The mysterious Nazca Lines are ancient geoglyphs, depicting distinct designs on the plains of the barren Nazca Desert. These incredible designs are believed to have originated over 2000 years ago and remain an unsolved mystery to researchers, thanks to their incredible precision and accuracy in a time where there was no access to technological aids, much like the mystery of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. The Nazca Lines have been keenly studied for over 80 years and were thought to have acted as rituals to the Gods by the Nazca people whilst also having strong connections to astronomy and the stars.

The only way to truly appreciate the unbelievable size and detailed structure of the Nazca Lines is by flying over them, head to the skies and soak up the incredible views from above. There are a number of tours offering flights over the Nazca Desert, accompanied by local guides offering detailed information of the geoglyphs and their origins. The lines mainly depict animals, plants and shapes, with certain designs measuring up to a whopping 1200 feet, whilst some of the straight Nazca Lines stretch an astonishing 30 miles.

The capital of Peru is home to a wide collection of stunning architecture, especially in its famous historical centre. The area’s two main squares; Plaza De Armas and Plaza San Martin are home to some of Peru’s most iconic buildings, from palaces and cathedrals to museums and convents. You’ll be spoilt for choice when roaming the bustling streets of Lima, there’s plenty to see and do around each and every corner, just make sure you pack your walking shoes and camera!

There are tons of walking tours operating within the city, allowing tourists to gain a heap of indepth information and facts about Lima’s intriguing history, whilst also delving deep into the city’s vibrant culture and lively atmosphere. Don’t forget to also check out the area of Miraflores, in contrast to Lima’s historical centre, Miraflores boasts a more modern feel with sweeping sandy beaches, an outdoor oceanside mall and a wide selection of idyllic bars and restaurants.

Nothing gets the blood pumping quite like jumping off a cliff, high above the Pacific Ocean. Lima’s Miraflores area is the perfect destination for a spot of paragliding, soak up unforgettable panoramic views of the city’s sweeping beaches, towering buildings and the magnificent Pacific Ocean as you gracefully soar through the skies of Lima. Paragliding is definitely one of the best activities to experience in Lima and also the most exhilarating.

A number of tour companies operate paragliding experiences in Lima, offering pickups from almost anywhere in the city. During the flight you’ll be strapped to an experienced instructor, meaning no prior experience or knowledge is necessary. It won’t break the bank either, prices for paragliding in Lima are extremely reasonable in comparison to other parts of the world.

Arequipa is a stunning colonial city located in the southeast corner of Peru, close to both the Bolivian and Chilean borders. This elegant city is situated right in the heart of the mighty Peruvian Andes and home to some of Peru’s most stunning scenery. Surrounded by four jaw dropping volcanoes, Ampato, Chachani, Misti and Pichu Pichu, Arequipa truly does boast one of the most magnificent backdrops in the world.

There’s plenty to see and do in Arequipa, take a visit to the city’s famous Santa Catalina Monastery, browse the intriguing Santuarios Andinos Museum or party the night away in the city’s vibrant bars. However, purely wandering the cobbled streets of Arequipa is an awesome experience in itself, the city is home to a huge collection of unique and intricate architecture, centred around its main square, Plaza De Armas. Arequipa is often referred to as the White City, due to the fact a large number of its buildings are made out of the nearby white volcanic stone, giving the city its unique charm and pristine feel.

Lake Titicaca holds the title as the highest navigable lake on planet Earth, situated a remarkable 12,507 feet above sea level. This utterly stunning and elegant body of water spans a whopping 120 miles, stretching across the international border between Peru and Bolivia. The lake’s crystal clear water creates a mirror like illusion, reflecting the beautiful colours of the sky above. The Peruvian city of Puno sits on the west shore of Lake Titicaca and acts as a gateway to the lake, offering a wide range of excursions and activities.

One of the most popular attractions on Lake Titicaca are the impressive man made floating islands, known as the Uros Islands. A number of Peruvians live on these fascinating floating villages scattered across the water, constructed solely from naturally buoyant reeds and roots, which need to be gathered and replaced once a week in order to keep the islands afloat. Titicaca is also home to a number of larger, regular islands, with their residents also sticking to a simple, natural and stress free lifestyle, living off the land and disconnected from the outside world.

