Travelisto destinations
Peru holidays
Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca and Amazon lodges — Peru is the gateway to South America for most UK travellers.
Overview
Welcome to Peru
Peru offers more than just Machu Picchu — though the Sacred Valley remains one of the world's great traveller experiences. From the colonial streets of Lima and the high-altitude mystique of Cusco to the Amazon's wildlife and the world-class cuisine that has put Lima's restaurants on global "best of" lists, Peru is South America's most rewarding country for travellers who want depth, variety and a sense of having truly travelled.
The classic two-week Peru trip — Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca — covers the headline experiences without rushing. Most UK travellers who add the Amazon (Manú or Puerto Maldonado lodges) or the Arequipa and Colca Canyon extension turn 10 days into 16 and rarely regret it. We have designed itineraries for solo travellers, honeymooners, families and multi-generational groups; the country rewards every style of trip.
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For active travellers, the four-day Inca Trail is one of the great walks of the world — limited daily permits mean we book six-plus months ahead. The Salkantay alternative trek or the day-train from Ollantaytambo into Aguas Calientes suits travellers who can't (or won't) do the camping route, and still finishes at Machu Picchu's Sun Gate. For those who want a softer experience, the Vistadome and Hiram Bingham luxury train services are themselves part of the highlight.
Peru travels well at altitude — Cusco sits at 3,400m, Puno on Lake Titicaca at 3,800m — but the way the trip is sequenced matters. We always start at Lima (sea level), then move travellers through the Sacred Valley (2,800m) before sleeping in Cusco. Coca tea, gradual ascent and a first-day pace that is deliberately slow makes the difference between a great holiday and a difficult one. Our designers brief every traveller on altitude, before booking.
Peru pairs naturally with neighbouring countries. Lake Titicaca crosses the Peru–Bolivia border, so adding La Paz and the Bolivian altiplano is a natural three-day extension. Ecuador and the Galápagos pair via a short Lima–Quito flight. And for many travellers, the highlight extension is a Galápagos cruise from Lima — three to seven nights on a small expedition ship with naturalist guides, returning with stories that no land-based trip can match.
May to October is Peru's dry season — the peak for trekking and the Sacred Valley. November to April is the rainier season; the Inca Trail closes in February. Each season suits a different kind of trip, and we will help match your dates to the right itinerary.
Best time
May–Oct (dry season)
Flight from UK
~13h via Madrid / Amsterdam
Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Language
Spanish, Quechua
From the team
Why we love Peru
Peru was the trip that made me rethink what "South America" means for our travellers. The classic Lima–Cusco–Machu Picchu loop is great, but when you slow it down — three nights in the Sacred Valley before you sleep in Cusco, an Amazon lodge to bookend the highlands, an Andean cooking lesson with a Quechua family in Ollantaytambo — you get a Peru that's quieter, deeper, and a long way from the Instagram version.
My quiet recommendation: build the trip backwards. Pick your one "moment" — sunrise at Machu Picchu, condors at Colca, or pink river dolphins on the Amazon — and let the rest of the itinerary serve it. That's how you come home with one story, not a list.
Amanda Amanda, Travel Designer · Music & Culture Meet our Travel DesignersMain areas
Where to go in Peru
5 distinct regions — they pair beautifully two or three at a time.
Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Cusco
Pisac
Ollantaytambo
Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Lima
Miraflores
Barranco
Centro Histórico
Lake Titicaca & Puno
Puno
Uros floating islands
Amantani
Taquile
The Peruvian Amazon
Puerto Maldonado
Manú
Iquitos
Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Arequipa
Chivay
Cabanaconde
Find your trip
Holiday types in Peru
Pick a holiday style — or combine two. Each section links straight to the next step.
Beach holidays
Beach destinations grouped by resort area — pick the cluster that matches your pace.
City breaks
Peru's cities reward 2-4 nights each — pair two for a tailor-made multi-centre trip.
Cusco
Cruises
Peru pairs naturally with a Galápagos expedition cruise or an Amazon river cruise — both are short add-ons (3-7 nights) that don't need their own week. Small expedition ships with naturalist guides depart from Lima (for Galápagos) and Iquitos / Puerto Maldonado (for the Amazon), with departures year-round.
