Not every trip to Peru needs to end at a checklist of ruins. Some of our best days happen far from the crowds — chasing hummingbirds through cloud forest, sharing a meal with a Quechua family, or standing in front of stone sarcophagi that tourism forgot to find. This is the Peru most visitors never see.
Cusco’s most important landmarks include sites from both Inca and colonial times, such as the Koricancha Temple and Plaza de Armas. It is also known for its vibrant local markets like San Pedro Market. The city is famous for its rich atmosphere, and the archeological park of Sacsayhuamán offers visitors a closer look at the city’s history and culture. The city’s architecture reflects the fusion of both indigenous Inca and Spanish colonial influences.
According to historical tradition, the salt pans of Maras predate the Incan Empire, although legend tells that they were inherited by the Incas. The terraced structures of Moray are believed to have been an agricultural research center of the Incas, conceived as an independent irrigation system.
The historic and ancient city of Ollantaytambo, once a fortress in the fight against the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, later became one of the last refuges of the neo-Inca state in Vilcabamba. These archaeological remains are among the most impressive Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley. Ollantaytambo is also one of the most convenient starting points for the Inca Trail.
The Inca civilization boasts of some of the best preserved Inca Ruins in the Sacred Valley. Pisac’s ruins themselves are a sight to behold. Perched on a ridge above and following the crest for some of the hour after visiting the impressive ruins one enjoys a hike down the trail.
Ten species, one morning, and nowhere to be but still. Join us for a half-day tucked into a private garden in the Sacred Valley, watching some of the planet’s tiniest, fastest flyers up close. Lunch and transfers included — it’s a small trip, but the kind that stays with you.
Three generations of Quechua tradition, one afternoon in the mountains. We’ll take you to meet Elvin and his family — farmers who’ve worked this land the same way for generations — and let them show you their world: the crops, the animals, the rhythm of a day up here. Want to stay longer? The visit extends into an overnight camping stay on the high pastures, surrounded by alpaca and llama herds.
Peru has more bird species than almost anywhere on Earth, and we go looking for them properly — expedition-style or in small groups, wherever the birds actually are. Southeastern rainforest in Manu National Park. Cloud forest in Chachapoyas. Coastline and Andes in between. Every itinerary is custom-built around what you want to see — and a well-worn copy of Aves del Perú comes with us.
Drive down from the Andes and the forest changes with every switchback — high grassland gives way to moss-draped cloud forest, then thick lowland rainforest, all inside a single national park. Manu is one of the best-preserved corners of the Amazon, home to jaguars, giant otters, and macaw clay licks painted red and blue at dawn. Along the way you may stop at the Machiguenga indigenous community, still living along the rivers much as they always have. Days here run slow and close to the ground: canoe rides at sunrise, night walks for frogs and insects, and silence broken only by birdsong.
Archaeology in the morning, endemic birds in the afternoon — that’s a normal day in Chachapoyas. This is a different Peru: fortress ruins wrapped in fog, sarcophagi tucked into cliff faces, and a hummingbird found nowhere else on the planet. • Kuelap — a pre-Inca fortress larger than Machu Picchu, reached by cable car over the valley • Revash & Karajía — cliffside tombs and painted sarcophagi, still watching over the valley below • The Marvelous Spatuletail — an endangered hummingbird found only in a handful of forest edges here, with two absurdly long tail feathers it uses to court a mate • Custom trips run 5 to 10+ days, mixing ruins with cloud forest birding at spots like Huembo, Pomacochas, and Abra Patricia
