Peru is the heart of South America — a land where the Inca Empire's stone citadels cling to Andean peaks, the Amazon rainforest teems with extraordinary biodiversity, and one of the world's great cuisines has emerged from a crossroads of cultures. From the mysterious Nazca Lines etched into desert plains to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru offers experiences that exist nowhere else on Earth.
INCA TRAILS · SACRED VALLEYS · CLOUD FORESTS
Peru
Inca Trails, Amazon Wilderness & Andean Peaks
South America
1 holiday available
ICONIC ASCENT
The iconic ascent
Machu Picchu sits at 2,430m above the Urubamba river, hidden from the Spanish for 400 years and rediscovered by the outside world in 1911. The 15th-century citadel is the climax of any Peru trip — but how you arrive matters as much as the citadel itself. The classic four-day Inca Trail climbs through subtropical forest, alpine tundra and a succession of Inca ruins before delivering you through the Sun Gate at dawn. Permits cap at 500 a day (including porters) and sell out six months ahead in peak season.
For travellers who miss the Inca Trail window — or want a quieter, higher route — the Salkantay Trek circles a 6,271m glacier-clad peak with equally spectacular scenery and a fraction of the foot traffic. The Lares Trek trades archaeology for ethnography, passing through Quechua-speaking villages where traditional weaving and high-altitude farming continue unchanged. Both are 4 to 5 days and finish at Aguas Calientes for the final bus up to the citadel.
Not everyone wants a multi-day trek. The Vistadome train from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes is a beautiful half-day journey in its own right and opens Machu Picchu to families, slower travellers, and tighter itineraries. Whichever route, plan two nights in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first — Machu Picchu sits below 2,500m, but you'll have arrived through 3,400m Cusco, and altitude acclimatisation is non-negotiable.
ANDEAN HEARTLAND
Where two civilisations meet
Cusco was the Inca Empire's capital, then the Spanish viceroyalty's mountain seat — and the city wears both layers openly. Colonial churches and mansions on the Plaza de Armas sit directly on top of precision-cut Inca walls that no mortar can pry apart. The bohemian quarter of San Blas climbs the slope in cobbled lanes of artisan workshops, churches and balconies. Cusco is small enough to walk in a day and layered enough to take three.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas runs sixty kilometres between Cusco and the Machu Picchu railhead, a lower-altitude corridor (2,800m vs Cusco's 3,400m) that makes it a smarter base for acclimatisation. Three sites anchor any visit: the circular agricultural terraces of Moray, an Inca microclimate laboratory; the Maras salt pans in use since the 15th century; and the fortress-temple of Ollantaytambo — the last place the Incas successfully repelled the Spanish conquistadors and still a living Inca town.
For most UK travellers, the sequence that works best is Cusco for a night or two, then move down into the Sacred Valley for two or three nights — better sleep at lower altitude, a slower rhythm, and a logical staging post for the final push to Machu Picchu. Boutique hacienda hotels at Urubamba, Yucay and Ollantaytambo turn this leg from logistics into one of the trip's highlights.
WILD INTERIOR
Peru's wild interior
Peru's portion of the Amazon Basin is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The Tambopata National Reserve and Manu Biosphere Reserve offer world-class wildlife watching — macaw clay licks, giant otters, jaguars, and more than 1,000 bird species. Lodges deep in the jungle provide comfortable bases for guided expeditions into primary rainforest.
Beyond the Amazon, Peru's landscapes are extraordinarily varied. The Colca Canyon (twice the depth of the Grand Canyon) is home to soaring Andean condors. Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, is dotted with the remarkable floating islands of the Uros people. The coastal desert around Nazca preserves enormous geoglyphs that remain one of archaeology's great mysteries.
TAILOR-MADE TWIN-CENTRE
Pair Peru with the Galápagos
For travellers who came for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, the natural next step is a five-night Galápagos crossover. Quito's colonial centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site at 2,850m — slots in as a one-night transit before the islands, and Santa Cruz's volcanic interior, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies make the second half feel like a different holiday entirely. Ten days, two countries, two completely different wonders of the world.
Travelfab's Galápagos & Machu Picchu — Andes Twin-Centre Holiday is a fully tailor-made 10-day itinerary covering Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Quito and Santa Cruz Island. From £3,999pp including international flights, internal Peru and Ecuador flights, all transfers, central hotels and guided tours. ATOL protected and tailored to your dates.
Ready when you are.
We'll tailor the itinerary to your dates, pace and budget — no fixed departures, no group tour compromises.
Practical Information
UK citizens do not need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days (extendable to 183 days). Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. No compulsory vaccinations are required, but yellow fever vaccination is recommended if visiting the Amazon region.
WHAT TO SEE
Peru highlights
Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
Explore Cusco, the former Inca capital with its blend of indigenous and colonial architecture
Spot jaguars, macaws, and giant otters in the Amazon rainforest
Visit the Sacred Valley — Moray terraces, Maras salt pans, and Ollantaytambo fortress
Watch Andean condors soar over the Colca Canyon
Experience the floating islands of Lake Titicaca
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Peru with us
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Peru was the trip of a lifetime. We did the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu of course, but the real surprise was Cusco itself — the blend of Inca walls and colonial architecture, the bustling San Pedro market, and the food scene is world-class. The ceviche at Chicha was outstanding. Travelfab arranged altitude acclimatisation days which made all the difference. We never felt rushed.
Margaret & Tony H.
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Walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was the most rewarding experience of our lives. The sunrise through the Sun Gate brought tears to our eyes. Travelfab handled all the permits and logistics perfectly.
Emma & Paul D.
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Peru offers so much beyond Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, and the Rainbow Mountain were all extraordinary. Our private guide made everything special.
Richard & Jane L.
Travel Guides & Tips
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: A UK Traveller's Guide
How to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: permits, the 4-day route, difficulty, best time to go, and alternatives if it's sold out.
Best Time to Visit Peru: Machu Picchu, the Andes & When to Go
A Peru specialist's month-by-month guide — the dry season, and the surprising best time for Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, the Amazon and the Lima coast.
Peru Travel Guide 2026: Machu Picchu, the Andes & Amazon
Peru Travel Guide 2026: Machu Picchu, the Andes & Amazon. Travel advice from Travelfab, your ATOL protected Latin America specialist.
Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
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