Peru concentrates the best of South American adventure into one country — the Inca Trail through cloud forest to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley's market towns, and the Amazon basin all within a few hours of each other.
The Classic Inca Trail is four days of genuine trekking at altitude through some of the best-preserved Inca landscape in existence. Wiñay Wayna, the orchid-draped ruin complex the night before the finale, is almost as impressive as the Sun Gate at dawn. The trick is arriving at Machu Picchu before the first train.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve is the counterpoint: a boat descent from high cloud forest into lowland jungle, with oxbow lakes, river otters, and an extraordinary density of bird life. Together, the two experiences span an altitude range from 4,215 m to 400 m — one of the widest ecological arcs available in a single trip.
In-depth guide
The Patagonia Adventure Guide
6 min read