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Sam McLoughlin September 11, 2025

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Few countries capture our imagination quite like Peru. From the mist-shrouded Andes to Lima’s lively streets, this dazzling destination overflows with culture, wonder, and adventure.

Soaring mountains, chattering rainforests, golden deserts, misty ruins, and thriving cities – Peru has it all. Cultures mingle and ancient traditions remain preserved, creating a unique fingerprint that’s visible in everything from the amazing architecture to the mouthwatering cuisine.

To offer a taste of what this captivating country has in store, we’ve partnered with Explore, a leading provider of small group tours.

Explore’s trips go beyond the typical itineraries. Their expert tour leaders use insider knowledge and connections to unlock unexpected, one-of-a-kind experiences, ranging from visits to little-known beauty spots to spontaneous encounters with local communities. Plus, there’s the comfort and convenience of travelling with a small group.

Whether you’re seeking a diverse itinerary or specific experiences (such as wildlife spotting or walking the Inca Trail), Explore has a tour for everyone. 

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For inspiration, we’ve collected 12 unique experiences to add to your travel wish list.

1. Venture into the Amazon Rainforest

Venture into the Amazon Rainforest

As the world’s most biodiverse environment, the Amazon Rainforest is a must-visit for wildlife lovers – and Peru is home to its second largest swathe, behind Brazil. Here, anteaters trudge through the undergrowth while sloths snooze on branches overhead. Flocks of macaws paint the endless green canvas with flecks of red, blue, and yellow, while capybaras bathe in tropical shallows.

By day, visitors can explore this untouched paradise via jungle trails and raised canopy walkways. Or glide along the waterways in a dugout canoe, spotting caimans, pink dolphins, and giant river otters. You can also immerse yourself in local culture by trying traditional fishing techniques or learning about native medicinal remedies. And by night, unwind in a luxury lodge, listening to the bewitching jungle symphony.

Note: Explore’s Animal Protection Policy provides peace of mind that your experiences are positive for both you and the wildlife.

2. Explore the islands of Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is one of South America’s most astonishing natural wonders. It’s the continent’s largest lake and the world’s highest navigable lake (meaning boats can travel across it). From April to May, its vast blue waters are surrounded by sloping green shores studded with blooming wildflowers, while snow crests the surrounding peaks in colder months.

However, natural splendour isn’t all you’ll find at Lake Titicaca. It’s also home to numerous Indigenous communities. These include the Uros people, who live on floating, man-made islands made of totora reeds, originally constructed as protection from Inca attacks. On the other hand, Titicaca’s natural islands hold other treasures, such as Taquile’s famous colourful textiles and monuments to Pachamama (Mother Earth).

  • Classic Peru

    Explore Classic Peru*

    £300 off | Peru | 14 days | Accommodation Included

    Small group adventures. Don't just travel, Explore!

    Includes taxes and fees

    From £1,970pp £2,270pp  

3. Discover the underrated city of Arequipa

As far as cities are concerned, Lima and Cusco dominate Peruvian itineraries. But travellers would be remiss not to visit Arequipa. Renowned for its eclectic architecture, Arequipa boasts Baroque cathedrals, monasteries painted in vibrant shades, and centuries-old neighbourhoods with Indigenous foundations. These beautiful buildings, paired with palm-lined plazas and the looming El Misti volcano, make it one of the world’s most picturesque cities.

As Arequipa draws fewer tourists than Lima and Cusco, it feels untouched by comparison. Explore authentic markets flogging fresh produce and vivid alpaca clothing, or sample local fare at a traditional picanteria. Popular dishes to try include rocoto relleno (stuffed peppers) and adobo arequipeño (a spicy pork stew).

4. Marvel at the mysterious Nazca Lines

Marvel at the mysterious Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines are a series of huge images carved into arid plateau rock in Peru’s southern desert region, some hundreds of metres in length. They consist of over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures, and 70 plant and animal designs, ranging from monkeys to spiders. While impossible to identify at ground level, visitors can admire them from viewing platforms.

These puzzling phenomena are one of the world’s great mysteries. We know they were created approximately 2,000 years ago by pre-Inca peoples, but their purpose is still debated. While some experts maintain that they form a large astronomical calendar, the most accepted theory is that they’re linked to ancient water ceremonies.

