Perù: Ande e Amazzonia

Lima stretches along the desert coast of the Pacific, capital of Peru and the gateway to every journey through the Andean nation. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the "City of Kings," it preserves a historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Spanish colonial legacy intertwines with the energy of a contemporary metropolis. The monumental heart revolves around the Plaza Mayor, framed by the Cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno and the famous carved wooden balconies overlooking the streets of the old town. A few steps away, the Convento de San Francisco holds catacombs and an ancient library, while the Casa de Aliaga recounts five unbroken centuries of history. Moving toward the ocean, the districts of Miraflores and Barranco reveal the city's modern, bohemian soul: along the Malecón, clifftop paths run high above the sea, the Parque del Amor offers Pacific sunsets, and paragliders glide over the waves. Barranco, with its pastel-coloured houses, the Puente de los Suspiros and its art studios, is the haunt of artists and musicians. Not far from the centre rises the Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid of the pre-Columbian Lima culture, a testament to a past that predates the arrival of the Europeans. Today Lima is recognised as one of the gastronomic capitals of Latin America: birthplace of fresh ceviche, fish marinated in lime, the pisco sour, nikkei cuisine blending Peruvian and Japanese traditions, and acclaimed restaurants ranked among the world's best. The markets of San Isidro and the refined eateries of Miraflores reflect a passion for food that defines the country's identity. Between museums devoted to pre-Columbian gold and Moche ceramics, ocean-battered cliffs and a lively nightlife, Lima invites you to discover it slowly, amid colonial history, unforgettable flavours and the boundless horizon of the Pacific.

Arequipa rises at over 2,300 metres, watched over by the three volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu, and owes its nickname "Ciudad Blanca" to sillar, the pale volcanic stone of its elegant historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's heart is the Plaza de Armas, framed by arcades and the grand cathedral, while nearby the Santa Catalina Monastery unfolds like a small citadel of ochre and indigo lanes. Don't miss the church of La Compañía, with its finely carved Baroque façade, and the districts of Yanahuara and Cayma, which offer spectacular views of the volcanoes. Arequipa's cuisine is among Peru's most celebrated, with dishes such as rocoto relleno and chupe de camarones. Gateway to the Colca Canyon, Arequipa blends colonial elegance, bold flavours and sweeping Andean landscapes.

The journey from Arequipa to the Colca Valley is spectacular and adrenaline-filled: you pass by the two volcanoes Chachani and Pichu Pichu, cross the Pampa Cañahuas Vicuna Reserve with grazing vicuñas, see pre-Inca terraces traversed by herds of llamas with shepherds in traditional costumes, and cross the Patapampa pass at an altitude of 4,910 m; the ascent is truly challenging and the lack of oxygen is felt, but the descent into the canyon to the village of Chivay, 1,300 m lower, is fantastic. Carved by the Colca River through the mountains of southern Peru, the Cañón del Colca is one of the deepest canyons in the world, with walls plunging more than three thousand metres. Its slopes are shaped by pre-Inca agricultural terraces, still farmed by the Collagua and Cabana communities who preserve their language and traditional dress. The most anticipated moment is dawn at the Cruz del Cóndor, where majestic Andean condors soar on the rising thermals. Along the valley, the villages of Chivay and Yanque welcome travellers with colonial churches and hot springs perfect for relaxing after a hike. A grand landscape where nature, tradition and wildlife come together.

From the Colca Valley to Puno, the road travels at high altitude in a landscape reminiscent of the tundra, with small herds of llamas and alpacas, lakes, and rare villages; the journey takes about 6 hours. Puno stretches along the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and is regarded as Peru's folklore capital. From its waters rise the famous Uros Islands, built entirely from totora reed that the inhabitants weave into their homes and boats, while further out lie the islands of Taquile and Amantani, where ancient traditions endure. The textile art of Taquile is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. A meeting point of Quechua and Aymara cultures, Puno is at its best in February, when the festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria fills the streets with music, dance and vivid costumes. Amid vast waters and high-altitude skies, it is a place where Andean culture is still lived authentically.

