Peru is to be found on the western flank of the South American landmass, facing the Southern Pacific Ocean, sandwiched between Chile and Ecuador, with Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia taking up its eastern borders.
The weather varies from dry desert on the western coastal plain, to tropical in the eastern lowland jungle, and temperate to seriously cold in the craggy heights of the Andes!
Here is the mystical home of the legendary Incas. Historically the city of Cusco is the original capital of the Incan world, but to its north it is Machu Picchu, the most famous Incan city, which is visited by thousands of tourist every year.
To drive from Aquas Calientes and up into the mountains along the hair-raising hairpin road and to glimpse the first breathtaking sight of the terraces that form part of this new Seventh Wonder of the World is something to put at the top of your ‘to do’ list in this part of the world. Other ways of accessing Machu Picchu are by train or by walking.
Another few items for the list must surely be a trip to the highest navigable lake in the world – Lago Titicaca with its floating islands – and 100 miles westwards from here to Nevado Mismi, where a glacial stream from the Mismi is attributed as the source of the mighty Amazon River.
The capital city of Lima is an architectural mixture of modern and old Spanish and houses many fine galleries, theatres and a variety of museums catering for anything from archaeology and anthropology to Peruvian art and religious culture.
For those who crave adventure, the diverse terrain of Peru lends itself to a wide variety of sports from surfing and sand boarding to rafting down the exhilarating white waters of the Apurimac River, or the Santa River which is fairly easy for the newcomers. 4 x 4 enthusiasts are also catered for, as are the mountaineers amongst you!
Peru has so much to offer, that you will find you want to return again and again as one holiday just cannot satisfy your appetite for this South American jewel.
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu
One of the world's major heritage sites, Machu Picchu is a sacred place of ancient stones illuminated by spectacular sunrises and mystical moonlit nights. Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located adjacent to this ancient Inca citadel, offering its...
Hotel B
A place for contemporary explorers of life seeking the intrigues and mysteries of Peruvian culture, geography and nature, Hotel B caters to traditionalists looking for an authentic historic atmosphere and to shrewd urban explorers willing to immerse...
Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort
Nestled 250 kilometres south of Lima, Hotel Paracas is ideally situated for travellers looking to immerse themselves in nature, as well as those seeking a glimpse into the mysterious and intriguing history of Peru’s central coast and its ancestral...
Inkaterra La Casona
Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco’s first boutique hotel, reflects the city’s mélange of cultures and traditions. A striking 16th century mansion, one of the first Spanish constructions in Cusco, occupied by the first conquistadores and their mestizo descendants....
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
How does one best prepare for a visit to the enigmatic Lost City of the Incas? Nothing less than a natural paradise will do — a paradise where one connects completely with the sacred energy of the mountain. In Inkaterra's vacation paradise and luxury...
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is a gracious rainforest lodge, adjacent to the lush Tambopata National Reserve. Remote and pristine, yet easily accessible, this region is only a 35-minute flight from Cusco. Here, in the area known as the Biodiversity Capital...
Las Casitas del Colca
Las Casitas del Colca is Peru's hidden gem, a collection of luxurious cottage villas with a fabulous spa, set in the peace and serenity of the remote Colca Canyon. Nestled high in the Andes, this secluded retreat offers a rare opportunity to experience the...
Sol y Luna
Encircled by the majestic Andes Mountains, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a vast, undulating landscape of lush agrarian terraces, pre-Columbian ruins and Spanish colonial churches. Sol y Luna located in The Sacred Valley is reachable from Cusco Airport...
Tambo del Inka
The only hotel in Urubamba with a private train station to Machu Picchu, the staff go to every length to ensure an indelible stay, offering refined dining, a therapeutic spa, and premier fitness centre, along with an emerald lagoon and blooming riverside...
Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado
In the Sacred Valley of the Incas, among verdant fields and towering mountains, lies Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado. Set on the banks of the rushing Urubamba River, this luxury hotel is built in natural materials to resemble an authentic Andean village....
Belmond Miraflores Park
Set in one of Lima’s most fashionable areas, the Belmond Miraflores Park takes you straight to the heart of all that's best about this great capital city. Renowned for its beautiful garden location beside the Pacific Ocean, it has breathtaking views out to...
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
Set in a tranquil plaza behind Cusco's main square, this former palace and convent is emerging from years of restoration to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Step past walls of Inca stones and into a cloistered courtyard with an ancient...
Belmond Hotel Monasterio
High in the Andes, at 3000 metres above sea level, lies the historic city of Cuzco, famed for its unique blend of Spanish and Inca cultures. Right beside the lively Cuzco central square is Belmond Hotel Monasterio, a former monastery and national monument...
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu
One of the world's major heritage sites, Machu Picchu is a sacred place of ancient stones illuminated by spectacular sunrises and mystical moonlit nights. Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located adjacent to this ancient Inca citadel, offering its...
Hotel B
A place for contemporary explorers of life seeking the intrigues and mysteries of Peruvian culture, geography and nature, Hotel B caters to traditionalists looking for an authentic historic atmosphere and to shrewd urban explorers willing to immerse...
Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort
Nestled 250 kilometres south of Lima, Hotel Paracas is ideally situated for travellers looking to immerse themselves in nature, as well as those seeking a glimpse into the mysterious and intriguing history of Peru’s central coast and its ancestral...
Inkaterra La Casona
Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco’s first boutique hotel, reflects the city’s mélange of cultures and traditions. A striking 16th century mansion, one of the first Spanish constructions in Cusco, occupied by the first conquistadores and their mestizo descendants....
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
How does one best prepare for a visit to the enigmatic Lost City of the Incas? Nothing less than a natural paradise will do — a paradise where one connects completely with the sacred energy of the mountain. In Inkaterra's vacation paradise and luxury...
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is a gracious rainforest lodge, adjacent to the lush Tambopata National Reserve. Remote and pristine, yet easily accessible, this region is only a 35-minute flight from Cusco. Here, in the area known as the Biodiversity Capital...
Las Casitas del Colca
Las Casitas del Colca is Peru's hidden gem, a collection of luxurious cottage villas with a fabulous spa, set in the peace and serenity of the remote Colca Canyon. Nestled high in the Andes, this secluded retreat offers a rare opportunity to experience the...
Sol y Luna
Encircled by the majestic Andes Mountains, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a vast, undulating landscape of lush agrarian terraces, pre-Columbian ruins and Spanish colonial churches. Sol y Luna located in The Sacred Valley is reachable from Cusco Airport...
Tambo del Inka
The only hotel in Urubamba with a private train station to Machu Picchu, the staff go to every length to ensure an indelible stay, offering refined dining, a therapeutic spa, and premier fitness centre, along with an emerald lagoon and blooming riverside...
Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado
In the Sacred Valley of the Incas, among verdant fields and towering mountains, lies Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado. Set on the banks of the rushing Urubamba River, this luxury hotel is built in natural materials to resemble an authentic Andean village....
Belmond Miraflores Park
Set in one of Lima’s most fashionable areas, the Belmond Miraflores Park takes you straight to the heart of all that's best about this great capital city. Renowned for its beautiful garden location beside the Pacific Ocean, it has breathtaking views out to...
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
Set in a tranquil plaza behind Cusco's main square, this former palace and convent is emerging from years of restoration to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Step past walls of Inca stones and into a cloistered courtyard with an ancient...
Belmond Hotel Monasterio
High in the Andes, at 3000 metres above sea level, lies the historic city of Cuzco, famed for its unique blend of Spanish and Inca cultures. Right beside the lively Cuzco central square is Belmond Hotel Monasterio, a former monastery and national monument...