Clamber over crumbling pre-Inca ruins at Kuélap, discover adobe pyramids at Moche, explore the 3000-year-old fortress temple at Chavin de Huantar and, from high above, reflect on the mystery of the Nazca Lines. Hike the celebrated Inca Trail to the inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu, explore on horseback the scenic Colca Canyon near Arequipa, mountain bike past lakes and Andean villages in the Callejon de Huaylas or conquer some of the several 6000m-high peaks in the Huascarán National Park. Get wet on a rafting adventure down the Tambopata River, fish for piranha from a dug-out canoe on the Amazon River, watch caiman sunbathing on the banks of the Madre de Dios River in the wildlife-crammed rainforests of the Parque Nacional Manu or glide between unique man-made floating islands on Lake Titicaca.

Throughout your adventure, experience Peru’s vibrant culture, unique cuisine, haunting Andean music and friendly people.

Highlights

Cuzco- Built by the Spanish on the remains of Inca temples, Cuzco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America. Dominated by the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuamán, Cuzco’s unspoilt, whitewashed, stone-walled streets and red-tiled roofs are home to a wealth of traditional culture, from Quechua-speaking Incan descendants who still crowd the centuries-old streets, to fascinating museums, walks and tours. Discover creepy dungeons and torture chambers inside the Museo de la Inquisicion, the former headquarters of the Spanish America Inquisition (1570 to 1820 AD).

The mountainous region around Cuzco boasts some of the country’s best trekking and to the west lie the Sacred Valley of the Rio Urubamba and Machu Picchu. Celebrate Inti Raymi (Incan Sun Festival), one of the most spectacular Andean festivals in South America with parades, processions, music and dancing in the streets of Cuzco and at Sacsayhuamán. The festival is held annually on 24 June – coincidentally the same day as the Day of Cuzco and Peruvian Day of the Indian.

The Inca Trail- Follow in the footsteps of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, along the most famous trail in South America, the Inca Trail. From the rapids of the Urubamba River, hike through deep jungle and cloud forest over high, treeless mountain passes up to 4200m, down ancient stone steps and past several sets of intact Incan ruins to the lost city of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Along the way, try to spot a bobcat, puma or, if you’re really fortunate, the endangered spectacled bear. The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of reptiles, more than 700 species of butterflies and 415 species of birds including hummingbirds, eagles, quetzals and toucans, as well as more than 190 species of orchids.

Plan to spend at least two full days in Cuzco to acclimatise before beginning the 45km trek, which can take between three to five days.

Highlights along the route include Wiñay Wayna, an intricate maze of houses, temples, ceremonial baths and workshops set on hillside terracing overlooking the Urubamba River;

Sayaqmarka, with a sweeping vista of the Aobamba Valley; and Ollantaytambo – one of Peru's best-preserved Inca towns and the only place in Peru where people still live in buildings that were once the homes of Incan nobility. Wander among numerous Inca ruins, including Temple Hill and the Wall of the Six Monoliths.

Machu Picchu- Beyond the ancient town of Ollantaytambo at the end of the stunning Inca Trail – a 45km hike over three Andean passes – lie the most famous ruins in South America. Clinging to sheer cliffs, the high-altitude awe-inspiring city of Machu Picchu is believed to have been an important ceremonial centre (from around 1450 AD) or possibly a royal retreat abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion. After the fall of the Incan Empire, Machu Picchu remained ‘lost’ for more than three centuries, until it was rediscovered in 1911 by US historian Hiram Bingham. Explore a myriad of staircases, terraces, temples, palaces and towers. Hire a guide to learn more about the ceremonial baths and temples and the Intihuatana, a carved rock pillar used to predict the solstices. Visit the Inca Bridge, a stone path carved into the cliff face, and climb the summit of Huayna Picchu for stunning views overlooking the Inca citadel. Ideally plan to spend a full day exploring the 40ha site.

