10 Best Tours in Peru

As one of South America’s most popular destinations, Peru offers a truly impressive array of our experiences. Whether you’re visiting for the first time and wish to experience the most famous highlights, or are looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure to discover lesser-known treasures, you’ll surely find that one (if not more) of the 10 best tours in Peru will tick all your boxes.

Ready to explore this magical country?

Check out all the amazing adventures you could be enjoying!

1. Classic Peru – for the first-time visitor looking for a short & sweet small-group tour

The itinerary and time-frame of the Classic Peru tour suits first-time visitors who want to soak up the best of the Peruvian Andes in a fortnight and in the company of like-minded travellers. Small-group tours such as this have been immensely popular for decades in Peru and include a mix of short flights and overland travel to offer a really comprehensive experience. Not only will you enjoy the incredible architecture and history of Lima, Arequipa and Cusco but you’ll also take an amazing day-trip to the jaw-dropping Colca Canyon (one of the world’s deepest), a boat trip on Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake on earth) and, of course, an unforgettable 4-day journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas culminating in a visit to Machu Picchu. Looking for that perfect introduction to Peru? This 12-day Classic Peru tour is it!

Machu Picchu is surrounded by mountains

Machu Picchu is surrounded by mountains, photo credit: Shutterstock

2. Luxury Peru – for those who’d love a little more comfort

The handpicked itinerary of Luxury Peru is aimed at those travellers seeking a little more comfort, luxury and exclusivity. Tailor-made luxury tours in Peru offer a wealth of options, both in terms of accommodation standard (you choose where to splurge most), travel dates and destinations, which means the detailed itinerary is a wonderful recommendation but can be personalised to suit your desires. What can you cover in two weeks? How about a jaunt through the Andes visiting Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu, a luxury Andean Explorer train ride to Lake Titicaca and a startling Amazon river cruise aboard the gorgeous Delfin II?! Yes, we think that’s pretty inspirational. An exceptional value-for-money Peru tour that’s ideal for those looking for a little more, of everything.

Totora boat on the Titicaca lake near Puno, Peru

Lake Titicaca, photo credit: Shutterstock

3. Peru in Depth – more time equals a more in-depth experience

Should you have a few more days up your sleeve then this in-depth tour of Peru offers the best of both above-detailed tours, plus a few more stunning destinations thrown in for good measure. On this 18-day itinerary, you can explore the high-altitude Andean hubs of Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, with an outstanding sightseeing flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines and, to cap it all off, a spellbinding 3-night stay in the Tambopata Amazon Reserve, one of Peru’s most distinguished Amazon areas. You chose your comfort and luxury levels, starting date and inclusions, and we do the rest, delivering one of the most comprehensive, value-for-money Peru tours of all.

A boat navigating the Tambopata jungle river during a purple and pink sunrise with reflection in the water in the Amazon rainforest in eastern Peru

Tambopata Jungle River, photo credit: Shutterstock

4. Andes & Amazon – for those who are short on time but BIG on wishes

If you love the sound of an all-encompassing Peru tour but simply don’t have the time to take a multi-week jaunt through the country, then you might just fall in love with our Andes & Amazon tour. We’ve combined the top three most coveted highlights and designed a genial itinerary that’ll allow you to soak them up in just 10 days. A culture-infused visit to Cusco, a bucket-list Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu and a visit to not one but two magnificent destinations in the Amazon. The best of the Andes and Amazon, in one compact journey that packs an almighty punch? You’re welcome!

Morning sun rising at Plaza de armas, Cusco, City

Plaza De Aemas, Cusco, photo credit: Shutterstock

5. A Taste of Peru – ideal for the gourmand explorer

If you’re a self-confessed gourmand explorer then you’ll probably already know that Peru boasts arguably the most adored and complex cuisine in all of Latin America. If not, you’ll soon find out! Take your taste buds for a spin around the country on this journey of gastronomic discovery and come feast your way through the Andes and coast of Peru with us. You’ll enjoy superb culinary delights over 10 exciting days, spanning a wide array of dining experiences: from authentic meals created with indigenous Amazonian ingredients to fine-dining in some of the continent’s most celebrated restaurants. For our Taste of Peru tour, we’ve collected the best food and market tours, cooking classes and degustation experiences in the country to create a mouth-watering itinerary that’ll surely hit the spot. What’s more, you’ll of course squeeze in a visit to Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, in-between your culinary exploits.

PERUVIAN CEVICHE SEBICHE. Peruvian seafood and fish sebiche with maize.

