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Hotels & Destinations
Amazonas
The department of Amazonas is famous for its cloud forests, areas with stunning microclimates and whose intense humidity favors the exuberant growth of plants like orchids and bromeliads and animals like the spectacled bear and the Andean cock of the rock. The capital, Chachapoyas, full of narrow streets and containing a large Main Square, maintains beautiful mansions and lovely balconies as evidence of its Colonial past. This is the launching site for excursions to the fabulous citadel of Kuélap, built by the Chachapoyas, a fierce people that for years resisted the expansion of the Incas.
Apurimac - Abancay
The terrain in Apurimac is steep, formed by narrow, deep valleys with impressive abysses, cold plateaus, and high-mountain peaks. The Apurimac River Canyon that separates the Department of Cusco from the Department of Apurimac is the most extraordinary sight. Abancay, capital of Apurimac, is a beautiful Colonial city protected by the mighty snow covered Mount Ampay (5,235 masl), located in the sanctuary of the same name. The sanctuary contains, besides other snow capped mountains, mountain forests, beautiful lakes, and species of flora and fauna like the intimpa pine tree, the Andean fox, and the Andean deer.
Arequipa
The department of Arequipa begins in the coastal desert and then climbs the Andes, reaching great altitude at the snow covered peaks and at its volcanoes. Arequipa, known as the White City for its beautiful white walls of sillar, a volcanic stone, lies at the feet of the mighty volcanos of Mount Chachani, Mount Misti, and the snow covered peak of Mount Pichu Pichu. The downtown of the city, placed on the World Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, plazas and the irresistible Arequipa cuisine is the perfect complement to the visit.
AYACUCHO
The Ayacucho department is crossed by two mountain ranges that divide it into three geographic parts: the altiplanic region towards the south, extreme highlands in the center, and tropical jungles in the northeast. The topography varies greatly as well as the climate.It is known as “The city of churches” since people say that there is a church on practically every corner in Ayacucho. The inhabitants are descendents of the powerful Waris who lived in a large part of this territory between the sixth and twelfth centuries and left the Wari citadel, an urban and commercial center, to posterity.
Cajamarca
The department of Cajamarca is characterized by slight slopes and highlands relatively low in comparison to the rest of the Peruvian Andes. The territory is made up of numerous valleys and gorges. The city of Cajamarca brings together three ingredients that make it an unforgettable destination: a magnificent Colonial architecture, beautiful countryside, and a rich history since it was the scene of an important episode of South American history. Here, the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the Inca Atahualpa who, in spite of fulfilling his part of the ransom, was killed.
Chiclayo
The department of Lambayeque is located on the coastal plain and combines arid zones, rich valleys, and dry forests. The city of Chiclayo, bordered by fertile valleys and very close to the ocean, is the capital of the department and the commercial nexus among the three Peruvian regions: coast, highland, and jungle. This territory was the cradle of the Mochicas, who lived there between the first and fourth centuries A.D., which makes Lambayeque one of the most interesting archeological destinations in the country.
Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru. It is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Arequipa. It is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. The name Colca refers to small holes in the cliffs in the valley and canyon. These holes were used in Inca and pre-Inca times to store food, such as potatoes and other Andean crops. They were also used as tombs for important people.
Cusco
The terrain in Cusco is steep, combining fertile inter-Andean valleys with impressive mountains that descend to the rim of the jungle where the temperature rises and the landscape is transformed through a variety of vegetation. The city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, was placed on the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983. This magical city also has an exciting nightlife with cafes, restaurants, and bars for all tastes. There are also the towns of Písac, Maras, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo, which are spread throughout the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Huancavelica
The department of Huancavelica features one of the roughest terrains in the country, formed by valleys, deep gorges, towering mountains, sinuous roads, and mesas. The city of Huancavelica is bordered by fertile fields and green pastures where cattle graze. These highlands were inhabited by the Waris and later by the warring Chancas. The area was finally incorporated into the Inca Empire and became a military center. Following that period, the Spanish discovered silver and mercury mines, a reason for establishing themselves there.
