Travel to Peru

Unequaled in South America for its archaeological, cultural and natural wealth, Peru is Southwind’s forte. As Peru travel specialists, we’ll take you from its cosmopolitan capital city to its traditional indigenous communities, from its colonial and pre-colonial architectural wonders to its drastically varied natural landscapes. Peru reins as South America’s premier adventure travel destination.

Peru is a country of superlatives. The world’s longest chain of mountains forms the spine of the nation. The highest navigable lake on earth forms its southern boundary with Bolivia, and the largest river by volume in the world begins in the Peruvian Amazon.
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WORLD OF THE INCAS
A classic tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu. To better understand the Incas and traditional Quechua culture, walk through engrossing ruins and stroll quiet village streets. On market day, join farmers in colorful attire and meet with master weavers to learn about their craft. Enjoy two nights at Machu Picchu.
Length: 9 Days/8 Nights
Season: April – December
Land Cost: from $5,550
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WORLD OF THE INCAS: ICONIC ITINERARY
An upgraded version of our classic cultural tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu, designed by Southwind’s top Peru travel specialist. To better understand the Incas and traditional Quechua culture, walk through engrossing ruins and stroll quiet village streets. Enjoy two nights at Machu Picchu.
Length: 9 Days/8 Nights
Season: April – November
Land Cost: from $7,000
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FLAVORS & CULINARY TRADITIONS
Taste your way through Peru, one of the 10 most biologically diverse and leading culinary destinations in the world. Enjoy farm to table cooking demonstrations with renowned chefs and see the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu from a foodie and agricultural point of view.
Length: 9 Days/8 Nights
Season: April – December
Land Cost: from $6,100
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INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU
Thousands of miles of roadways crisscrossed the Inca kingdom, connecting Amazon jungles and highland valleys to Cusco, the Inca capital. One 25-mile stretch connects the Sacred Valley to a number of Inca sites. Known as the Inca Trail, this stone-paved route leads through the Sun’s Gate to Machu Picchu.
Length: 10 Days/9 Nights
Season: April – November
Land Cost: from $5,950
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URUBAMBA WEAVER’S TREK (GLAMPING!)
A worthy alternative to the Inca Trail, trekking the trails of the Urubamba Range is a walk back in time. This region is populated with scattered Quechua communities, enclaves of traditional culture that have, thus far, escaped the encroachment of modern society.
Length: 11 Days/10 Nights
Season: April – mid-November
Land Cost: from $6,750
peru travel specialist
FAMILY ANDEAN DISCOVERY
A colorful family-oriented itinerary through Peru’s Sacred Valley, colonial city of Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu. Find experience-rich interactive fun for kids and fine dining and creature comforts for parents – all combined with active outdoor adventure and eye-opening cultural exchanges that everyone can share.
Length: 9 Days/8 Nights
Season: April – December
Land Cost: from $5,400
PERU AMAZON CRUISE (aboard the M/V Aria)
This voyage takes us deep into the world’s greatest wilderness through an ever-changing vista of lush tropical rainforest. Our riverboat, one of the newest and most luxurious in the Peruvian Amazon, plies these waters with comfort, elegance and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from her observation deck.
Length: 10 Days/9 Nights (7 Days/6 Nights also available)
Season: April – December
Land Cost: from $8,800
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SOUTHERN HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
Explore birds & wildlife at Paracas Reserve, fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines and visit Arequipa’s white-walled colonial plazas. Learn about the Quechua lifestyle on Taquile Island and meet with traditional weavers in Chinchero. Walk among silent Inca walls in Cusco, and marvel at Machu Picchu.
Length: 14 Days/13 Nights
Season: April – November
Land Cost: from $8,450
MACHU PICCHU: INKATERRA PUEBLO
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel is a unique, 4-star ecological hotel situated in 12 private acres of cloud forest above the Urubamba River. Featuring 83 spacious, sunlit rooms, the architecture is Spanish colonial with stone archways and red tiled roofs. Cottages and gardens are reminiscent of a traditional Andean village.