5. Taste unique Peruvian cuisine

Taste unique Peruvian cuisine

Between its diverse landscapes and fascinating blend of local and external influences, Peru is home to an exciting culinary tapestry. Here, tangy ceviche shares tables with hearty dishes like anticuchos (grilled marinated meat skewers). Foodies will delight in sampling regional delicacies, like alpaca and cuy (guinea pig), and discovering Chifa, a Chinese-Peruvian hybrid cuisine shaped by Cantonese immigrants.

Potatoes originated here, featuring in traditional dishes like causa: layered creations often filled with avocado, eggs, and tuna. Sweet-toothed travellers will be tempted by picarones, sticky doughnuts made from sweet potato flour. And why not wash everything down with a pisco sour, a tangy cocktail made from a local grape juice spirit, or chicha morada, Peru’s famous sweet purple corn beverage?

6. Witness Colca Canyon’s soaring condors

Witness Colca Canyon’s soaring condors

Peru is filled with bucket list experiences for birdwatchers. The Amazon regions are home to thousands of species, including toucans and scarlet macaws. But one of the most majestic sights is found in Colca Canyon, a plunging valley in the country’s south. Here, Andean condors, the world’s largest flying bird, soar on rising thermals, scanning the earth for large mammal remains.

These sizeable scavengers are best seen in Colca Canyon from the Mirador Cruz del Condor lookout from April to November. But the canyon itself, and its jaw-dropping panoramas, are worth the trip alone. Twice as deep as America’s Grand Canyon, this is a dramatic landscape of sheer cliffs and verdant valleys, with Inca terraces etched into the mountainsides and traditional Andean villages scattered throughout.

  • Classic Peru

    Explore Classic Peru*

    £300 off | Peru | 14 days | Accommodation Included

    Small group adventures. Don't just travel, Explore!

    Includes taxes and fees

    From £1,970pp £2,270pp  

7. Immerse yourself in Cusco’s unique atmosphere

Immerse yourself in Cusco’s unique atmosphere

Before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, Cusco was the capital of the great Inca Empire, and visitors can sense these mingling cultures throughout the city. Nowhere is this more striking than in its architecture, where Baroque colonial landmarks, like the Church of Santo Domingo, rise from Inca stone foundations.

Aside from touring cathedrals and Inca ruins, travellers can lose themselves in picturesque plazas and maze-like streets. Shop for intricate Peruvian handicrafts at the San Pedro Market or visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, home to treasures from ancient Andean cultures. Cusco is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley and world-famous Machu Picchu, making it an essential stop on any Peruvian adventure.

  • Inca Trail Trek

    Explore Inca Trail Trek*

    £100 off | Peru | 9 days | Accommodation Included

    Small group adventures. Don't just travel, Explore!

    Includes taxes and fees

    From £1,330pp £1,430pp  

  • Simply Peru

    Explore Simply Peru*

    £150 off | Peru | 14 days | Accommodation Included

    Small group adventures. Don't just travel, Explore!

    Includes taxes and fees

    From £1,430pp £1,580pp  

8. Trek to the (other) Rainbow Mountain

The psychedelic stripes of Vinicunca, often called Rainbow Mountain, are an iconic Peruvian sight. Here, nature has painted vivid bands of gold, crimson, emerald, and turquoise onto the sloping sierra of the Andes. However, Vinicunca can get busy, so why not travel to its sister range, Palccoyo, which offers similar otherworldly scenes with fewer crowds?

From Palccoyo village, travellers can ascend through this tranquil, undulating landscape, looking out for llamas and alpacas grazing peacefully on the mountainsides. Aside from enjoying this surreal spectacle with more space, the Palccoyo trail is also shorter than the Vinicunca one, with less dramatic elevation. This makes it ideal for travellers seeking unforgettable sights with less exertion.

9. Sail to ‘the Peruvian Galápagos Islands’

Sail to ‘the Peruvian Galápagos Islands’

The Ballestas Islands (often called ‘the Peruvian Galápagos Islands’) are a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts. These rocky isles jut out from the roiling Pacific just off Peru’s south coast, bracing themselves against the Humboldt Current, which draws water and nutrients from the ocean floor. This creates a perfect feeding zone for various marine life that visitors can spot on boat tours from nearby Paracas.

