An Insider’s Travel Guide to a Peru Holiday

From the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to the winding waterways of the Amazon, a trip to the ‘deepest, darkest’ Peru promises a holiday full of wonder and adventure.

Whether you are travelling as a family, on a honeymoon or as a luxury getaway, Peru is truly a dream holiday destination for every type of explorer. With its hidden Inca treasures, world-class Peruvian cuisine and endless ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences, it should come as no surprise that Peru is a favourite of ours at The Ultimate Travel Company.

Following the expert advice of our South America specialists, Jonny, Claire and Jacob, who have travelled extensively across Peru, here is a list of everything you need to know for an unforgettable holiday to Peru in 2025 and 2026.

Many who answer this question would mention the iconic site of Machu Picchu. Renowned as the Lost City of the Incas, celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu receives around 1.6 million visitors per year, and with its extraordinary beauty and rich history, there is no surprise as to why.

However, a holiday to Peru is much more than Machu Picchu. You can head to Lima and enjoy world-class cuisine in the gastronomic capital of South America whilst overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You can explore the Peruvian Amazon on a luxury riverboat in search of howler monkeys and rare pink river dolphins. You can see first-hand the traditional communities of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and the Colca Canyon, a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA. The list is endless.

The best time to travel to Peru is between April and mid-November.

In Peru, there are two seasons: the wet season (December-March) and the dry season (April-November). The months of December to March are usually dominated by rainy days, living up to its namesake of ‘wet season’. However, these rain showers can sometimes be fleeting and once they have passed, you will experience beautiful weather for the rest of the day. Temperatures usually average 25°C to 35°C on the coast and 0°C to 15°C in the Andes. However, if you want to visit Machu Picchu, be sure not to travel in February as the Inca Trail closes for the month.

If you travel to Peru in the dry season, you will be met with clear and sunny days across the country, which is perfect for hiking and exploring everything Peru has to offer. The temperatures usually range from 10°C to 33°C, depending on where you are visiting.

Certain areas of Peru are high in altitude such as Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. When visiting these sites, it is worth bearing in mind that, regardless of the month you travel, the weather can change at any time.

Taking into consideration what is popular with our travellers, our travel experts have created a list of their five favourite things to see and do on a Peru trip.

If you are looking to follow in the footsteps of the Incas, there are many other treks beyond the classic Inca Trail.

While the infamous Inca Trail is a rewarding trek, it is often crowded and in high demand. Due to the overwhelming tourism, we usually recommend our travellers explore one of the less visited Inca Empire tracks such as:

• The Salkantay Trek: a challenging five-day hike through the snow-capped mountains to Machu Picchu. Click to see our Salkantay Trek travel itinerary.
• The Lares Trail: one of the easier Inca trails, which takes three days to complete and goes through many traditional Andean villages. This trail is ideal for those who are looking for an authentic Peruvian experience.
• The Choquequirao Trek: a fairly demanding three to four-day trail to the sister city of Machu Picchu, which is perfect for skilled hikers.
• The Huchuy Qosqo Trek: one of the shortest Inca treks which takes only two days to complete and is in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

DISCOVER MACHU PICCHU, CUSCO & THE SACRED VALLEY

Travel through the towering volcanic landscapes of Arequipa and you will be met by one of the deepest canyons in the world, the Colca Canyon.

A trip to the Colca Canyon is always high on our lists when creating a Peru holiday itinerary for its beautiful landscapes and countless adventures. Aside from hiking up the snow-capped volcanoes, you can also bike, horse ride and even white-water raft through the canyon.

In the mornings, you will have a better chance of spotting the Andean Condors, one of the largest flying birds in the world and throughout your activities, you will undoubtedly see wild vicuna and alpacas grazing on the slopes.

DISCOVER AREQUIPA & COLCA CANYON

One of the best ways to explore Peru is by luxury train travel.

With the Belmond’s Andean Explorer, South America’s first luxury sleeper train, you can travel from Cusco to Colca Canyon over two days, visiting the floating reed islands of Uros and Taquille at Lake Titicaca en route.

If you wish to see Machu Picchu, the Belmond Hiram Bingham train is renowned as one of South America’s greatest train journeys. You will travel through the cloud forest and alongside the Vilcanota river towards the Lost City of the Incas, whilst being wined and dined from your own authentic Pullman-style carriage.

As one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth, the Peruvian Amazon is an absolute must for those seeking adventure.

From watching the howler monkeys as they swing through the rainforest to catching a glimpse of the rare pink river dolphins swimming through Amazon Basin, the Peruvian Amazon has an array of extraordinary wildlife.

Our favourite way of seeing everything the Peruvian Amazon has to offer is with a luxury river boat cruise. You can either begin from Iquitos in the north or Puerto Maldonado in the south and drift along the Amazonian tributaries to see all the biodiversity hotspots.

For those wishing to explore the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, it is worth bearing in mind that humidity is high, but the wildlife is abundance all-year round.

DISCOVER THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

The Peruvian coastline is home to a variety of incredible restaurants, museums and more.

In Lima, for instance, you can explore the country’s best museums including the renowned Larco Museum before wining and dining in some of the world’s best restaurants. If you travel south and stop in the coastal town of Paracas, you can embark on a boat tour and marvel at the wildlife on the rocky Ballestas Islands.

No visit along the coast would be complete without a walk along the ancient and mysterious geoglyphs known as the Nazca Lines. Or to the town of Pisco, home to the Peruvian liquor and a key ingredient in the national drink, Pisco Sour.

DISCOVER LIMA

Due to its intimidating size, those travelling to South America usually try to focus on one destination. However, if you are making the journey to Latin America in 2025 and 2026, it might be worth visiting another neighbour destination on your luxury trip. We have created a list of some of the best holiday destinations to combine with your holiday to Peru.

Explore the ancient relics, colonial splendours and traditional mountain villages of Peru before flying to Ecuador to board a luxury seven-night adventure around the extraordinary Galapagos Islands.

Duration: 19 days
Price: From £16,950 per person

Discover the incredible sites of Peru such as the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca before travelling south to the salt pans of the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.

Duration: 17 days
Price: From £6,945 per person

Experience the natural, cultural and historical highlights of Chile, Bolivia and Peru in just three weeks and whilst staying in some of the best hotels and lodges in South America.

Duration: 21 days
Price: From £14,150 per person

On one of our tailor-made trips to Peru, you can pick and choose exactly what you want to see and do. To start planning your luxury holidays, honeymoons or family getaways, speak to our South America travel specialists on +44 (0) 2039 933538 or make an online enquiry.