Peru
Cradle to the vast Incan Empire, the largest in pre-Colombian America, Peru's power and gold attracted the Spanish conquistadors, who used it to fund their vast empire in the Americas. As a result, colonial gems like magnificent Cusco were built on Incan foundations, making for a fascinating hybrid culture.
Classic Discovery of Italy
Peru is peppered with Incan sites, but none so famous as the "lost city" of Machu Picchu, whose breathtaking image seems to grace every brochure and travel book.
Peru has been blessed with natural gifts: a huge chunk of the Amazon rainforest falls within its bounds, and visitors can hike through the jungle, trek in the Andes, and surf the northern beaches all in the same week. Cap it off with Lake Titicaca, one of the highest lakes in the world, and you've only just begun to scratch the surface.
This Itinerary covers it all, from Exploring Lima to Cusco and hiking the Inca trail to the Amazon rainforest getaway. We have also included the fascinating Paracas/Nazca.
High Level Itinerary
+ Day 1, 2, 3 -- Lima
+ Day 4 -- Juliao/Puno
+ Day 5 -- Islands of Uros
+ Day 6, 7 -- Cusco
+ Day 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 -- Inca trail
+ Day 12, 13, 14 -- Puerto Maldonado (Amazon Rain forest )
+ Day 15 -- Lima / Paracas
+ Day 16, 17, 18 -- ICA & NAZCA
The best time to go (and the high tourist season) is from June to September, when the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. The rainy season starts in September in the Andes, with peak rainfall from January to March; it's advised to avoid hiking at this time.
Nuevo sol (S). ATMs are widely available in larger towns and cities. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
