Abroad Trekkers .com Peru Travel Agency & Tour Operator

Activities Trekking and mountaineering are popular during the May to September dry season in the Andes. The most popular hike on the continent is the 33km (20mi) Inca Trail, west of Cuzco. Equipment can be rented in Cuzco and the trek takes three days. Huaraz, north of Lima, is the climbing and trekking center of Peru and the site of Huascará, at 6768m (22,199ft) the highest mountain in the country. Equipment, drivers and guides are readily available; the best time for hiking is June to August. Jungle treks can be arranged at Iquitos. Treks can last anywhere from a day to over a week; bring plenty of mosquito repellent. The Río Urubamba, near Cuzco, has white-water rafting possibilities. Yarinacocha has pleasant canoeing. The Peninsula de Paracs and nearby Islas Ballestas have the best-known bird and marine sanctuaries on the Peruvian coast, plus there's great swimming from secluded beaches from January to March. Tours to the sanctuaries are available daily and are relatively cheap. There are bodegas (wineries) to visit in the city of Ica, on the south coast, and guided tours to Colca Canyon, near the city of Arequipa.   View Map Click here South America's archaeological capital and oldest continuously inhabited city, Cuzco is now an important link in the region's travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Incan empire is readily apparent: Quechua-speaking Incan descendants crowd the centuries-old stone-walled city streets. Cuzco also boasts magnificent repositories of colonial art - fine examples can be found in La Catedral and Museo de Arqueológia. West of the city is Machu Picchu, the most spectacular site on the continent. Despite the relentless stampede of tourists, it still retains an air of grandeur and mystery. When To Go There are two main seasons in Cuzco - dry (roughly May to September) and wet (the rest of the time, but particularly December to March). The peak tourist season is from June to August, which coincides with the cooler dry season in the Andean highlands and summer vacation in North America and Europe. This is the best (and busiest) time to go trekking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Accomodation is also at its most crowded during this time, especially during the 10 days before Inti Raymi, on June 24, and during the Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days) on July 28 and 29. During the rest of the year, it's always worth bargaining for better rates. back to top   previous next