Why Peru?

"Peru was the first country in South America that I visited, and still perhaps my favorite. The sheer diversity of geography, the kindness of the people who live there, and the fantastic food scene still draws me back as often as I can get there".

ANDREW GILCHRIST FOUNDER, LOST WORLD ADVENTURES

Crossing into Peru means crossing into a world of wonders.

Its magic includes both the sublime stonework of Machu Picchu and the infinite biodiversity of the Amazon, the glittering waters of Lake Titicaca and mysterious pyramids crumbling in the desert.

When you go, you’ll find its spell irresistible from the moment you touch down.

The enchantment begins in Lima, the capital, home of Latin America’s most stunning colonial architecture—and a mind-boggling cuisine that’s got foodies raving the world over. It deepens in the Amazon, where pink dolphins frolic alongside luxury steam cruises. And it reaches a climax in Cuzco, capital of the Incas’ legendary empire.

Here are some of your nearly endless options as we help you plan your Peruvian odyssey:

• Machu Picchu needs no introduction. But around, behind, and even above the great citadel are sacred Inca sites you can include on your “Machu Picchu Day 2.”
• On Peru’s Andean altiplano, native tribes with a 1,500-year history hand-weave floating islands from lakeside reeds. You can listen to their stories.
• In the Amazon, shamans—traditional religious healers—still practice medicinal techniques that date back to the dawn of civilization. Talking to them, one rediscovers a timeless wisdom lost to the modern world.
• Amidst the sands of the northern coast lies Chan Chan, the largest adobe settlement on Earth—Peru’s “other lost city.”
• In Cuzco, an ancient Inca temple was once considered the center of the universe. Are there really secret tunnels running beneath it?