Peru Tours

While you could spend a lifetime uncovering the wonders of Peru, we recommend visiting for between 7 and 20 days, depending on what you’d like to see. Our Peru Explorer trip guides you on a comprehensive tour of southern Peru, taking in epic sites such as the Andes and Amazon. Or if you have a little less time, set off on a 7-day trek along the Inca Trail and discover the archaeological city of Cuzco in the Peruvian Andes.

Affectionately known as the City of the Kings, Lima is a Peruvian gem with lots to offer. Whether you want to admire the colonial-style architecture, sample world-class food, walk along the iconic malecón pathway or explore the city’s catacombs, Lima is definitely worth visiting on your Peru holiday with us.

One of the best ways to explore Peru is on foot, as you’ll get closer to the country’s beating heart. Our guided Peru tours are led by experts with a wealth of knowledge who’ll take you off the beaten track and pass down centuries-old secrets that you wouldn’t discover otherwise. Peru travel is exhilarating and many of our guided tours in Peru include point-to-point walking with full porterage so that all you have to do is soak up the incredible scenery.

New regulations have been put into place for Machu Picchu tours and visitors are allowed a maximum of four hours inside the site itself. However, this is ample time to appreciate the dramatic mountain scenery and explore this architectural wonder.

Aside from the lengthy Machu Picchu treks, walking around the site of Machu Picchu itself is relatively easy for anyone with a reasonable amount of fitness and mobility. You’ll need to navigate some steps and acclimatise to the high altitude.

Most people begin the climb to Machu Picchu from the visitor centre of Aguas Calientes, from which it’s a two-hour walk up a mix of stairs and road.

Although there are several walking routes to take, the Salkantay route and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are two of the most popular walking holidays in Peru. If, however, you don’t feel you have the right level of fitness to complete the Machu Picchu hike to the summit, there are two trains that can take you Aguas Calientes Station, where you’ll then need to take a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu.

Since 2001, regulations have been in place stipulating that you must always be accompanied by a guide. At Exodus, all our Peru trekking holidays along the Inca Trail are guided, meaning you’ll enjoy all the benefits of having one of our highly experienced leaders on hand.

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is no easy feat and we have graded it as a moderate trek (level 3), which means you will require a good level of fitness to tackle the steep ascents. As you’ll be reaching a maximum altitude or 4,215m, we also recommend that you physically prepare beforehand and don’t choose this route if you have medical conditions that could affect your health while trekking.

Weather varies from region to region in Peru, so you’ll probably want to take a variety of clothes that’ll see you through no matter where you are.

If you’re delving into the Amazon Rainforest, it rains most of the time. It’s even wetter during November-March, which is also the time when it rains in the Andes Mountain region (where Machu Picchu is located).

The coastal regions are mostly dry throughout the year and are hottest during December-March, making it a great destination to get away from the Northern Hemisphere cold! This is also the warmest, sunniest time to visit Lima. In May-September, Lima is often shrouded in dense fog (“La Garua”) and can be drizzly. Of course, this is the driest time of the year to see Macchu Picchu, so if your Peru tour includes several parts of the country, you will probably have to come prepared for all weathers!

The answer to this question depends on the regions in Peru that you intend to visit, as climates vary across the country quite dramatically.

If you’re going to Machu Picchu, located in the central and southern Andes range, you should be aware that it’s best to visit in the dry season, which spans from May to September. The busiest time for tourist season in July-August.

If you’re travelling to Peru’s coastal regions, the climate is pretty stable and remains dry for most of the year.

Chances are, you’ll need summer clothes, swimming gear (especially if travelling when it’s hotter in December-March), warm layers and waterproofs! If you’re going to be enjoying the local restaurants at nights, you may want to bring some smart clothes as well so that you blend in – Peruvian people are typically well-dressed!

For trekking the Inca trail, sturdy walking shoes, warm layers and a practical backpack are all essential.

For the Amazon, your wardrobe should take into account the mosquito population! Long-sleeved but loose-fitting layers for your top and bottom half will help you fly under their radar somewhat. Ensure that you’re armed with an effective bug repellent and add a sunhat, sunglasses and waterproof walking shoes to your outfit so that you’re ready for the rainforest’s climate as well!

Fights to Peru vary in length depending on the airports you use for your departure and arrival. It’s also typical for there to be one or two connections along the way, when flying from the UK. As a guideline, a trip from London to Lima may take 14-21 hours.