A sheet of water shared by Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, at around 3,800 metres. On its waters float the Uros islands, built from totora reeds, while Taquile and Amantani preserve age-old traditions of weaving and hospitality. Puno is the gateway to this world, where Quechua and Aymara cultures keep their language and rituals alive. A landscape of light and silence suspended between sky and high plateau.

You cross the Andes Cordillera amidst magnificent landscapes, with stops in the village of Raqchi with the imposing walls of the Inca temple built to appease the wrath of the god Viracocha, in Andahuaylillas with a 17th-century church, a magnificent example of provincial colonial art, and in the village of Pucarà, famous for its colorful ceramics. The highest point of the journey is the La Raya pass (4,335 m). Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco unfolds at over 3,400 metres above sea level among the mountains of the Peruvian Andes, holding within its very name — Qosqo, "the navel of the world" — the sacred role it played for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is a living palimpsest in which mighty Inca walls, perfectly fitted without mortar, form the foundations of Spanish colonial palaces and churches. Its beating heart is the Plaza de Armas, dominated by the Cathedral and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, surrounded by arcades, cafés and craft workshops. Nearby, the Qorikancha — the Temple of the Sun, once clad in sheets of gold — bears witness to the architectural genius of the Inca, upon which the conquistadors built the convent of Santo Domingo. Climbing toward the San Blas quarter, cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies and artists' studios reveal the city's most intimate soul, while the famous alley of Hatun Rumiyoc guards the legendary twelve-angled stone. On the heights above Cuzco rises the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its enormous megalithic blocks, an ideal starting point to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From here you reach the sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, with their colourful markets and agricultural terraces carved into the mountains, and above all Machu Picchu, the mythical lost city among the clouds. Cuzco is also a sensory experience: markets such as San Pedro are fragrant with corn, Andean potatoes and tropical fruits, while local cuisine offers dishes such as cuy, alpaca and chicha de jora. Amid ancestral ceremonies, festivals like Inti Raymi and a spirituality that still pervades the streets, Cuzco welcomes the traveller into a journey out of time, where Inca history and colonial heritage coexist beneath the clear Andean sky.

The route crosses the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a region rich in archaeological sites and natural beauty. Among the most significant stops along the way are the Moray ruins, an Inca site believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory, and the Maras salt mines, where salt is still produced today using traditional methods. Another important stop along the route is Chinchero, a picturesque Andean village famous for its artisan markets and ancient Inca ruins. An ancient Inca outpost in the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo preserves its urban layout intact, with paved streets and water channels still in use. Above the village rise the terraces of the fortress and the Temple of the Sun, built from enormous blocks of pink granite. It was here, in 1536, that the Inca won one of their few victories against the Spanish conquistadors. From Ollantaytambo departs the scenic railway leading to Machu Picchu, making it an essential stop on any Andean journey. A village where the past is still alive. Also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, Aguas Calientes is the town that serves as gateway to the world's most famous Inca citadel, reachable only by train or on foot along the Urubamba valley. Set between steep, forest-clad mountainsides where the Andes begin to give way to the Amazon, it owes its name to the hot springs that have long made it a place of rest. From here begins the climb to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world, where the trail leads to the Puerta del Sol and its legendary views. Among restaurants, craft markets and the ceaseless rush of the river, Aguas Calientes is the lively threshold to an unforgettable experience.

Perched at around 2,400 metres among the Andean peaks, Machu Picchu is the most famous lost city of the Inca, brought back to light in 1911 and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overlooking the valley of the Urubamba river, it reveals stone terraces, temples and palaces of remarkable precision, including the Intihuatana, the enigmatic solar clock. Those seeking breathtaking views can climb the peak of Huayna Picchu or reach the site on foot along the legendary Inca Trail. A timeless thrill in the heart of the Andes.

At the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers, Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon and an ideal starting point for exploring the Tambopata Reserve and Manu National Park. From here you venture into one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, with canopy walkways, night excursions and sightings of monkeys, caimans and hundreds of bird species. A highlight is Lake Sandoval, a crescent-shaped lagoon ringed by palms and home to giant otters. Amid tropical heat and endless forests, Puerto Maldonado offers the Amazon adventure in its most authentic form.