Peru

Lima, was founded as a city by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and is a treasure trove of history. It is a crowded city but offers the chance to explore ancient Incan archaeological sites, or stroll through the elegant plazas and cathedrals and palaces dating from Spanish colonial era. Lima is the usual entry point into Peru for people arriving by air.

The beautiful city of Cuzco sits in a high altitude bowl of mountains at 3400m, once the capital of the Incan Empire it has impressive ruins from that era which has mixed with colonial Spanish architecture. Cuzco is the start and end point for the various  Inca trail Treks of the region and is linked by air to Lima.

The Inca Festival of the Sun, Inti Raymi, is held on June 24 and many locals visit Machu Picchu in June / July, so trekking permits can be hard to obtain at this time for the popular treks.

The glorious mountaintop ruins of Machu Picchu have become world famous and on the itinerary of all visitors to Peru. The city can be best visited by walking in one of the ancient Incan pathways which connect to the city, such as the Lares trek which links into the final section of the more crowded, Inca trail to visit the ruins. Machu Picchu ( and other Incan ruins) can also be seen by walking the more adventurous Salkanatay trek which visits at the end of the itinerary.