Peru bite-sized trips

Create your own Peru holiday

Peru packs desert coast, Andean highlands and Amazon rainforest into one country. Explore Lima’s food markets, try sandboarding on the dunes near Huacachina and watch condors glide over the Colca Canyon. Further north, you can trek in the Cordillera Blanca or visit the cloud forest ruins of Kuélap, and a riverside lodge puts you right in the heart of the Amazon.

How bite-sized trips work
Pick the trips that catch your eye here and in our other regions, and add them to your travel plan. Once you send it over, your Peru & Bolivia Specialist will piece everything together, sorting the journeys in between and shaping it all into a holiday that suits the way you like to travel.
Or, if you prefer, our itineraries are a great place to start, and your Specialist will tailor whichever one you choose. Whichever way you begin, get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.

Private, tailor-made holidays your way
Your own dedicated Destination Specialist
Unique and small-scale stays

1
Explore the Cobbled Streets of Cusco
Explore Cusco, the Inca heartland and a city of colourful contrasts. Nestled in a highland valley where ancient ruins rub up against retail giants and carnivals crash through cobbled streets, it’s got its very own brand of flair.
2
Rainbow Mountain Ramble
As spectacular as it is secluded and challenging to reach, Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) is a barely discovered area with landscapes which seem like they could be from another planet. It’s a fairly tough 4 hour trek which requires a decent level of fitness, but you’ll pass through green wilderness dotted with alpacas, and walk against a backdrop of the snowcapped Andes. After a couple of hours you’ll reach the bizarre and beautiful Rainbow Mountain, and it’ll all seem totally worth the effort.
3
Markets & Plazas of Lima
Lima is usually the starting point for any Peruvian holiday, but it has much more to offer than just an airport. A proud Latino city, often cloaked in mist from the Pacific Ocean and with a famed food scene, Lima fizzes with energy. Staying in a locally run hotel in a pleasant part of town, you’ll be shown around Miraflores food market and the charming colonial centre by your Limeño guide, before setting off to explore the city independently.
4
Culture and Cookery in Arequipa
Arequipa is an understated highlight of Peru – an attractive city with a distinct personality and a striking volcanic backdrop. Wander along cobbled streets to the local market and enter an explosion of colour, sounds and smells. Step inside a local home and learn the secrets of how to cook perfect quinoa, chicha or caldo verde.
5
Condors in the Colca Canyon
Around twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon slices through the Andes and affords some of the most spectacular views on the continent. Home to communities which have barely changed over the years, as well as one of the world’s largest flying birds – the Andean condor – there’s more to this place than just photo opportunities.
6
Into the Amazon – Jungle Lodge
Spend a few nights sleeping in a comfortable lodge in the heart of the mighty Amazon rainforest, feeling a million miles away from civilisation. Travelling to your riverside base by boat, you’ll head out with expert local guides to explore the jungle and the incredible Amazonian wildlife. Your lodge is owned by the Native Community of Infierno, so you’ll also meet the people who call this amazing place home. All meals and activities are included during your stay.
7
Coastal Road to Nazca
Take your time travelling along Peru’s weird and wonderful coast, a surreal mix of enigmatic etchings, giant sand dunes, sea lion colonies and desert lagoons. Surf down the golden dunes and drift around the Islas Ballestas, spotting wild dolphins and penguins as you sail. It’s a bizarre and beautiful adventure. Whisking you from Lima to Arequipa over five days, you’ll stop at the oasis town of Huacachina and have the chance to see the mysterious Nazca Lines.
8
Sea Lions and Sand Dunes
Sleep on the edge of a surreal desert lagoon, hurtle down giant sand dunes and sail around islands crammed with sea lions. Welcome to the curious, otherworldly coastline of Peru. Machu Picchu, the Andes and the Amazon might take all the glory, but this area of Peru takes the biscuit when it comes to bizarre. Travelling by private car and sleeper bus over 3 days, you can soak up the strange scenery at your own pace.
9
Titicaca Island Hopping
Stay amongst the local community on an island marooned in Lake Titicaca, sleeping in a traditional clay hut and learning about life on the world’s highest lake. It’s a unique chance to get to know the traditional Quechua Indians of Titicaca and watch drifting clouds reflect off the bright blue lake, as you explore the ancient lake’s famous floating islands.
10
Lost Cities and Waterfalls – Kuélap and Gocta
Often referred to as the Machu Picchu of the north, the ruins of Kuélap sit dramatically on a mountain ridge and are a worthy rival to Peru’s most famous site, with fewer tourists too. Once home to the Warriors of the Cloud Forest, Kuélap predates the Inca Empire and provides a jaw-dropping glimpse into the past. Staying in the peaceful town of Chachapoyas, you’ll also visit one of the world’s highest waterfalls – the remote and spectacular Gocta Falls.
11
Huaraz – Cordillera Blanca Trek
Trek through the world’s highest tropical mountain range, a land of endless snowy peaks and wisps of cloud reflected in blue lagoons – it’s hiking heaven. Visit traditional towns tucked away in the Andes and swing in a hammock with valley views.
12
Enchanting Blue Humantay
The bright blue glacial lake Humantay is one of the highlights during the multi-day Salcantay trek. If you don’t have time for the multi-day trek, but would like to see the enormous mountains and glaciers reflected in this impressive lake why not choose a day trip . The tough climb at over 4000 meters altitude is rewarded with a beautiful view.
13
Typically Titicaca
Stay in the youthful town of Puno, from where you’ll set off on a day-trip to the islands and communities of Lake Titicaca. Meet the locals who call this place home, and sit back as you glide across the still waters by speedboat. Titicaca was a sacred place for the Incas, believed to be the birthplace of the sun, and the lake remains one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots on the continent.
14
Waves and Rays in Máncora
Peru may not be famous for its beaches, but the popular little town of Máncora is where it’s at if you fancy feeling the sand between your toes during your Peruvian adventure. Only a couple of hours from the border with Ecuador, and with year-round temperatures in the mid-20s, this former fishing village may not be the Maldives, but provides a well-earned opportunity to kick back and relax next to the Pacific at the end of your holiday.
15
A Break in Bogota
On your way to Peru or Chile, why not make a quick stopover in Bogota, the capital city of Colombia? Amble along cobbled streets, past colonial buildings and impressive street art then swing by a road-side cafe for a cup of tinto – a small cup of strong Colombian coffee. With a local artist you’ll discover a different side to this incredible city as you wander through the labyrinthine streets of La Candelaria, the city’s historic heart.