EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is much more than the world’s highest navigable stretch of water: it is a place of culture, legend and natural wonders. Revered as the birthplace of the Incas, archaeological sites and ancient monuments dot its pristine shores. 

Set high in the Andes, between Peru and Bolivia, the lake is studded with islands, both natural and man-made. Most famous among these are the 42 Uros islands, all made of reeds. 

Minimum stay: 2 nights

Amazon Cruise - Iquitos

There is no better way to experience the diverse wildlife of the rainforest than aboard a luxury cruiser on the Amazon River. Gliding quietly into remote jungle, you experience the animals close up. 

Cruise to Pacaya Samiria Reserve and enter a world filled with birds adorned in neon-brilliant plumage, graceful hawks and herons and millions of butterflies. These magical excursions are a unique opportunity to discover hundreds of species of Amazon wildlife. 

Minimum stay: 3 nights

Amazon Lodge - Puerto Maldonado

Where the Madre de Dios River meanders through the rainforest lies the biodiversity capital of Peru. In this small area of the Amazon basin, just one giant tree is home to more insect species than all of Great Britain, while the variety of plant life in a single hectare far exceeds that of the entire USA. 

A highlight of this trip is the Tambopata tree canopy bridge. Stretching for more than a quarter of a mile, it is one of South America's longest treetop walks. Visitors can stroll through the thick vegetation, suspended 103 feet above the ground. Millions of species, many still undiscovered, live within this realm. 

Minimum stay: 2 nights

Archaeological North

Northern Peru was once inhabited by two important civilizations, the Chimú and the Mochica. Both have left behind myriad archaeological attractions such as the ancient capital of Chan Chan, the largest mud city in the Americas, and the remarkable Huacas (sacred places) of the Sun and the Moon. Another impressive site is El Brujo complex, decorated with amazing figures of dancers and warriors. 

Visit the famous royal tombs of Sipán and admire its extraordinary collection of gold artefacts. Túcume, a cluster of more than 20 towering adobe pyramids, is another archeological site of unique beauty. 

Minimum stay: 2 nights

Paracas Bay & Nazca Lines

A dramatic swathe of desert meets the sea at Paracas, a spectacular stretch of coastline just a few hours south of Lima. The cliffs that fringe its beaches are teeming with millions of birds that live here year-round, and thousands more, from guano birds to Humboldt penguins, that migrate from the Northern Hemisphere and from further south. Among the many other creatures found in this area are sea lions, whose colonies can be viewed by boat. 

A two-hour flight will take you from Pisco airport (10 minutes from Paracas) to the famous Nazca Lines. These vast drawings of mammals, insects and deities are scattered over 50 square kms of desert, and are the most extraordinary legacy left by a culture that flourished in 300 BC. A series of complex designs, some up to 300 meters long, the lines can only be seen in their full glory from the sky, at an altitude of at least 1,500 feet. 

Minimum stay: Full day

Ecuador/Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands emerged above the ocean surface from a series of volcanic eruptions that took place four to five million years ago. Since then they have remained relatively untouched by man, and are considered to be the most diverse and complex archipelago in the world. 

The islands are known for their extraordinary range of endemic species, including a wealth of fabulous birds. Many of these remarkable creatures have had no predators for thousands of years and therefore show no fear of humans and other animals. 

Minimum stay: 5 nights

Brazil - Rio and Iguassu

One holiday; two natural wonders of the world. 

Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city of contrasts. Impossibly steep granite mountains jut out of the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand, colonial buildings nestle among glass skyscrapers and verdant forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas. 

Equally impressive are the celebrated Iguassu waterfalls, a short flight south west of Rio. Set in a lush, national park of subtropical rainforest, the tumbling waters are surrounded by fascinating birds, animals and butterflies. This paradise offers limitless thrills: explore by boat, helicopter or on foot to discover nature at its most dramatic and pristine. 

Minimum stay: 5 nights