Expect to see seals and sea lions lounging on sun-bleached rocks and frolicking in the icy surf. Seabirds – such as pelicans, boobies, and cormorants – wheel in the sky and dive, missile-like, into the waves, searching for fish. Humboldt penguins hop between salt-sprayed boulders, and, if the season’s right, you might glimpse migrating whales and dolphin pods rising from the sea.

10. Hike the legendary Inca Trail

The mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu is Peru’s most iconic sight. But, as they say, the journey is just as important as the destination – a phrase that’s never been truer than when applied to the Inca Trail. Built over 600 years ago, this 43 km hiking route winds through the Andes’ green peaks, passing by raging rivers, cloud forests, and fascinating Inca ruins en route to Machu Picchu.

This fabled hiking trail takes four days to complete. You’ll need to be comfortable walking long distances at high altitude each day. But your efforts will be rewarded with unrivalled alpine scenery of tumbling valleys, sky-scraping summits, and finally, the magnificent Machu Picchu unfurling before you. A limited number of hiking permits are available each day, so make sure to book your spot well in advance.

11. Lose yourself in Lima

Lose yourself in Lima

Often overlooked by travellers in favour of Cusco, Lima is unmissable. From the bohemian barrio of Barranco to the palatial, UNESCO-listed main square, the ‘City of Kings’ is bursting with exciting sights and experiences. It’s also home to what many describe as Peru’s best food scene, whether you’re sampling anticuchos from street vendors or ceviche in high-end establishments.

There are plenty of ways to admire Lima’s exquisite coastal scenes – from surfing the world-famous waves and soaring through the sky in a paraglider to cycling the six-mile, clifftop esplanade. Culture seekers can wander the eerie catacombs or peruse archaeological finds at Museo Larco. And, after a day of sightseeing, head to the spirited neighbourhood of Miraflores for salsa, discotecas, and more.

12. Experience the magnificent Machu Picchu

Experience the magnificent Machu Picchu

There’s little wonder why Peru’s most iconic travel destination is considered one of the New Wonders of the World. Perched high in the Andes, these Inca ruins are captivating to behold. Their verdant terraces and ancient stonework are surrounded by a jagged crown of forested mountains that vanish into shifting veils of mist. And below, the silvery ribbon of the Urubamba River winds through the valley.

Wandering between the terraces, stairways, and stone temples, it’s impossible not to be bowled over by the impressive Inca engineering. Many of Machu Picchu’s most fascinating details – for example, the earthquake-resistant building techniques – aren’t visible, which is why it’s best to explore with a guide. You can also hike to the top of the two peaks at either side of the ruins for even better views.

  • Simply Peru

    Explore Simply Peru*

    £150 off | Peru | 14 days | Accommodation Included

    Small group adventures. Don't just travel, Explore!

    Includes taxes and fees

    From £1,430pp £1,580pp  

Final thoughts…

From ancient wonders and spellbinding landscapes to cosmopolitan cities and delectable cuisine, Peru is filled with unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re spotting wildlife at the Ballestas Islands, trekking along the Inca Trail, or contemplating the mysteries of the Nazca Lines, the memories you’ll make here will stay with you.

Plus, by booking a small group tour with Explore, you’ll venture beyond the typical highlights of other itineraries. Using their insider knowledge and local connections, Explore’s expert tour leaders will help you have immersive, authentic experiences, like meeting friendly locals or visiting little-known sights. So you’ll come away with a true understanding of Peru, its people, and its culture.

Right now, you can get 25% off Peru adventures with Explore. Sale ends September 25th 2025.

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Sam McLoughlin

Sam McLoughlin is a Senior Lifestyle Writer at Rest Less. He joined the editorial team in 2021 after completing his Master’s degree in English Literature, Culture, and Theory at The University of Sussex. He enjoys writing about careers, books, sports, travel, and pretty much anything that his editor will let him have a crack at, but his favourite part of the job is interviewing inspiring people – from activists and CEOs to later life career changers. In his spare time, Sam enjoys climbing, snowsports, and going to see live music.

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