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Mealy parrots at a clay lick in Tambopata

Peru travel guides

Peru brings to mind images of the staggered walls of Machu Picchu, nestled against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, blue lakes, and green, terraced fields that spill down into the Amazon rainforest. The country is home to a wealth of rewarding opportunities, from scaling the Andean peaks or cruising the Amazon, to observing the customs of its indigenous people.

Whether you’re planning a journey of a lifetime to Machu Picchu or incorporating Peru into a larger trip, our travel guides can provide you with the inspiration you need to start planning your tailor-made vacation.

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who's been there
Audley Travel specialist Ryan

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Peru specialists

Ideas for how to explore Peru

Our travel guides share our specialists' passion and knowledge for Peru. We travel here regularly to discover new experiences, explore untried areas and dig deeper into the better-known places and attractions. At the same time, we gather advice and up-to-date information on the best-quality guides, new hotels and restaurants, and the most memorable forms of transportation.

  • Where to go in the Amazon: planning your journey into the rainforest
    Caiman, Peruvian Amazon

    Where to go in the Amazon: planning your journey into the rainforest

    Where to go in the Amazon: planning your journey into the rainforest

    Audley specialist Rebecca shares why she loves the Amazon, but explains that planning a trip there comes with a few caveats. She suggests you ask yourself: what is it I really want to see and do in the rainforest?

    4 min read

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  • South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero
    Belmond Andean Explorer Sleeper Train

    South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero

    South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero

    Travel on South America’s foremost luxury sleeper train service, Peru’s Belmond Andean Explorer, or voyage down Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes on comfortable day trains. Audley specialist Holly describes why you might want to experience the continent from a railway carriage.

    6 min read

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  • Visit Machu Picchu: A first timer's guide
    Machu Picchu

    Visit Machu Picchu: A first timer's guide

    Visit Machu Picchu: A first timer's guide

    Perched high on a mountain ridge and hidden from the world for hundreds of years, the ruins of Machu Picchu are the jewel in Peru's crown. One of our Peru specialists gives a personal account of how to get the most from your visit.

    8 min read

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  • Trekking to and around Machu Picchu
    Machu Picchu, Peru

    Trekking to and around Machu Picchu

    Trekking to and around Machu Picchu

    Trekking to and around Machu Picchu offers walks to suit all abilities, from day hikes to multi-day treks. Peru specialist, Anna, picks some of her top choices, including the Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek and short walks from Machu Picchu.

    9 min read

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  • Festivals in Central & South America
    Virgen del Carmen festival, Cuzco

    Festivals in Central & South America

    Festivals in Central & South America

    Latin America boasts many festivals, from the solemn processions of Holy Week to the raucous party of Carnival to the recreated glory of an Inca sun ritual. Let our specialists suggest where to go to discover these vibrant cultural events.

    6 min read

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  • Peru’s Inca wonders beyond Machu Picchu
    Archaeological ruins at Moray

    Peru’s Inca wonders beyond Machu Picchu

    Peru’s Inca wonders beyond Machu Picchu

    Former Cuzco resident Fiona shares her choice of her adopted country’s lesser-known Inca ruins, which share Machu Picchu’s geography but not its fame. She explains how to delve even deeper into the best archaeological sites of the Peruvian Incas.

    8 min read

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  • Discovering Peru's forgotten North
    Revash ruins

    Discovering Peru's forgotten North

    Discovering Peru's forgotten North

    Here you’ll find that the Incas are a footnote, their thunder stolen by the relics of earlier civilizations. Northern Peru travel involves getting well and truly off the beaten track in sierra, cloudforest and coastal desert, explains Peru specialist Chloe.

    13 min read

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  • What to do in Peru: our highlights guide
    Plaza de Armas, Cuzco, Peru

    What to do in Peru: our highlights guide

    What to do in Peru: our highlights guide

    Peru specialist Harry shares his top places to experience in Peru. He explains what to see and do in the Sacred Valley, how to best experience Amazonian wildlife, and recommends a lesser-known region of Peru to explore.

    10 min read

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  • Machu Picchu plus one: tried-and-tested South American combinations
    Machu Picchu, Peru

    Machu Picchu plus one: tried-and-tested South American combinations

    Machu Picchu plus one: tried-and-tested South American combinations

    Did you know that thanks to ever-improving flight connections, you can easily combine Machu Picchu with other South American destinations such as the Galapagos and Argentina — without the need to extend your trip drastically? Our specialists explain how.

    8 min read

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  • Standout food experiences you can try in Peru (chosen by a food lover)
    Fruits at market on Lima culinary tour

    Standout food experiences you can try in Peru (chosen by a food lover)

    Standout food experiences you can try in Peru (chosen by a food lover)

    Peru’s food scene is courting attention for good reason, says specialist Josh. He outlines some of the food-related experiences you can include in your own trip, and shares his tips for eating well in this part of South America.

    8 min read

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  • The Inca civilization
    Machu Picchu, Peru

    The Inca civilization

    The Inca civilization

    Discover the culture and history of a country on a tailor-made trip, with visits to explore famous sites and others not quite so well known but equally impressive.

    2 min read

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  • Extending your stay in Arequipa: Peru’s White City
    Colonial buildings, Arequipa, Peru

    Extending your stay in Arequipa: Peru’s White City

    Extending your stay in Arequipa: Peru’s White City

    Guarded by three volcanoes and renowned for its white-brick Spanish-colonial buildings, pink sunsets and food scene, Arequipa is more than just a base in which to acclimatize at the start of your Peru trip, as Fathom, our Latin America specialist, explains.

    7 min read

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  • Trekking vacations in Peru: the best hikes (that aren’t the Inca Trail)
    Typical scenery on Mountain Lodges of Peru Salkantay route

    Trekking vacations in Peru: the best hikes (that aren’t the Inca Trail)

    Trekking vacations in Peru: the best hikes (that aren’t the Inca Trail)

    Who says Peru trekking vacations should revolve around the Inca Trail? Our specialists share their pick of the alternatives on offer, from gentler options to remote backcountry routes — all of which you can easily incorporate into a Peru trekking tour.

    10 min read

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