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

Netherlands
- Viva Travel Guides Peru
- At VIVA, we know Peru like no other guidebook company possibly can, as our headquarters are right up the road in Quito, Ecuador, where we frequently take trips to the "Southern Inca Empire." VIVA Travel Guides' on-the-ground authors bring you travel wisdom and street smarts. We live here, we understand the language, we understand the people,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Viva Travel Guides Peru
- At VIVA, we know Peru like no other guidebook company possibly can, as our headquarters are right up the road in Quito, Ecuador, where we frequently take trips to the "Southern Inca Empire." VIVA Travel Guides' on-the-ground authors bring you travel wisdom and street smarts. We live here, we understand the language, we understand the people,... Read more

Netherlands
- Fodor's Essential Peru
- EXPANDED COVERAGE: Special emphasis has been placed on trending Lima's dining scene and alternate Inca Trail-type hiking routes. Focused coverage on Peru's essential, must-see destinations includes new restaurants and hotels. ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: The guide offers beautifully illustrated, in-depth coverage of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail and... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Fodor's Essential Peru
- EXPANDED COVERAGE: Special emphasis has been placed on trending Lima's dining scene and alternate Inca Trail-type hiking routes. Focused coverage on Peru's essential, must-see destinations includes new restaurants and hotels. ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: The guide offers beautifully illustrated, in-depth coverage of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail and... Read more

Netherlands
- The Rough Guide to Peru
- The Rough Guide to Peru is the ultimate guide to one of the most thrilling countries in South America. It includes comprehensive coverage of Peru's great sights from the soaring Inca citadel of Machu Picchu to the high altitude Central Railway. There are incisive reviews of all the best places to stay, eat and drink, plus the lowdown on some of... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The Rough Guide to Peru
- The Rough Guide to Peru is the ultimate guide to one of the most thrilling countries in South America. It includes comprehensive coverage of Peru's great sights from the soaring Inca citadel of Machu Picchu to the high altitude Central Railway. There are incisive reviews of all the best places to stay, eat and drink, plus the lowdown on some of... Read more

Netherlands
2018
- Reisgids ANWB Wereldreisgids Peru | ANWB Media
- De ANWB Wereldreisgids Peru is een complete en praktische reisgids voor jouw droomvakantie door Peru. Het land is er één van grote contrasten: de kale kustwoestijn aan de koude Grote Oceaan met zijn vruchtbare rivierdalen, de ruige bergen van de Andes en het tropische laagland van de Amazone. Natuurlijk mag een bezoek aan Cusco, Machu Picchu en... Read more

Netherlands
2011
- Reisgids Kunstreiseführer Peru und Bolivien | Dumont
- Indianerkulturen, Inka-Ruinen und barocke Kolonialpracht der Andenstaaten DuMont Kunst-Reiseführer. 3., aktualisierte Auflage, Nachdruck. Read more

Netherlands
2016
- Lonely Planet Peru
- # 1 best-selling guide to Peru Lonely Planet Peru is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Trek the ancient Inca trail, puzzle over the mystery of the Nasca lines, wander the stone temples of Machu Picchu or indulge in local delicacies in Lima; all with your trusted... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2016
- Lonely Planet Peru
- # 1 best-selling guide to Peru Lonely Planet Peru is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Trek the ancient Inca trail, puzzle over the mystery of the Nasca lines, wander the stone temples of Machu Picchu or indulge in local delicacies in Lima; all with your trusted... Read more

Netherlands
- Peru
- Congratulations! You've Found the Ultimate Guide to Peru Travel!You are super lucky to be going to Peru, and this guide will let you know all of the coolest things to do, see, and eat around the country, in places like Lima, Cusco, Trujillo, Iquitos, the Andes, and Machu Picchu.Why You Need 101 Coolest Things to Do in PeruThis Peru guide will... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Peru
- Congratulations! You've Found the Ultimate Guide to Peru Travel!You are super lucky to be going to Peru, and this guide will let you know all of the coolest things to do, see, and eat around the country, in places like Lima, Cusco, Trujillo, Iquitos, the Andes, and Machu Picchu.Why You Need 101 Coolest Things to Do in PeruThis Peru guide will... Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Reisgids Handbook Cuzco, Machu Picchu & the Inca Heartland - Peru | Footprint
- Zo mogelijk nog betere gids dan de Lonely Planet. Vol met de praktische informatie over reizen, slapen etc. Goede verwijzingen naar websites en veel mailadressen. Zelfde soort informatie als de Lonely Planet, diepgaander met vooral meer tips in de minder bekende gebieden. Ook Engelstalig. Toonaangevend voor met name de Midden en Zuid... Read more

Netherlands
- Something Lost Behind the Ranges, Memoirs of a Traveler in Peru
- Peru was in a "state of siege," Halley's Comet was making its cyclical reappearance for the first time in seventy-two years, and the throngs of tourists that would soon elevate Machu Picchu to a major world tourist destination had not yet descended upon the Sacred Valley. Before the luxury hotels, high-speed trains and express helicopters, an... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Something Lost Behind the Ranges, Memoirs of a Traveler in Peru
- Peru was in a "state of siege," Halley's Comet was making its cyclical reappearance for the first time in seventy-two years, and the throngs of tourists that would soon elevate Machu Picchu to a major world tourist destination had not yet descended upon the Sacred Valley. Before the luxury hotels, high-speed trains and express helicopters, an... Read more

Netherlands
2018
- Reisgids Peru | Rough Guides
- Net als de Lonely Planet en Footprint een echte gids voor de rugzakker. Veel info over slapen, vervoer en eten, maar ook aandacht voor algemene aspecten van het land. The Rough Guide to Peru covers the country in-depth from the jawdropping attractions of the Macchu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon to Lima’s endlessly hip restaurant scene.... Read more

Netherlands
- Trail of Feathers
- A shrunken head from Peru and a feather with traces of blood are the clues that launch Tahir Shah on his latest journey. Fascinated by the recurring theme of flight in Peruvian folklore, Shah sets out to discover whether the Incas really were able to fly like birds" over the jungle, as a Spanish monk reported. Or were they drug-induced... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Trail of Feathers
- A shrunken head from Peru and a feather with traces of blood are the clues that launch Tahir Shah on his latest journey. Fascinated by the recurring theme of flight in Peruvian folklore, Shah sets out to discover whether the Incas really were able to fly like birds" over the jungle, as a Spanish monk reported. Or were they drug-induced... Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Piura
- 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

United Kingdom
- San Martin
- 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
- Admiralty Chart 3083 - Ports on the Coast of Peru
- Plans included:Puerto Supe 1:40,000Puerto Huacho 1:40,000Cerro Azul 1:50,000Puerto Chimbote 1:25,000Bahia Ferrol and Bahia de Coishco 1:50,000Admiralty standard nautical charts comply with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations and are ideal for professional, commercial and recreational use. Charts within the series consist of a range of... Read more

United Kingdom
- Cajamarca
- 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
- Huancavalica
- 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
- Tacna
- 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
- Admiralty Chart 3084 - Ports on the Coast of Peru
- Plans included:Bahia Pisco 1:100,000Matarani 1:10,000Admiralty standard nautical charts comply with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations and are ideal for professional, commercial and recreational use. Charts within the series consist of a range of scales, useful for passage planning, ocean crossings, coastal navigation and entering... Read more

United Kingdom
- Ancash
- 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
- Huanuco
- 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
- Tumbes
- 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
- Ayacucho
- 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
- Junin
- 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