Peruvian seafood, photo credit: Shutterstock

6. Highlights of Peru + Galapagos – for the wildlife lover who wants it all

While it’s fair to say that Peru attracts mainly history lovers and culture vultures, all who visit eventually realise what an amazing wilderness and wildlife destination this really is. Combine the best of both worlds on this tour and you can enjoy an unsurpassed travel experience. From Lima, cast off to the high Andes for a rewarding visit to Lake Titicaca and its dreamy islands, before heading up to Cusco for a feasting of ancient Inca culture. Take the historic train to Machu Picchu and spend a day exploring this mystical archaeological city, before plunging to the darkest depths of the Amazon Rainforest at the Tambopata Reserve. From here, you’ll head straight up to Ecuador, for a history-infused tour of Quito and, the prime highlight, a 5-day cruise of the wildlife-enriched Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Sea Lions (Zalophus wollebaeki). The colony at Gardner Bay on Espanola in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Galapagos Sea Lions, photo credit: Shutterstock

7. Romantic Peru – for honeymooners and anyone looking for a unique romantic getaway

The rise in Peru’s popularity as an adventure honeymoon destination was the incentive for our Romantic Peru tour, a two-week journey through the country staying in dreamy lodges and hotels and including a balanced (and not too rushed) mix of experiences, including an amazing vow-renewal ceremony in the heart of the mystical Andes, presided by an indigenous shaman. Plenty of romantic sundowners in idyllic spots, luxury dining and fabulous sightseeing makes this an ideal honeymoon and wedding anniversary tour. Highlights include a luxury train ride to Machu Picchu, city tours in Cusco and Lima, a superb lodge-stay on the shores of Lake Titicaca and, perhaps the most unforgettable experience of all, a 3-day river cruise in the Peruvian Amazon.

Couple watching the sunsest at Lake Titicaca

Sunset at Lake Titicaca, photo credit: Shutterstock

8. Highlights of Bolivia & Peru – two countries in one magical journey across the central Andes

Tours of Peru and Bolivia go together like ceviche and cerveza (that is, perfectly) so it’s not surprising to know that you can ever-so-easily visit both countries in one fell swoop. Over 12 exciting days, you can experience the best of the Peruvian Andes and hop over to the Bolivian side of the majestic peaks, including visits to breathtaking La Paz and its incredible Valley of the Moon. Cast off from the unofficial Bolivian capital (the highest in the world) and explore the magical wonders of the Moon Valley before heading to Copacabana (the other Copacabana) on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Island-hop your way around the Bolivian side of the sapphire-hued lake before reaching Puno, the base for the Peruvian island-hopping adventure. From here, retrace the ancient Inca journey to Cusco across the altiplano before embarking on a tour-de-force of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. This 13-day adventure really covers the best of the Central Andes, serving up the most unforgettable highlights in not one but two countries. For mountain lovers, active explorers and anyone in love with ancient Inca culture, this ‘highlights’ trip is hard to pass up.

Valle de la Luna in La Paz,Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia, photo credit: Shutterstock

9. Wonders of Peru – for an active, off-the-beaten-path adventure

The classic Inca Trail to Machu Pichu may be the most famous trail leading to the ancient Inca city but it isn’t the only one in existence. Our Wonders of Peru tour is perfect if you who want to get the most out of your Andean sojourn whilst keeping off the most trodden path of all. Join us on a guided trek along the Lares Trail to Machu Picchu and you’ll be privy to a side of the Sacred Valley of the Incas not many people get to see. Still the same amazing reward, still the same spectacular hiking excursions yet with an added boost of serenity and exclusivity. This 12-day Peru tour offers the best of the Andes and the Amazon, rewarding your hiking efforts with a sensational 3-day Amazon River cruise in Iquitos.

Llamas on the trekking route from Lares in the Andes.

Llamas in the Andes

10. Peru & Ecuador by Rail – for rail enthusiasts and anyone who loves slow meanderings

Home to some of the most spectacular train rides in the world, Peru is a wonderful destination for rail-travel enthusiasts. This itinerary hones in three of the most iconic rail journeys in the whole continent: the Belmond Andean Explorer from Arequipa to Cusco, the 360 Machu Picchu Train to the ancient Inca capital and the spellbinding Treno Crucero from Guayaquil to Quito, the latter traversing some of the least-known but most astonishing Andean peaks of all. All three rail journeys are award-winning, unforgettable and utterly unique and, if that’s not all, they all offer you the priceless chance to get off the Gringo Trail and explore the enchanting high-altitude country-sides of Peru and Ecuador. If you have 16 days at your disposal and wish for a very distinct and luxurious experience, then you could do no better than to train-hop along the western flanks of the Central Andes.

A view from the window of the famous 'Train of the Volcanoes' route that passes near many active volcanoes in Ecuador. In the picture is the Cotopaxi volcano to be seen in a sunny day.

Train of the Volcanoes route, photo credit: Shutterstock

At Chimu Adventures, you’ll find an impressive array of itinerary inspiration that are simply meant to guide you along your Peru travel planning. The great majority of our Peru tours can be personalised and customised to meet your needs and desires so simply let us know what you’d love to experience here and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

Contact us today to know more.

Author: Laura Pattara

“Laura Pattara is a modern nomad who’s been vagabonding around the world, non-stop, for the past 15 years. She’s tour-guided overland trips through South America and Africa, travelled independently through the Middle East and has completed a 6-year motorbike trip from Europe to Australia. What ticks her fancy most? Animal encounters in remote wilderness, authentic experiences off the beaten trail and spectacular Autumn colours in Patagonia.”

Comments