Peru

Overlooking the Urubamba River from its remote Andean perch, the 500-year-old citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds many secrets. Retrace the footsteps of Inca emperors along pathways through cloud forest and past ancient ruins to Sun Gate, a towering vantage revealing the pride of the Inca empire, Machu Picchu.

The spiritual traditions of the Andean people have endured for centuries. On a wellness-inspired excursion, your expert guide leads you to a remote site secluded among the mountains in search of a time-honoured spiritual ceremony. A local shaman greets you, then leads a sacred ritual honouring Pachamama, the Andean mother earth deity.

The former Inca capital of Cusco sits perched 3,400 metres up in the breathtaking Andes. A vibrant urban centre, it is filled with colonial and Inca buildings, its centrepiece the historic Plaza de Armas and splendid cathedral. Outside the city lies the fertile and rural Sacred Valley, a riverside oasis of villages, ruins and farms flanked by terraced Andean mountainsides.

Delve into the cosmopolitan flavours of Peru with a culturally immersive foodie experience in Lima, one of the world’s hottest culinary destinations. Join a local chef for a guided walk through the market to gather locally grown ingredients. Then, head to a neighbourhood restaurant for a lesson in preparing authentic Peruvian dishes before enjoying the meal you helped prepare.

Explore the Andes on South America’s first luxury sleeper train, Belmond Andean Explorer. Pass through ancient kingdoms, natural wonders and rural communities. Spanning Cusco, the high Andean altiplano, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa, there are four multi-day routes to choose from, or luxury day trip trains to explore spectacular sites such as Machu Picchu.

The Andes offer spectacular hiking opportunities, the most famous being the 4-day Inca Trail winding its way to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Through valleys and over passes, it takes in hilltop ruins and expansive vistas. Shorter 1 or 2 day Inca Trail options are also popular, or you might base yourself in a lodge and enjoy day hikes to enjoy the crisp mountain air and awe-inspiring views.

Pay an inspirational visit to the Children of the Rainbow School, a vital resource for the Sacred Valley’s least privileged children. See how the community has partnered with A&K Philanthropy to expand the school’s outreach beyond education, growing it into an oasis of nutrition, medical care and hope.

The Amazon is an unmissable wilderness experience, best enjoyed aboard a river cruise. Aqua Nera offers extraordinary comfort across just 20 suites, and generous dining and lounge areas. Alternatively, Delfin Amazon Cruises, the first Relais & Châteaux cruise line, operates three vessels offering unmatched elegance and comfort. All vessels include guided wildlife encounters and village visits on cruises from four to eight days.

Explore the contours of history in beautiful Arequipa and Colca. Famed for its colonial architecture and the snow-capped volcanoes that surround it, Arequipa is a stylish city, with a historic, heritage listed centre. Beyond lies vast Colca Canyon, thought to be the deepest on Earth. Though the temptation is always to gaze down into the canyon, remember to look up, where endangered condors can often be seen floating on thermals.