Travel in Peru

The traces of human civilisation in Peru date back some 20,000 years, to nomadic peoples who crossed into the Americas via the Bering Straight during the last Ice Age. From these beginnings to the Mochica and Nazca peoples living in the first centuries AD, to the famous Incas of Machu Picchu, today visitors can trace that history back thanks to a wealth of fascinating archeological sites in the country. While Machu Picchu deserves its place at the top of the fame table (and gets the hordes of visitors as a result) there are several other ancient sites in Peru well worth your time. Here are some of our top picks.

There’s no question that we’re living through unusual times: the coronavirus pandemic is a health crisis unparalleled in our lifetimes. But it’s by no means the first disease to spread across the world: there are plenty of plagues and illnesses that are now consigned to the archives of human history. Here, we take a look at nine locations across the globe that have been touched by pandemics in the past.

Stretching across thousands of miles and several countries, the Amazon basin is home to an almost endless number of jungle lodges.We've picked out our ten best in the region, but let us know your own favourites below.

Whether you love travelling by planes, trains or automobiles, we all have fond memories of at least one particular journey from our travels. We asked you to tell us the best journeys you’ve ever completed, so here are a few of your rather impressive adventures. Intrepid traveller @ukirsariabroad took an overnight bus from Manali to Leh in India, a beautiful mountainous journey through the stunning Ladakh Range.

While some Latin American countries have swept the headlines with multiplying case numbers and death tolls – think: Brazil – Argentina has been quietly under the radar. It locked down early; with a death count confined to the hundreds, businesses began reopening in some provinces in the first half of May – though lockdowns have been much more stringent in the major cities. The country is remaining cautious towards travel, with commercial flights banned until at least 1 September. To find out more, we caught up with Guadalupe, our local expert based in Cordoba, Argentina.

Psychedelic tourism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there is nowhere on Earth where so many shaman serve such magical brews as they do in Peru. Since the start of this millennium, an increasing number of travellers have sought the magical ayahuasca experience, whether from simple curiosity or in search of ancient wisdom. These night-long shamanic healing rituals, with roots over 3500 years old, often involve the ingestion of psychotropic hallucinogens, and can produce a life-changing experience.

French novelist Gustave Flaubert once said: “Travelling makes one modest – you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world”. With this in mind, here are twenty daunting and spectacular places around the world that might make you feel a little small.

It is widely acknowledged that pets have a positive impact on owners' mental health – research by charity PDSA suggests that 84 percent of pet owners agree. Creatures of all shapes and sizes have helped combat loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic © Shchus/Shutterstock

South America is blessed with some of the most astonishing landscapes on earth. This dynamic continent has enthralled travellers for centuries with its array of natural wonders, ancient ruins and modern metropolises. It holds some of the world’s most impressive beaches, most fascinating cultures and most thrilling adventure activities. To inspire your travels, we're picked six of the most impressive South America journeys to kick-start your trip planning.

The South American nation of Peru is a glittering land of colour and light, riotous fiestas and monumental landscapes. From the awe-inspiring Inca ruins of Machu Picchu to the enigmatic geoglyphs at Nazca, the lush Amazon rainforest and excellent surfing beaches in the northwest, it offers a wealth of treasures for travellers at any season. To help you plan your own journey around the country, here is Ros Walford's guide to Peru.

Co-author of The Rough Guide to Peru and Lima resident Greg de Villiers gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the city's best restaurants.

If the Inca Trail is booked up, or you don’t fancy camping, or you want to hike away from the crowds, there are more treks in Peru‘s Sacred Valley than you might think. Meera Dattani finds some beautiful alternatives to the Inca Trail worth your time, energy and camera-clicks, yet without the permit restrictions.

If your favourite way to travel is with two feet and a heartbeat, this selection of the world's best walks will be a dream come true for you.

A land of ancient ruins, soaring Andean peaks and sweltering, seemingly endless jungle, South America is a true treat for the adventurous solo traveller.

Part of the Arabian Desert, the Empty Quarter is made up of 650,000 square kilometres (250,000 sq miles) of sand dunes and is the world’s largest sand desert. It occupies much of the southern inland area of the Arabian Peninsular, covering over a quarter of Saudi Arabia, and there are very few settlements here – hence the name.

Some of the world's greatest cities are no more. Once thriving, hundreds of cities across the world now lie in ruins – ravaged either by war or simply a natural progression. These are the world's greatest lost cities.

With age comes stories, and the stories our old Earth tells can be seen in its rock formations. Here are 20 of the most astonishing geological wonders of the world.

Trekking through the awe-inspiring Andes to the world-famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is the main draw for most travellers to Peru. However, truth be told, this is only a fraction of the treasures that lie within one of South America’s most diverse countries. If you are looking for inspiration or just to get a feel of the country, here is our guide to the best things to do in Peru.

From bhel puri to halo-halo, we've rounded up some of the best street food in the world — to give you a whole new reason to book your next adventure. And remember, Rough Guides has paired with local experts in over 70 countries so you can plan and book a fully customised trip — like tasting all the delicious items on this list!

Millions of years old and home to over a third of planet Earth’s plant and animal species – plus some of the world’s last uncontacted tribes – the vast forest nicknamed the «Earth’s Lungs» is under serious threat from deforestation. Over the past four decades around 40 percent of the Amazon has been destroyed, primarily for mining, industrial agriculture and illegal logging.

With warmer weather, fewer tourists and lower prices than the peak summer months, May is the perfect time to travel in the northern hemisphere. Coupled with the fact that many tropical lands begin to see signs of the rainy season in May, it's the ideal time to visit Europe.