Peru

Heartland of the Incas, Peru is still littered with sites that showcase this powerful empire’s prowess as master builders, most notably Machu Picchu. Visiting this citadel hidden in the mountains is inspiration enough for a first-time visit, but the Incas were just one in a long line of peoples with a surviving legacy to explore. The landscape is equally varied: from the heights of the Andes down to the rainforest and quieter tributaries of the Peruvian Amazon. Peru feels like a country on the ascendency, reflected in the quality of hotels and a penchant for fine food.

Despite being a country of classic journeys, not every trip to Peru has to follow the same paths. Our specialists have explored the main sights and the lesser known ones. They’ll carefully plan your holiday as an individual tailor-made trip to match your preferences.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Peru can be visited all year round, and the country experiences two main seasons. The dry season between May and October sees sunny days, bright blue skies in the Andes and chilly nights. It is a wonderful time to be in Peru; but being the peak season, early booking is crucial. Between November and March visitors will notice more rain, with January and February being the wettest months to visit. Travel at this time does offer the advantage of fewer visitors, greener scenery and some lower rates for flights and hotels. Although the Amazon also experiences more rain between November and March, this should not deter you from visiting – the flora and fauna will still be abundant and there are always breaks in the showers.

Things to do and see

Lake Titicaca: Sitting 12,500 feet above sea level and shared among Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca wins the title for the largest lake in South America. Explore the floating islands and allocate some time to hiking, shopping and wandering the interesting burial grounds.

Sitting 12,500 feet above sea level and shared among Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca wins the title for the la

Machu Picchu: As Peru’s most visited site and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, you can guarantee Machu Picchu won’t disappoint. It’s made up of more than 150 buildings, ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.

Food and Drink: Seafood is a speciality in the coastal areas, especially the traditional ‘ceviche’, fish marinated in lemon juice and hot peppers. Highland cuisine is based around corn and potatoes, there are many nutritious and tasty soups and the main delicacy is roasted guinea pig (‘cuy’). The most famous drink is pisco, a white grape brandy with a unique taste. Coca tea is made from an infusion of coca leaves and helps to ward of altitude sickness, the most popular soft drink is the national institution of Inca-Kola, a luminous yellow drink that is probably best avoided. The National dish is Ceviche.

How to Get Around

Taxi:Uber is available in Lima, Peru

VISA

UK passport holders require a Cuban Tourist card to visit Cuba: we can arrange this on your behalf. As well as being a fantastic country to visit in its own right Cuba can very easily be combined with Costa Rica or Mexico.

Language

Spanish is the official language, English is spoken in tourist areas. Many indigenous communities in the highlands still have the ancient languages of Quechua and Aymara as their mother tongue.

money and expense

The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol (PEN). Change is always in short supply. ATM’s are available in the major cities and towns. Most machines take all debit cards, as well as Cirrus and Plus cards. Visa and Amex are widely accepted (Mastercard to a lesser degree). If you want to bring traveller’s cheques, they should be in US dollars, and not sterling although in general the rate of exchange and commission charges will not be as favourable as that received with cash or cards.

Tipping

Tipping for good service is an accepted fact. Amounts are discretionary.

Social etiquette

Please ask permission before taking photographs.

Adaptor

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