Nazca Lines- One of the world’s great archaeological mysteries, the Nazca Lines form a series of geometric figures, straight lines and spectacular animal and plant drawings spread across 500sqkm of dusty and stony ground. Almost imperceptible at ground level, the lines can only be viewed from above. Who constructed these lines and for what purpose? And how? Archaeologists believe they were etched in the landscape around 3000 to 5000 years ago. For an unforgettable sight join an afternoon or morning flight, lasting 30 minutes, from the town of Nazca. (Entry on foot is prohibited).

Lake Titicaca- At 3825m above sea level, Lake Titicaca is known as the world’s highest navigable lake. It covers 10,000sqkm and shares a border with Bolivia as well as Peru. Take a boat ride and glide between the unique man-made floating islands in the lake, home to the Uros Indians, who believe they are the direct descendants of Inca royalty. In November, head to Puno for the Semana de Puno, a colourful festival celebrated with ornate masks, wild costumes, music and much dancing. Otherwise look out for some of the more than 300 folkloric dances performed in the streets of Puno throughout the year.

Islas Ballestas- Discover large numbers of protected species on islands regarded as the ‘Peruvian Galápagos’. Watch huge colonies of sea lions, endangered turtles, Humboldt penguins, red boobies, pelicans and red-footed cormorants interacting with one another in this region of the Paracas National Reserve.

Colca Canyon- Peer into the world's second-deepest canyon (and at 3140m it’s twice as deep as the Grand Canyon). Watch from the Cruz del Cóndor lookout as giant Andean condors, boasting wingspans of up to 3.5m in length, fly below, around and above you. Explore the canyon and valley on foot or by horseback. Tour the nearby Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve to see vicuñas, llamas and alpacas from the roadside. Or for an extreme white-water rafting challenge, tackle the furious Class VI rapids down the canyon.

Peruvian Amazon- Cruise beyond the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers in the Upper Amazon Basin to spot grey and pink river dolphins, pygmy marmosets, leaf-cutter ants and multi-coloured orchids. Watch caimans sunbathing along the riverbanks and perhaps meet some of the more than 50 indigenous tribes that live scattered through the mostly unexplored jungle. Look out for the huge lowland tapir at the Manu Wildlife Centre and for peccary, macaw and jaguar in the Tambopata Reserve.

Tambopata National Reserve- Discover more than 600 species of bird, nearly 1200 species of butterfly and at least 13 endangered animal species. Don’t miss the famous Tambopata macaw clay lick, where thousands of brightly coloured macaws and parrots gather daily to feed.

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve- Explore by canoe or riverboat the largest protected reserve in Peru, a dense, pristine rainforest and wetlands covering more than 2 million hectares. The park is home to the Cocoma tribe and contains some of the Amazon's greatest diversity of wildlife, including macaws, black caimans, spider monkeys, giant river turtles and pink dolphins. The reserve boasts 539 species of bird, 101 species of mammal, 256 different kinds of fish and 22 species of orchid.

Huascarán National Park- Trek or climb through the soaring snow-capped peaks of the longest tropical mountain range in the world. Discover 200 alpine lakes and 600 glaciers as well as incomparable mountain vistas in this 161km-long UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, located in the Cordillera Blanca. Stroll the banks of the Llanganuco lakes or, from May to September, conquer one or more of several 6000m-high mountain peaks, including the 6768m-high Huascarán Mountain, the highest mountain in the Peruvian Andes and the tallest tropical mountain in the world. Hike or bike along the valley of Pachacoto, remembering to stop along the way to admire the famous Puya Raimondi plants – bromeliads that tower up to 15m in height, flower just once in 100 years, then immediately die afterwards.

Sechin- One of Peru’s major archaeological sites, dating from around 1600 BC and built by a people who remain shrouded in mystery. While you can’t enter the main temple, the exterior walls show carvings of warriors and captives in grisly detail, and fascinating monoliths form the outer walls of the Stone Temple.

