Peru
Inca ruins, Sacred Valley villages and the world's best restaurant scene.
Why Peru?
Peru offers the kind of travel that stays with you: the silence of Machu Picchu before the first train arrives, a market in the Sacred Valley unchanged in centuries, and a dinner in Lima that competes with the best in the world.
For a solo traveller, Peru's structure — a coastal city chapter, a highland circuit and optional jungle extension — provides natural shape to the journey and excellent infrastructure throughout.
Why it works.
Peru is a well-established solo travel destination with good infrastructure in the main tourist areas. Cusco's compact centre is walkable and sociable; the Sacred Valley villages offer a quieter, deeply personal experience. Lima's Miraflores and Barranco neighbourhoods are safe, walkable and extraordinarily well-served for solo dining.
Best areas.
Cusco's San Blas & Plaza de Armas
The artistic neighbourhood above the main square — the most atmospheric base for the highland chapter.
The Sacred Valley
Pisac, Ollantaytambo and the Inca terraces — best based here for a slower, more immersive alternative to Cusco.
Lima: Miraflores & Barranco
The clifftop Pacific neighbourhood and the bohemian art district — the best of Peru's extraordinary food city.
May to October is the dry season — the best time for trekking, clear skies at Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley at its most vivid. November to April brings rain, green landscapes and fewer crowds. Lima is grey in June to August (Andean winter) but the food scene is year-round.
Lima to Cusco is a short domestic flight. The Vistadome train to Machu Picchu is a beautiful journey. Taxis and private transfers handle the valley. Alma will plan the acclimatisation days so altitude sickness is managed rather than suffered.
Ready to make Peru your own?
Tell us how you like to travel and we'll build a personalised plan for Peru — the right neighbourhoods, stays and experiences for you.
Plan My Peru Trip