Huanuco
The Department of Huanuco features two very distinct geographies: highland and upper jungle. The Andean zone is marked by the presence of the Huayhuash Cordillera, and the upper jungle spreads out throughout the western side of the Andes. The city of Huanuco was founded in 1539, lies on the banks of the Huallaga River and the area are known for its fruit, coffee, and cacao production. The oldest evidence of human habitation in Peru was found in this territory: the Lauricocha man and the Temple of the Crossed Hands located in the outskirts of the city in Kotosh. In Huanuco Pampa, there are also interesting constructions from the time of the Incas.
Huaraz - White Cordillera
The department of Ancash starts on a slightly hilly coastal strip and climbs up to the highest snow-capped mountains in Peru. Spread out along the Callejon de Huaylas, a dazzling valley stuck between two mountain ranges, the Blanca and Negra Cordilleras. It was between the years 1200 b.C. and 200 b.C. that the Chavín lived in the region, the same that left as their legacy the impressive archaeological complex of Chavin de Huantar, which, in 1985, UNESCO placed on the World Cultural Heritage List.
Huascaran National Park
Huascaran National Park was created in 1975 with the purpose of preserving the wild animal and plant life, geological formations, archaeological sites, and beautiful scenery. UNESCO placed it on the Natural World Heritage List in 1985. Inside the 340.000 hectares, which include almost the entire White Cordillera, you can observe the great variety of high Andean plant life like the Puyas Raimondi in the areas of Quesque and Pumapampa (this flower is considered the biggest in the plant realm, and once it has blossomed, the plant dies), and the queñual trees in the Llanganuco Lakes.
ICA
Ica, an esoteric land, one of profound religious faith, sand dunes, valleys, and sun, is an agricultural zone where you see interspersed among the extensive desert area fields of cotton, butter beans, asparagus, citrus tree orchards, as well as vineyards. Some of the most important civilizations of ancient Peru established themselves here like the Paracas and the Nasca who left a legacy that has endured the passage of time and the violence of the sand and wind.
Inca Trail
CAMINO INCA
This is the name given to part of the vast network of trails built by the Incas that united the main administrative and religious centers of their empire, what they called the Tahuantinsuyo. One of these trails connects the city of Cusco with Machu Picchu. The most popular section is a beautiful landscape, due to several different ecological tiers, and passes by archaeological sites built by the Incas; it has earned the reputation of being one of the world’s best trekking destinations.
Kuelap Chachapoyas Citadel
The monumental Citadel of Kuelap is situated at 3000 m above sea level. Kuelap consists of massive exterior stone walls containing more than four hundred buildings. The structure, situated on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, the citadel has about 600 meters in length and 110 meters in width judging from its sheer size, its walls rise up to 19 meters in height. There are multiple levels or platforms within the complex. Because of its extension, these flat elevations support more than 400 constructions, among Temples, warehouses, resident houses which most of them are cylindrical.
Lake Titicaca
Titicaca National Reserve was created in 1978 in order to preserve the natural resources characteristic of Lake Titicaca and the highland ecosystem. It covers an area of 36.180 hectares. In the reserve, dozens of birds, fish, and amphibious species have been registered like flamingos or parihuanas, Andean geese, seagulls, Titicaca grebes, chullumpis, and Andean lapwings as well as numerous endangered species. You will find twelve varieties of aquatic plants representative of the lake flora, the most remarkable being the totora reeds and algae.
Lima
Lima was founded in 1535 and in a short period of time became the most important city in the Americas. Today, there are more than eight million inhabitants, and the city shelters immigrants from all corners of the globe. In the historic centre placed by UNESCO on the World Cultural Heritage List, which has transformed it into a mixed city par excellence.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary is an impressive Inca citadel placed on the side of a mountain. Its Quechua name means “Old Mountain”, but it is also known as “the Lost City of the Incas” since it remained hidden from the West until discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It was built in the fifteenth century, and is attributed to the Inca Pachacutec. The archaeological complex is divided into two zones that are contained within approximately twenty hectares. On the sides of the mountain, you can see up to four meters high (13 feet) agricultural terraces.
Madre De Dios - Puerto Maldonado
Exuberant is the word that describes Madre de Dios with its infinite forests, sinuous rivers that rush towards the ocean, and life abounding in all its corners. Puerto Maldonado, the capital city, is an obligatory stop along the way to gain entrance to the national parks and reserves located in the area, and it has been, at certain moments, an important exporting site for rubber, wood, gold, and petroleum. At present, two of the main economic activities there are eco-tourism and chestnut harvesting.