Chavín de Huántar- Explore the well-preserved, 3000-year-old ruin built by one of Peru's most sophisticated ancient civilisations. Located around 110km from Huaraz, the fortress-temple complex, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built of stone by the Chavín culture from around 1200 to 300 BC. Venture into a subterranean tunnel to examine the Lanzon de Chavín, a magnificent 4m-high carved granite stela, set at the meeting point of four tunnels in the castillo.

Callejón de Huaylas- Explore on foot, horseback or by mountain bike a network of trails that criss-cross this picturesque valley near the Cordillera Blanca. Follow paths through lush meadows, past alpine lakes and picturesque Andean villages and through 5000m-high mountain passes.

Huacas de Moche- On the outskirts of Trujillo, discover a mysterious collection of Moche adobe pyramids that date to around 500 AD. Enter the Temple of the Moon (Huaca de la Luna) to admire polychromatic friezes of the decapitator god.

Chan Chan- Explore the sprawling former capital of the Chimú empire in the Moche Valley, near Trujillo. Built around 1300 AD, the city is the largest adobe complex of pre-Columbian America. Explore the partially restored Tschudi Palace, featuring several unusual friezes.

Kuélap Clamber- over crumbling pre-Inca stone ruins that archaeologists believe were inhabited from 800 AD to around 1570 AD. Partially hidden by thick cloud forest, the fortress complex is accessed through one of three narrow passageways. Created by the Chachapoyas people, Kuélap clings to a limestone ridge high above the Utcubamba Valley and consists of nearly 400 round buildings surrounded by a massive 19m-high defensive wall.

Manu Biosphere Reserve- This UNESCO World Heritage Park covers almost 1.8 million hectares from the high Andes through tropical cloud forest to the Amazon Basin and is renowned for the highest mammal, bird and plant diversity of any park in the world. It is home to 1000 species of birds, more than 200 species of mammals and 15,000 species of flowering plants, as well as native tribes that remain untouched by the modern world.

Explore more than 50km of walking trails to spot iridescent tanagers, toucans, hummingbirds and encounter some of the 13 species of monkeys, such as the monk saki and emperor tamarin, which live in the surrounding forest. Climb a 35m high observation platform to observe tapirs feeding, ride a canoe on lake Cocha Salvador to watch endangered giant otters or paddle downstream on the Madre de Dios River to spot brown capuchin monkeys, jaguars, macaws, caiman crocodiles, long-nosed armadillos, silky anteaters and bushy tailed opossums in the riverside jungle. From a floating catamaran blind, watch and photograph hundreds of large parrots and macaws feeding at a mineral clay lick (clay is a vital yet mysterious part of the birds’ diet). At night, from a 40m high platform, observe tapirs feeding at the Amazon’s largest known tapir clay lick.

The park is located west of Puerto Maldonado, a 25-minute flight from Cusco or a one-and-a-half day overland drive, much of which is through a cloud forest of swirling mist and cloud, home to evergreen trees, festooned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and other epiphytes.

Things to do

Andean trains- Brave the ‘Tren Macho’ (Ferrocarril Central Andino), the highest railway in the world, climbing to more than 4500m above sea level on its route from Lima to Huancayo in the Central Highlands. The train operates once a month from July to October. Or enjoy sumptuous service, gourmet food and the tunes of live Peruvian musicians aboard the Hiram Bingham train – a stylish rail journey that takes you past the colourful villages of the Sacred Valley to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

Hiking- Peru offers some of the world’s finest hiking opportunities, with trails that cater to all levels of expertise and fitness. Hike the celebrated Inca Trail to Machu Picchu through the sacred Urubamba Valley or follow several less well-known trails that share the same extraordinary scenery. Experience the alpine beauty of the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain chain in the world, on a classic four- to five-day trek along the Santa Cruz-Llanganuco route, considered one of the most beautiful in South America. Hiking is best in the dry season from May to September.

Mountain climbing- For some of Peru's best ascents, try the volcanoes around Arequipa such as the soaring El Misti or Chachani peaks. Or head to the Colca Valley to climb the Ampato Volcano, and the Cotahuasi Valley to summit the 6425m-high Coropuna peak.