ARANWA CUSCO BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Built in a colonial mansion of the XVI century, the Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel displays several paintings of the Cuzco school, colonial furniture and carvings that transport us to the greatness of that era. Its elegant and spacious rooms are equipped with intelligent oxygen system for better acclimatization to the altitude. The gardens and historic character are complemented by friendly service.
CUSCO: CASA CARTAGENA HOTEL
This Boutique Hotel & Spa is a restored historic house located in the city center and features 16 spacious and luxurious suites. In 1983 the city of Cusco was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, comprising this hotel within its perimeter. Weaving luxury and history together, this upscale property is a combination of colonial architecture and Inca stone foundations making for a magical retreat.
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CUSCO: PALACIO DEL INKA
The city’s first 5-star hotel, the former Hotel Libertador Cusco is ideally located within the historical center of the city, only three blocks from the main square and across from Santo Domingo Church and Coricancha Inca site. It occupies the fabulous Casa de los Cuatro Bustos, where Francisco Pizarro, first Spanish governor of Peru, used to live.
LIMA: JW MARRIOTT HOTEL
Enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean against the shoreline at one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top-20 Latin American hotels, the JW Marriott Hotel Lima. This 5-Star facility has prime location near the Larcomar shopping and entertainment center, and all the features you would expect from a luxury property.
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AMAZON LODGES
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco or Lima
Season: April to December
Families and travelers with limited time, who want a taste of the Amazon rainforest, will enjoy the Reserva Amazonica or Sandoval Lake lodge, 45 min by boat from Puerto Maldonado. Both allow access to small oxbow lakes as well as forest trails with a variety of habitats.
LAKE TITICACA
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco
Season: April to November
For those who want to experience authentic Quechua culture first-hand and feel like you’ve traveled back in time, nothing beats a visit with a family on Taquile Island, one of Lake Titicaca’s natural islands.
AREQUIPA AND COLCA CANYON
Length: 5 days/4 nights from Lima
Season: Mid-April to mid-November
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca in southern Peru is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Since its walls are not as vertical, the valley is filled with small towns that preserve their ancestral traditions.
MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Length: 6 Days/5 Nights from Lima or Cusco
Season: April to October
For travelers wanting to maximize their wildlife viewing opportunities in a short extension, few places in the Amazon Basin can compete with Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. It is considered to be one of the most pristine and important rainforest reserves on the planet!
PARACAS RESERVE
Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Lima
Season: Year-round
A visit to Paracas is a journey to one of South America’s most important protected coastal-marine systems. Whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters are just a few the 36 species of marine and land mammals found in the reserve.
NORTHERN PERU
Length: 4 days/3 nights from Lima
Season:Year-round
Long before the Incas controlled the country, sophisticated cultures existed along the Peruvian coast; and northern Peru is one of the best destinations for visiting the remains of their cities. Moche sites including the renowned Lord of Sipan and the pyramids.
NAZCA LINES
Length: 3 days/2 nights from Lima
Season:Year-round
The mysterious lines etched into the coastal plains near the town of Nazca have fascinated scientists, archaeologists and visitors for decades. Best viewed from the air, Nazca figures such as the monkey, fish, hands and whale are highlights.
CARAL RUINS
Length: 2 days/1 night from Lima
Season:Year-round
In 2001 researchers stunned the archaeological community by carbon-dating the ruins at Caral back to 2627 BC. Step back in time to an early civilization while touring this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Southwind specializes in tailor-made trips. These sample itineraries provide ideas for popular combinations. Each can be fully personalized to your travel style, goals, travel dates, preferred trip length and budget. Please call us to speak to a Travel Consultant to receive a custom trip proposal with pricing and next steps. Learn more on our Private Trips page.



PERU
Andes & Amazon Explorer
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Peruvian Amazonia
Length: 11 days/10 nights
PERU
Family Discovery Tour
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Coastal Paracas
Length: 12 days/11 nights