Peru
Description
Located on the west coast of South America, facing the Pacific Ocean lies Peru. Dominant feature is the Andes mountain range, running parallel to the coast, in a roughly north-south direction. Geographically, Peru can be divided in three: a narrow coastal strip in the west, a vast area of Amazon tropical rainforest in the east and northeast, and in between the highlands of the Andes with its Altiplano, glaciers, lakes, remote valleys and snowy peaks including Peru's highest: Huascaran (6768 m).
Peru's most famous and popular hiking trail is the 4-day Inca Trail from Chillca to Machu Picchu. So popular in fact, that the government has put a limit to the number of travelers allowed on the trail each day, so you need to book through a licensed touroperator months in advance to get a permit, guide, porters etc. Yet, it remains a beautiful trail through stunning high altitude scenery, past Inca monuments and ruins, culminating in the final destination of ancient Machu Picchu.
Trying to avoid the crowds, a number of alternative trails to Machu Picchu have emerged. There is the Salkantay trail, 5 days and slightly more demanding. Another option is the more strenuous 8-day trail from Cachora via Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. Whichever trail you choose, the city of Cusco is your central starting point, home base of most local operators, and the place to acclimatize to high altitude for a day or two before setting out. Some other treks in the Cusco and Machu Picchu area are the Lares Valley trek, the Vilcabamba trek, the Ancascocha trek, the Huchuy Qosqo trek, and the Ausangate circular trek.
But Peru has more to offer. Another wonderful area for hiking are the Cordillera Blanca of Huaraz, further north. Most popular here is the 5-day Santa Cruz trek, and there is the more strenuous 12-day Alpamayo trek. In the same area you will find the Cordillera Huayhuash trek. Another possibility is the region around Arequipa, featuring the volcano El Misti (5830 m) and the Colca Canyon.
Long distance hiking in Peru means camping en route, and high altitudes to which you need to acclimatize for a few days before setting out.
Trails
Regions
Mountains
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

United Kingdom
2019
- DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Peru
- Discover Peru with this essential travel guide, designed to help you create your own unique trip and to transport you to this beautiful country before you`ve even packed your case - see Machu Picchu at dawn, explore the stunning Inca Heartland, tuck into traditional Peruvian cuisine in Cusco or ride the rapids through Colca Canyon. The DK... Read more
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Netherlands
2018
- Reisgids Peru and Bolivia (Engels) | Marco Polo
- Handige en overzichtelijke, kleine reisgids voor een eerste kennismaking met de vakantiebestemming. Globale uitklapkaart achterin, makkelijk binnenzakformaat. Marco Polo Peru and Bolivia is for travellers want to have fun and feel relaxed from the moment they arrive at their holiday destination. This new series will appeal to all types of... Read more

Netherlands
1996
- Peru
- Peru, dessen Landschaft zu den wildesten Schönheiten der ganzen Erde zählt, wurde zu Beginn der 90er Jahre arg gebeutelt: Cholera und bürgerkriegsähnliche Zustände ließen den Fremdenverkehr des in den 80er Jahren zum Tourismusmagneten avancierenden Landes nahezu an den Nullpunkt sinken. Mittlerweile konnte die Krankheit erfolgreich bekämpft,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
1996
- Peru
- Peru, dessen Landschaft zu den wildesten Schönheiten der ganzen Erde zählt, wurde zu Beginn der 90er Jahre arg gebeutelt: Cholera und bürgerkriegsähnliche Zustände ließen den Fremdenverkehr des in den 80er Jahren zum Tourismusmagneten avancierenden Landes nahezu an den Nullpunkt sinken. Mittlerweile konnte die Krankheit erfolgreich bekämpft,... Read more

Netherlands
2008
- The Bradt Travel Guide Peruvian Wildlife
- This full-colour guide to the wildlife of the High Andes in Peru will appeal to the ardent wildlife enthusiast, curious tourist and armchair traveller alike. Some of the hotspots covered are Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inca Trail, the Avenue of the Volcanoes in Ecuador, and Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. With... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2008
- The Bradt Travel Guide Peruvian Wildlife
- This full-colour guide to the wildlife of the High Andes in Peru will appeal to the ardent wildlife enthusiast, curious tourist and armchair traveller alike. Some of the hotspots covered are Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inca Trail, the Avenue of the Volcanoes in Ecuador, and Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. With... Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Peru
- National Geographic Reisgids Peru is een exclusieve gids met sublieme fotografie die u meeneemt naar de bekende en minder bekende bezienswaardigheden. De experts van National Geographic nemen een kijkje achter de schermen en dringen door tot de kern van de cultuur, de geschiedenis en het volk van het land.Bezoek met deze National Geographic... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2017
- Peru
- National Geographic Reisgids Peru is een exclusieve gids met sublieme fotografie die u meeneemt naar de bekende en minder bekende bezienswaardigheden. De experts van National Geographic nemen een kijkje achter de schermen en dringen door tot de kern van de cultuur, de geschiedenis en het volk van het land.Bezoek met deze National Geographic... Read more

