South America - Peru

The Inca heartland
Most travellers come to Peru for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.

A journey through Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu allows time to acclimatise and to explore the region’s Inca sites properly, whether by train or, for the more active, along the Inca Trail or alternative treks. It suits those focused on history and landscape.

Combining regions
Others create a broader journey.

A route might add the Amazon for rainforest and wildlife, Lake Titicaca for highland culture, or extra time in Lima for food. These combinations reveal the full variety of the country, provided the altitude changes and internal flights are planned carefully.

The key is a route that feels natural and manages altitude sensibly.

Peru’s dry season, from around May to September, is generally the best time to visit the Andes and Machu Picchu, with clearer skies and more reliable conditions for hiking and sightseeing.

The wet season, from around November to March, brings greener landscapes but more rain, and the Inca Trail typically closes in February. The Amazon and coast follow their own patterns, and Lima is often cloudy during the southern winter.

The best time to travel depends on which regions you include and whether trekking is part of the plan.

Peru is best experienced at a considered pace.

Altitude is the key consideration: Cusco and the highlands sit high enough that time to acclimatise makes a real difference to how much you enjoy the trip. Rushing between regions and altitudes can be tiring.

A well-planned route, allowing time to adjust and to explore each region properly, will create a far richer experience than trying to see everything at speed. The aim is depth without exhaustion.