Mountain biking-For some of Peru’s best mountain biking, head to the Callejón de Huaylas Valley near the Cordillera Blanca, where hundreds of mountain and valley trails wind through lush fields past alpine lakes and picture-postcard Andean villages. For hardcore mountain biking visit the dramatic Colca Valley or, for easier but equally stunning trail riding, head to the Sacred Valley.

White-water rafting- Peru offers a variety of excellent rafting opportunities from Class II to Class V rapids, with a choice of one-day trips for novices and multi-day trips for experienced rafters. Take a hard-core rafting journey on the Tambopata River in the Amazon jungle; the Class VI rapids on the Río Majes, Río Colca and Río Cotahuasi in the Colca and Cotahuasi canyons; or the Urubamba Valley near Cuzco. The best months for rafting are May through to September when water levels are low.

Horseback riding- Spend an hour or several days in the saddle trekking through some of Peru’s most scenic landscapes, including the Sacred Valley, Colca Canyon near Arequipa and the Callejón de Huaylas Valley near the Cordillera Blanca.

Eco-Peru's Amazon rainforest offers some of the most biologically diverse fauna and flora on the planet. Explore the Tambopata National Reserve, home to more than 600 species of bird and 1200 species of butterfly; the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, with more than 500 species of bird; and the legendary Manu Biosphere Reserve, which boasts more than 1000 species of bird and teems with wildlife including the endangered giant otter, caimans, jaguars and tapirs.

Surfing-Catch a wave along Peru’s 2414km-long Pacific coastline. Choose from left and right reef breaks, point breaks and monster waves. Generally the water is cold year round, so take a wet suit. For northern Peru’s biggest and best waves, head to Puerto Chicama (also called Puerto Malabrigo) and Cabo Blanco north of Trujillo; usually best from October to March. In southern Peru, where surfing is best from April to December (peaking in May), try the waves at Pico Alto, Punta Hermosa, Punta Rocas and Cerro Azul.

Best time to go

Highlands- Peru’s peak tourism season is from June to August, during the dry season in the Andean highlands. It’s also the best time to go hiking or mountain climbing.

Cuzco- Best during the dry season when it’s warm, with clear sunny skies. However it still gets cold at night. The wet season consists of infrequent but heavy rain.

The Inca Trail- The best time to trek this famous trail is during the dry season, from May to November. Even at this time, unpredictable showers are not uncommon. Daytime average temperatures vary between 10˚C and 28˚C, depending on altitude.

The coast-At its best during the sunny, hot months from December to March.

Rainforests-It rains a lot, but rarely for more than a few hours at a time, with plenty of sunshine in between. The wettest months are between December and May.

Parque Nacional Manu- The best time to visit is during the dry season from June to November when the days are clear and sunny and the nights are cold, especially at altitude. Much of Manu is inaccessible during the rainiest months of January to April. The coldest month is June, with an average temperature of 11°C, while the hottest month is October, at 25°C. It is illegal to enter the park without a guide.

Weather

Peru’s climate consists of two seasons: wet from May to September and dry from October to April. Inland temperatures average at 21˚C throughout the year but winter nights are chilly, particularly at higher elevations. On the coast you can expect hot, humid days of around 29˚C, with cool nights around 20˚C during summer from January to March. The coast is generally sunny and hardly receives any rain, but from April to November it is covered with a sea mist. The highlands have a wet season (October to April) and a dry season (May to September), when the days are clear and sunny and the nights are very cold, especially at altitude.

Shopping

Lima offers the greatest variety of shopping in Peru, from boutiques to artisan and antiques shops. Best buys include attractive Peruvian handicrafts such as Indian masks, alpaca wool sweaters and rugs (best around Cuzco, Puno, and Arequipa), llama rugs, woolen goods, crafts, gemstones, antiques and silver jewellery. Bargaining, known as regateo, is expected with beach vendors and in markets.