Trip Ideas in Peru

Machu Picchu This incredibly vast archaeological site – lost to the world until well into the twentieth century – is perched amidst Andean peaks and lush cloud forest making it as breathtaking as it is intriguing. Arrive by train or by hiking on the Inca Trail.

The Inca Trail Doing the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu may push you, will likely help you know yourself better, and will certainly be an amazing experience. Doing the Inca Trail with Knowmad means you’ll do it away from the crowds; that you’ll have charismatic, fun guides and meet unforgettable people along the way; and that you’ll do it all in style with great equipment and food.

Multi-day hikes on alternative Inca Trails such as Choquequirao are also great options.

Cusco Former capital of the Incan Empire, today Cusco is one of South America’s most dynamic cities. Cobblestone passageways lead you to some of the country’s best restaurants and fashionable shops, colonial cathedrals sit atop original Incan walls, and Andean people switch between the indigenous tongue Quechua and Spanish as ancient and modern worlds become one.

The Sacred Valley Experience traditional cultures and customs in the Andes, wander the saltpans at Maras, explore the lesser-known major Incan sites of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and visit vibrant markets as you enjoy this beautiful valley leading you to Machu Picchu. Hiking, mountain biking, and community visits are great full day excursion options.

Much of Peru’s eastern and northern border areas are part of the Amazon Jungle. The area just east of Cusco (a 40-minute flight on a small jet to Puerto Maldonado) is defined as the Peruvian Southern Amazon Basin. Outside of Puerto Maldonado on the Tambopata and Madre de Dios Rivers are a variety of jungle lodges that offer good infrastructure from which to explore the Amazon. The proximity to Cusco and ease of travel make this area especially good for short stays of 2-3 nights.

The Northern Amazon of Peru is reached by flying to Iquitos generally from Lima or Cusco. Here you have access to the Amazon River, which is why Amazon River Cruises such as the Delfin and the Aqua/Aria depart from here. Generally we recommend traveling to the Northern Amazon for cruises, or if the Amazon will be a more substantial part of your itinerary.

Commonly referred to as the “highest navigable lake in the world,” Lake Titicaca is revered locally more for the fact that Inca and pre-Inca civilizations have long regarded the area as the birthplace of Sun God, one of their most important deities. It is thought to be the birthplace of their religion. Today it is one of the best places to see a variety of unique indigenous cultures with ancient traditions still in tact.

The lake contains a variety of islands that are each home to its own unique civilization. Taquile remains relatively untouched by ‘modernity’ and welcomes travelers to partake and learn of their traditions. The Uros Islands are a loosely knit group of islands made from harvested reeds, and literally float atop the lake. Now many of these artificial islands are maintained mainly to service tourists, however Knowmad has relationships with some of the farther flung and authentic Uros. Amantani is another important and interesting island to visit. Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna are accessed generally from the Bolivian side of Titicaca.

For those interested in remote indigenous cultures, Titicaca is a must.

Arequipa The second largest city in Peru, Arequipa may very well be it’s most handsome. It retains its historic elegance, best personified by the town’s central plaza. It is simply a great place to sit park side at a café and watch Peruvian life unfold in front of one’s eyes. It also is the place where Southern Peruvian cuisine, one decidedly its own, is best highlighted with a great range of restaurants.

Colca Canyon 102 miles north of Arequipa lies the Colca Canyon, which Peru’s most famed novelist Mario Vargas Llosa dubbed “The Valley of Wonders.” The canyon itself is over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and is a highlight in one of Peru’s most scenic regions filled with towering snowcapped volcanoes, narrow gorges, and arid desert landscapes.