Peru

More Than Machu Picchu

Everyone comes for Machu Picchu. That’s understandable — the Inca citadel sitting on a saddle between two peaks at 7,970 feet is one of the most photographed places on Earth for a reason. But Peru is vastly more than a single ruin, and the travelers who discover that are the ones who come back changed.

Lima has quietly become one of the world’s great food cities. Central, Maido, and Kjolle consistently rank among the planet’s best restaurants, drawing on Peru’s staggering biodiversity — more than 4,000 varieties of potato, thousands of species of Amazon fruit, a coastline that produces the freshest ceviche you’ll ever taste. A serious culinary itinerary in Lima alone justifies the flight.

The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley of the Incas stretches between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and it’s where I recommend spending the bulk of your time. The altitude’s lower than Cusco (helping with acclimatization), the scenery is extraordinary, and the density of sites is remarkable. Ollantaytambo’s fortress ruins, the Moray agricultural terraces, the Maras salt ponds — each one would be a national landmark in any other country. Here, they’re stops on a day trip.

I build itineraries that balance the archaeological with the living. A morning at Pisac’s ruins followed by an afternoon in the market, where Quechua-speaking women sell textiles woven with techniques that predate the Inca Empire. A visit to a chicha brewery where corn beer’s been made the same way for centuries. These aren’t staged experiences — they’re daily life in a valley that’s been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.

The Amazon Extension

Peru’s Amazon basin is accessible from Cusco with a short flight to Puerto Maldonado. From there, luxury lodges like Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica put you in the heart of the rainforest without sacrificing comfort. Canopy walkways, nocturnal wildlife excursions, piranha fishing, and visits to oxbow lakes where giant otters and macaws congregate — the Amazon is the perfect contrast to the highlands.

I typically recommend three nights in the Amazon as an extension to the core Peru itinerary. It transforms the trip from a cultural journey into a genuinely comprehensive experience of one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth.

Why Groups Work Here

Peru handles groups well, particularly in the Sacred Valley where luxury lodges like Tambo del Inka and Explora Valle Sagrado are designed for exactly this purpose. The key logistics consideration is altitude — Cusco sits at 11,150 feet, and I always build itineraries that allow for proper acclimatization, starting in the Sacred Valley before ascending to Cusco.

For team offsites, the combination of physical challenge (trekking), cultural immersion (artisan workshops, cooking classes), and sheer beauty creates the kind of shared experience that no conference room can replicate. The economics work too — Peru offers luxury experiences at a fraction of what you’d pay in Europe.

Our Preferred Partners

Tauck runs an exceptional guided Peru itinerary with their inclusive air package — flights included, logistics handled, and their local connections mean access to experiences the general public can’t book. Insight Vacations offers premium guided tours with savings of up to $3,400 per couple plus flight credits. For a more independent curated group trip, Kensington Tours builds fully custom private Peru itineraries with expert local guides at every stop.

When to Go

May through September is the dry season in the highlands — clear skies, cold nights, and the best conditions for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. June and July are peak season; book the Inca Trail permits 6+ months in advance. The shoulder months of April and October offer fewer crowds with occasional rain. Lima’s coastal weather inverts the highlands pattern — January through March is warm and sunny on the coast while the mountains get rain. The Amazon is accessible year-round, with slightly lower water levels (and better wildlife viewing) from May through October.