Escorted tours
56 escorted tours through Peru — guided, customisable, fully ATOL-protected.
Peru & Galápagos: Andes, Amazon & Islands (30 days)
Peru & Bolivia: Andes, Amazon & Salt Flats (25 days)
Sacred Peru: Lima to Machu Picchu (14 days)
Every Travelisto tour runs with a small group (max 16), an English-speaking local leader, and is fully ATOL-protected. Most tours are also bookable as private departures — same itinerary, your party only, your dates.
Tailor-made
Everything you see above is a starting point — we'll shape any of these around how you actually want to travel.
Bespoke Peru itinerary
Pick your headlines — Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon, Arequipa — and we design the route, book the trains and Inca Trail permits, and brief private guides.
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Multi-generational Andes adventure
Sacred Valley + Cusco at a pace that suits three generations — connecting hotel suites, slower-paced excursions, kid-friendly highlights.
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Peru + Galápagos cruise
Pair Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley with a 4 to 7-night Galápagos expedition cruise — Lima · Quito · cruise · home, all booked end-to-end.
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Honeymoon or special celebration
A private rail carriage to Machu Picchu, a vineyard lunch in Lurín, a moonlit dinner in the Sacred Valley. Quietly arranged.
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Knowing before you go
When to go
Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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Peru's dry season runs May to October — the peak for trekking, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca. June, July and August are the busiest (and driest) months, with cold but cloudless nights at altitude. November to April is the wet season — green, lush, cheaper, but the Inca Trail closes in February for maintenance. Most travellers find late April-May or September-October the sweet spot.
Flights & how to get there
Most UK travellers fly via Madrid, Amsterdam or Paris to Lima — total journey ~14 hours including a stopover. Direct flights from the UK do not currently run. From Lima, internal flights with LATAM or Sky Airline reach Cusco (~1h 15m), Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos. The high-altitude train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is one of the world's great rail journeys — book first-class Vistadome or the Hiram Bingham luxury service.
Visa & passport
UK passport holders get 90 days visa-free on arrival. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond entry date. For the latest official UK government advice — entry rules, safety, local laws — check GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Peru. Sign up for free travel alerts at Travel Aware before you go.
Currency & money
The Peruvian Sol (PEN); US dollars also widely accepted at hotels and larger restaurants. ATMs are common in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. Tipping is appreciated — round up the bill, 10% on a full restaurant meal. Carry small denominations for rural markets and tips.
Language & tipping
Spanish is the dominant language; Quechua and Aymara are spoken across the highlands and around Lake Titicaca. English is widely understood at hotels and tour operators in the main tourist circuits, less so in rural areas. Our guides are bilingual at minimum.
Health & safety
No mandatory vaccinations for UK travellers, but yellow-fever is recommended for Amazon trips. Altitude in Cusco (3,400m) and Puno (3,800m) requires acclimatisation — sequence Lima first, then Sacred Valley (2,800m) before Cusco. Coca tea, slow first-day pace and hydration help; ask your GP about prescription altitude medication if you have a heart condition.
Tap water is not safe to drink — bottled or filtered only. Buy comprehensive travel insurance before you travel, and check current FCDO health advice at GOV.UK.
FAQs
Peru — your questions
When is the best time to visit Peru?
May–October is the dry season — best for Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and the highlands. November–April is the wet season; the trail closes in February.
How do I deal with altitude in Cusco?
Cusco is 3,400m. Arrive via Lima (sea level) then Cusco; spend the first night low at Pisac or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Drink coca tea, hydrate, walk slowly the first day.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
UK passport holders get 90-day visa-free entry.
Can I combine Peru with Bolivia or Ecuador?
Yes — Lake Titicaca crosses the Peru–Bolivia border (Puno to La Paz). Ecuador and Galápagos pair via a Lima–Quito flight.
Is the Inca Trail worth it vs. the train?
The 4-day Inca Trail is one of the great walks; book 6+ months ahead. The train (Vistadome from Ollantaytambo) is for travellers who can't do the trek or are short of time.
Make this trip yours
Plan your Peru holiday with a Travel Designer
Pick from any of the options on this page or tell us what you have in mind — we'll build it around how you actually like to travel. ATOL protected, flights included, real humans available 9am–7pm.
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