Netherlands
- Footprint Peru
- Whether you want to experience the wild nightlife of Lima or the exotic wildlife of the jungles of Manu and Tambopata, surf at one of the world's top breaks or discover lost Inca cities high in the Andes, or simply get off the Gringo Trail, Footprint's seventh edition of the highly acclaimed Peru Handbook will show you how. This guide provides... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Footprint Peru
- Whether you want to experience the wild nightlife of Lima or the exotic wildlife of the jungles of Manu and Tambopata, surf at one of the world's top breaks or discover lost Inca cities high in the Andes, or simply get off the Gringo Trail, Footprint's seventh edition of the highly acclaimed Peru Handbook will show you how. This guide provides... Read more

Netherlands
2018
- National Geographic Reisgids - Peru
- National Geographic Reisgids Peru is een exclusieve gids met sublieme fotografie die u meeneemt naar de bekende en minder bekende bezienswaardigheden. De experts van National Geographic nemen een kijkje achter de schermen en dringen door tot de kern van de cultuur, de geschiedenis en het volk van het land.Bezoek met deze National Geographic... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2018
- National Geographic Reisgids - Peru
- National Geographic Reisgids Peru is een exclusieve gids met sublieme fotografie die u meeneemt naar de bekende en minder bekende bezienswaardigheden. De experts van National Geographic nemen een kijkje achter de schermen en dringen door tot de kern van de cultuur, de geschiedenis en het volk van het land.Bezoek met deze National Geographic... Read more

Netherlands
2018
- Reisgids Handbook Peru | Footprint
- Peru Handbook ab 23.99 EURO 10. Auflage Read more

United Kingdom
2013
- Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails
- 40 trekking and mountain biking routes in the Sacred Valley Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2013
- Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails
- Guidebook to hiking and mountain biking in the Sacred Valley of Peru, including the Inca Trail. 40 routes (7 to Machu Picchu) visiting all major Incan sites discovered from Cusco, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Vilcabamba and in the remote region around Mount Ausangate. The routes are graded for difficulty, and most routes can be done on foot or by... Read more

Belgium
2013
- Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails
- Guidebook to hiking and mountain biking in the Sacred Valley of Peru, including the Inca Trail. 40 routes (7 to Machu Picchu) visiting all major Incan sites discovered from Cusco, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Vilcabamba and in the remote region around Mount Ausangate. The routes are graded for difficulty, and most routes can be done on foot or by... Read more

Netherlands
2013
- Wandelgids Peru - Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails | Cicerone
- The eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes is one of the most dramatic and diverse places on the planet, dropping from over 6000m (20,000ft) to just 200m above sea level. This dramatic drop in elevation produces a wide range of constantly changing climactic and vegetative zones – it is often possible to hike from the base of a glacier down to the... Read more

Netherlands
2016
- Moon Machu Picchu (Third Edition)
- This full-color guide to Machu Picchu includes vibrant photos and helpful planning maps.Dawn reveals ancient stonework backed by the towering Andes?the fusion of natural and manmade beauty, built in perfect harmony with the earth and skies. This is Machu Picchu, center of the lost Inca empire. And its yours to explore.This is the trip of a... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2016
- Moon Machu Picchu (Third Edition)
- This full-color guide to Machu Picchu includes vibrant photos and helpful planning maps.Dawn reveals ancient stonework backed by the towering Andes?the fusion of natural and manmade beauty, built in perfect harmony with the earth and skies. This is Machu Picchu, center of the lost Inca empire. And its yours to explore.This is the trip of a... Read more

Netherlands
- Footprint Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador Handbook
- Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador is a route for thrill-seekers! Footprint's 3rd edition Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador Handbook will take travellers off the usual 'Gringo Trail' to truly discover what this exhilarating region has to offer. The Amazon, the Andes and adventure, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador has it all by the bucket load. Whether travellers fancy... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Footprint Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador Handbook
- Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador is a route for thrill-seekers! Footprint's 3rd edition Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador Handbook will take travellers off the usual 'Gringo Trail' to truly discover what this exhilarating region has to offer. The Amazon, the Andes and adventure, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador has it all by the bucket load. Whether travellers fancy... Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Lima
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- La Libertad
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Ucayali
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Arequipa
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Cusco
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Lambayeque
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Peru - Ecuador IGN 86170
- Un grand nombre d?informations touristiques et routières, pour une carte que vous trouverez très vite indispensable lors de votre voyage. Read more

United Kingdom
- Loreto
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Puno
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Moquegua
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Ica
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Amazonas
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Pasco
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Madre de Dios
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more

United Kingdom
- Apurimac
- One of the titles in a series of maps of the administrative departments of Peru, with topography shown by altitude colouring and spot heights. Most maps also indicate cultivated areas. Scales vary considerably, given different sizes of the departments. Railways and four different types of roads and dirt tracks are shown, as well as local... Read more