There is a huge amount to see and absorb in a visit to Peru.  This trip provides a detailed insight from the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the montane and cloud forests where the headwaters of the Amazon collect, to one of the most wildlife intense locations in the entire lowland Amazon rainforest. The main body of this journey begins in the historic city of Cusco some 8,500 feet up in Peru's Southern Andes.  This is an ideal place to acclimatise and we take the opportunity to visit some of Peru's most important Inca sites.  These include the stone fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, and sites within Cusco itself.  The following day we take you to visit the fortress of Ollaytaytambo and to the ethnic market of Pisac.

From Cusco, you will then set off on a comfortable 5-day trek of the Inca Trail.  Our focus is to explore Inca history and ruins in detail, enjoying some spectacular scenery, and learning about the natural history of the Polylepis and montane forests you pass along the way.  The trekking involved is designed to be enjoyable, not an endurance test.  3 nights camping along the way is fully catered with all luggage carried by  porters whose welfare and fair working conditions is overseen by the Porters Syndicate of Cusco.  On the fourth day you arrive at Machu Picchu when most other visitors have left.  You then spend the night at a hotel close to Machu Picchu from where you can enjoy an early start to absorb the incredible spectacle of the ruins and the dramatic river canyon which surrounds them.

From Machu Picchu you journey by train back to Cusco to spend the night before starting on a natural history transect from the High Andes to lowland Amazon.  This is a descent of almost 4,000 metres starting in the high Alto Plano before travelling through montane forest and into the cloud forest.  Here you stay at a lodge close to one of the best locations to see the Cock-of-the-Rock bird.  The Cock-of-the-Rock is South America's equivalent to the Bird of Paradise, with the males presenting themselves in bright red and performing elaborate displays to attract females.

Continuing overland, you next descend into the Amazon Basin where you will be transferred to a motorised canoe and travel along the Alto Madre de Dios river. You will stop overnight at a jungle lodge.  The following day you will continue downriver to the Manu Wildlife Centre which is one of the best places in Peru to see Amazonian mammals and birds.  Two 35 metre canopy platforms provide excellent views into the treetops.  There are two salt licks here, one of which attracts tapir and another which attracts large concentrations of macaws.  Two large lagoons provide excellent opportunities to see Giant Otters and Hoatzins-a noisy prehistoric looking bird whose young possess a claw which enables them to climb.

Click here for sample itinerary.

Dates This trip can be run on a private basis any day of the week, but the rates shown below are applicable for small group departures starting each Thursday for which a minimum 2 persons are needed to run the trip. Prices £2,690 pp sharing excluding international flights joining a small group based on 3-star hotels Add £345 for 5 star accommodation or £845 for 5 star+ accommodation in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley. Private departures also available.  Please enquire for details. Single supplement The following supplements apply based on at least one other person booking onto the trip: Add £265 Add £455 for 5 star accommodation or £825 for 5 star + accommodation in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley. Price includes Domestic flights. All accommodation. All transfers English speaking guides within a small group max size 9. Full board in jungle lodges and on the Inca Trail Breakfasts in hotels. Price excludes International flights Sleeping bag for Inca Trail International departure tax ($30.25*) Domestic flight taxes ($6.05*) * correct at time of writing Flights We can arrange international flights that fit into the departure dates, or allow you more time to explore South America if you wish.  Return flights to Lima start from about £630. Activity Level Moderate.  A regular level of fitness is preferable for this journey as some trekking is required.

Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell, El Monasterio, Inca Nature, Hotel Apus