Adventure in Peru

Peru's capital city is perched along the cliffs of the Pacific coast and offers a mix of beachside activities, boho neighbourhoods to peruse, and its fair share of remarkable architecture. Visit the fascinating pyramid at Huaca Pucllana, Museo Larco, which houses Peru's most important collection of Pre-Columbian artefacts, and peruse the Mercado Indio. For the ultimate view of Lima, paraglide off the nearby cliffs, or learn to surf in the bay below. When it comes to nightfall, you'll be spoilt for choice. This is the city with a National Pisco Sour Day after all...

Surrounding Cusco, there are miles of wrinkly mountains and rainbow-hued peaks), waterways and Incan ruins. This area is the Sacred Valley and if adventure is on your lips, you'll enjoy exploring by quad bike or bicycle, hiking, ziplining, and even paragliding... You get the picture! They valley is also an open-air museum of sorts, where you can marvel at the ingenuitive agricultural terraces at Pisac, the superbly-preserved temples of Ollantaytambo, and the sprawling Maras salt pools, which are still mined today.

Of all the destinations in Peru, Machu Picchu is perhaps the most well-known and a true bucket lister. There are multiple ways to reach this ancient citadel, including a train ride, day trek, or the Inca Trail, which will take you through valleys and jungles before revealing Machu Picchu on the fourth day. Wander round the impressive Incan fortress, its temples, palaces and homes, all amazingly-preserved and marvel at the Intihuatana Stone (a sun dial indicating their deep knowledge of astronomy) and Royal Tomb as your guide shares Machu Picchu's history. You could even climb the stone steps of Huayna Picchu for an incredible view from the top.

Once the capital of the Incan Empire, Cusco is an emblem of Peru's past - it was even designed in the shape of a puma. Explore the city on foot, admiring Incan ruins and Spanish architecture (and learn about the temples and palaces that once stood in their place). Most of the city's highlights, markets and museums are within walking distance of the main Plaza de Armas, which is a whirl of activity and history on its own. And be sure to stop at a local restaurant or two to get a taste of Peru's delicacies - then learn how to make a few dishes yourself.