the Inca civilisation. Marvel at the concentric terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans or head to Ollantaytambo to check out the mountainside fortress with panoramic views of the valley for a real treat. Adventurers might like to try whitewater rafting or SUPing on an Andean lake, and, once you’re done, treat yourself to a cocktail and a luxurious spa treatment - the valley is the perfect spot for some R&R on your way to or from Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a bucket list destination for millions of travellers across the world - and it’s easy to understand why. Considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, the “Lost City of the Incas” is a towering stone citadel sitting on a 2,430-metre ridge surrounded by mountains draped in green. Its history is both fascinating and mysterious, its hundreds of stone buildings are a feat of engineering genius, and the backdrop is, to say the very least, spectacular. Whether you get there after a few days of challenging hikes or take the train and bus combo, your first view of the Inca citadel will have you lost for words. And remember to take your time: there’s plenty of exploring to do and a million photos to take...

Boasting the title of the fifth most biodiverse country in the world, Peru houses one of the largest swathes of the mighty Amazon, second only to Brazil. Covering a whopping 60% of the country, yet home to only 10% of the population (and more flora and fauna per hectare than any single European nation), it's incredibly remote, seductive, and indescribably pristine. The sounds, the smells and the colours are magical and sweltering and a visit is one that will stay with you forever - and drain your camera batteries daily! Activities wise, cruise the meandering waterways, binos in hand, and spot playful giant otters, caiman and elusive pink dolphins, or don a set of rubber boots on and enjoy a dalliance into the heart of the forest in search of snoozing sloths, giant anacondas, alien-like insects and armadillos, while swinging monkeys cavort in the canopy above. Really, you’ll never want to leave...

Andean legend has it that god Viracocha emerged from Lake Titicaca to create the sun (Inti) and moon (Killa), who later commended their two children to found an empire in Inti’s honour: thus was born the Inca empire! Sitting pretty at 3,800 metres above sea level, this is the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest lake in South America, its vastness a reflection of the amount of culture and history it packs. Setting out to explore the lake you’ll discover the unique livelihoods of the Uros, who will welcome you onto their floating island homes, and meet the amazing dwellers of Taquile, whose weaving skills are simply out of this world. The Titicaca gold and blue landscapes are a constant feast for the eyes, while back on dry land the monumental chullpas at Sillustani archaeological site are worth the visit - and come with a stunning view of their own.

Spanning over 274,000 hectares of protected Amazon rainforest in southeastern Peru, Tambopata National Reserve is a sanctuary of crisp, clean wilderness. The biodiversity is, quite simply, off the charts and sightings include caiman lurking in the water, families of giant river otters, three-toed sloths, swinging howler monkeys, hundreds upon hundreds of bird species and even more butterflies... So, how to spot them, we hear you ask? From Puerto Maldonado, cruise the Tambopata River and venture as deep into the forest as you like: from day and night excursions in search of curious critters, to explorations of the forest heights on canopy bridges and dugout canoe rides along oxbow lakes and hidden waterways, there's plenty to do. And we haven't even mention the elusive jaguar - venture deep enough and you might just be lucky enough to spot one. Cameras at the ready!

Wandering through the cobblestone streets of downtown Arequipa, you may imagine you’ve been teleported to a stylish European city. Colonial buildings dressed in a local volcanic material known as sillar give the town its distinct beauty and have earned it the nickname “The White City”. Walk around the quaint plazas lined with picture-perfect palm trees and flower beds, visit the Cathedral and the colourful Santa Catalina monastery, or seek out a rooftop to enjoy the sunset vistas with the backdrop of volcanoes guarding the city below. History, adventure, gastronomy, looks, Arequipa has it all. Just wait and see - you’ll end up wanting to stay much, much longer than planned.

Measuring around 3,300 metres at its deepest point, the impressive Cola Canyon is twice as deep as the world-famous Grand Canyon - and with views that rank very near the top of Peru's mind-blowing list of natural landscapes, hiking into the depths is a memorable experience. But worry not: even if you’re not the trekking type, there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Go on a horseback ride through terraced farmlands on the rim, head to the famous lookout spot and look for the majestic Andean condor, mountain bike along the crags, or just revel in the views as you soak in a natural hot spring overlooking the roaring river.