Inca citadels, Andean valleys and one of the world's great food capitals.
Peru is where many travellers first fall for South America. Machu Picchu is the icon, but the Sacred Valley, the colonial streets of Cusco and the high-altitude shores of Lake Titicaca are just as memorable.
Lima has become one of the world's most exciting places to eat. The Andes are best in the dry season from May to September; plan a slow start to adjust to the altitude around Cusco.
Best time to visit Peru
May, June, July, August, September.
Places to visit in Peru
Cusco: The old Inca capital: stone walls, colonial churches and the gateway to the Andes.
Machu Picchu: The legendary Inca citadel on a cloud-wrapped ridge; entry tickets sell out early.
Sacred Valley: Terraced hillsides, weaving villages and Inca sites along the Urubamba river.
Lima: A clifftop capital on the Pacific and home to some of the world's best restaurants.
Lake Titicaca: A vast high-altitude lake with island communities that welcome homestays.
Arequipa: Peru's second city, built from white volcanic stone beneath the El Misti volcano, with the walled Santa Catalina monastery.
Colca Canyon: A vast canyon of terraced fields and Andean villages, where Andean condors ride the morning thermals at Cruz del Cóndor.
Nazca Lines: Enormous figures and lines scratched into the desert by the Nazca culture, best seen from a small plane.
Iquitos and the Amazon: A lively river city in the Peruvian Amazon, reached only by air or boat, and the gateway to rainforest lodges and reserves.
Essentials
Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN)
Language: Spanish, plus Quechua and Aymara
Plugs: Type A / C, 220 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC−5
Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants
Getting around: Domestic flights for long distances; trains to Machu Picchu
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking