Active Peru Holiday

Touching down in Lima, Peru's capital, you’ll be transferred to Hotel B, your home for the night. While you're here, you’ll have some time to wander around the city and discover its plazas and pretty colonial architecture, sampling the many eclectic eateries as you go. Adventurous visitors will be keen to experience Peru’s rugged side though, and after a night in Lima you’ll leave the hustle and bustle behind, replacing it with the mysterious jungles of the Amazon.

Nothing says adventure like canoeing along a murky tributary, spotting caiman crocodiles, three-toed sloths and mesmerising pink river dolphins or walking through the atmospheric rainforest, heralded by the calls of howler monkeys and the squawks of exotically plumed birds. Making your way into the depths of the Amazon, you’ll use the stilted Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion as your tether to explore the canopy walkways and forest trails located just beyond your hotel. With three nights in the Amazon, you’ll have enough time to venture into the dense foliage at night, where your guide will help you spot shy nocturnal species, made that much more special under the stars.

Peru’s Sacred Valley is blissfully tranquil and your home here, the fantastic Sol & Luna, is hidden within a 25-acre oasis of peaceful gardens. When you arrive you’ll be able to relax into your pristine natural surroundings, taking it slowly as you get used to the altitude, but on the days that follow, you’ll go careering down the Urubamba River on a raft, horse riding through the scenic landscape for views over Incan ruins and mountain biking past stunning, snow-capped mountains.

After Machu Picchu was abandoned, the Incas took with them many of its secrets and the site is shrouded in mystery, but you’ll have a private guide at hand to help make sense of one of the world’s most extraordinary places. 10km before reaching Machu Picchu, you will get off the scenic Vistadome at the head of KM 104, in order to trek the last part of the legendary Inca Trail. Hiking to the impressive complex of Winay Wayne and then on to Inti Punku Sun Gate, you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable views of Machu Picchu. However, the journey doesn’t stop here as you will then climb Huayna Picchu, the towering mountain which rises over the ancient ruins at 2,720m above sea level. If you are in need of some rest after all that hiking, sink into the hot water pool at your hotel, El Mapi, or refuel with a lemongrass lemonade or Pisco Sour before borrowing some binoculars and going birdwatching.

Staying in the charming boutique hotel, El Mercado Tunqui, you’ll be perfectly placed in the centre of Cusco to explore the best bits of the city, from its cathedrals and plazas to its buzzing cafes and restaurants. You’ll be thankful for the bathtubs, fireplaces and heated floors of the hotel, perfect for soothing aching muscles after your days hiking in the area. At the end of this immersive holiday, having explored Peru’s Incan and colonial history and its stunning wilderness by bike, boat and boot, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home.