Manu National Park and Amarakaery Comunal Reserve
Manu is the most luxuriant expression of life on the planet and the most pristine corner of the Amazon. It offers the visitor a brief insight into a world far removed from their own, a chance to discover life at its extreme and creatures of all descriptions. A trip into the Amazon and in particular the Manu Reserve will leave you with a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world and its mysterious powers.
Moquegua
The department of Moquegua possesses a varied terrain with gorges and valleys, desert and rocky zones, and rich soil perfect for agriculture, especially cultivating wine grapes.
Moquegua is characterized by its traditional houses with slanted roofs, its sunny climate the whole year long, and the production of excellent piscos, fruit, and desserts. The Main Square is decorated with a fountain designed by Gustave Eiffel, and in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, the inhabitants venerate the bodily remains of Santa Fortunata, a martyr from the first centuries of Christianity.
Nazca Lines
Just two hours from Ica, 50 square km of desert floor were covered centuries ago by vast drawings, figures of mammals, insects and deities. The Nazca Lines, discovered in 1927, are the most extraordinary legacy left by a culture that flourished in 300 BC. The lines are a series of complex designs, some up to 300 meters long which can only be seen in their true dimension from the sky, from an altitude of at least 1,500 feet. The Nazca culture is not believed to have been capable of manned flight. But the question remains as to how they crafted the drawings, what technology they used and what purpose the lines served.
PARACAS
The desert and the sea come together in spectacular fashion in Paracas, in the department of Ica, just a few hours south from the city of Lima. The cliffs that fringe the beaches are teeming with life: millions of birds that live here year-round, and thousands of others that fly from the Northern Hemisphere and from further south, ranging from guano birds to Humboldt penguins.
Piura
The department of Piura contains many types of terrain. The coast features the largest desert in Peru, Sechura, which also includes the lowest place in Peru, the Bayovar depression at 37 mbsl / 121 fbsl towards the east, in the Andes, the terrain becomes rougher. The Porculla Trail is located there, (2138 masl / 7014 fasl); it is the lowest Andean trail in Peru.
Puno
Puno was the territory of the Tiahuanacos who were the highest cultural expression of the Aymara people that established themselves in Peru and Bolivia. The Incas took over these lands in the fifteenth century, and the Spanish, attracted by the mining industry developed there, left an important Colonial legacy throughout the entire area.
Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Sacred Valley of the Incas or Valle Sagrado de los Incas in Spanish is located in the Andes Mountains of Southeastern Peru. It is a colorful place with high mountains and scattered Inca ruins, for those who have the physical strength; it's a dreamlike experience to hike or bike here. The Incas have set their most important cities and forts in this part of Peru, due to the geographic and climatic advantages. Many cities built here have strategic locations, are placed on high hills, mountains, where they are easily defendable.
Tacna
Tacna, possessor of a moderate climate, nice people, and with a strong economic flow, is located around 52 kilometres from the Chilean border. When the Spaniards arrived in the sixteenth century, the wine grape production spread to this area and that is the reason why you can visit the wineries of today’s that produce excellent wines and piscos. Today, along the streets of Tacna there are still some houses that maintain the traditional slanted roofs and in its parks and avenues, monuments, busts, and other reminders of Peruvian heroes who fought in the War for Independence (1821 – 1824) and the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1883) abound.
Trujillo
The department of La Libertad features a varied relief, starting from the coast line, passing though the highlands (Andes) of Otuzco, Julcan, and Santiago de Chuco, and ending in the upper jungle (The Amazon Rain Forest) at the border of the Department of San Martin. The coast enjoys beaches and fertile valleys that are very important to the national agricultural production.
Tumbes
Beautiful beaches, wide open plains, rolling hills, and towering mountains make up the diverse terrain of the department of Tumbes where several eco-systems are located such as estuaries and mangroves, the dry equatorial forest (Cerros de Amotape National Park) and the Pacific tropical forest (Reserved Zone of Tumbes). More than 30% of the territory has been declared natural protected areas.