The extraordinary Colca Canyon is one of Peru’s best kept secrets, holding the title as the third deepest canyon on the planet, with a dizzying depth of over 3,400 metres, Colca Canyon comes in at almost twice the depth of the Grand Canyon! Colca Canyon slices through the astonishing landscape of the towering Andean Mountains for over a whopping 100 kilometres, creating a whole load of sensational photo opportunities. Situated approximately 150 miles northwest of Arequipa, Colca Canyon is within easy reach of the city, whether it’s just a one day tour you’re planning or an action packed multi night excursion, you’re guaranteed to have a great time either way.

The main highlight of Colca Canyon is undoubtably its stunning collection of majestic and graceful Andean Condors, these phenomenal creatures are craaaaazy big and among some of the largest flying birds in the world, with a staggering wingspan of up to 11 feet and an immense bodyweight of up to a mammoth 33 pounds/15 kilograms!

The area is also known for its large selection of excellent hiking trails that run alongside the edge of the remarkable Colca Canyon, offering hikers mesmerising views of the canyon’s breathtaking scenery and jaw dropping landscape. On top of this, the area is also home to a small number of naturally occurring thermal hot springs, perfect for soaking and relaxing in after a long, hard day of hiking and exploring under the fierce Peruvian sun.

If you’re in search of an adrenaline fix, look no further than the remarkable sand dunes of Huacachina. Huacachina is a desert oasis, located on the very edge of the spectacular Atacama Desert, boasting luscious palm trees and a beautiful green water lagoon. This spot is the ideal base to explore the surrounding sand dunes, strap yourself into a custom built dune buggy and head to the top of the marvellous dunes for a sand boarding experience like no other.

The dunes at Huacachina boast the ideal conditions for sand boarding, with a wide variety of dunes, ranging in both height and steepness, allowing individuals of all ages and abilities to choose their own difficulty and fear factor. The dunes are perfectly formed and sculpted, thanks to the region’s sweeping winds, blessing boarders with one hell of a smooth and speedy ride down. Just make sure you listen to and take on board all of the appropriate safety advice and information provided.

The hike to Rainbow Mountain is truly and utterly sensational, hence the reason it’s one of my all-time favourite travel experiences to date. Situated at a staggering 5,200 metres above sea level, Rainbow Mountain is well and truly up in the clouds, matching the same level of elevation as Everest Base Camp! The mountain was only recently discovered in 2015, up until this point the area had been entirely covered by thick snow and ice. Due to the effects of global warming, the ice had begun to slowly melt, eventually revealing and unearthing the spectacular colours hidden beneath. These vibrant colours are created from the extremely high concentrations of minerals found in the mountain’s soil.

It’s extremely easy to book an excursion out to Rainbow Mountain, with a number of tour operators running daily trips from the city of Cusco. The picturesque drive from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain takes you along beautiful canyons, spectacular mountain passes and thrilling hair pin bends. Experienced guides will accompany you on the hike, sharing important information about the area’s altitude, as well as how to successfully acclimatise. Don’t forget to also check out the breathtaking Red Valley, located just a few hundred metres around the corner from Rainbow Mountain.

Waking up to the enchanting and mesmerising sound of the Amazon Rainforest is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, few places in the world can compete with the incredible diversity and captivating atmosphere of the Amazon. This extraordinary place is home to over 2.5 million species of insect, 40,000 plant species, 1300 species of bird and covers an unimaginable 2.3 million square miles, that’s 23 times the size of the United Kingdom! The phenomenal Amazon Rainforest is so vast that it churns out an astonishing 20% of the planet’s Oxygen, rightfully earning its nickname as the Lungs of the Earth.

A number of tour companies operate multi night rainforest stays, supplying travellers with the opportunity to embark on a once in a life time adventure, deep in the heart of the mighty Amazon Rainforest. Most tours include flights to the gateway airports of Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, both ideally located deep within the Amazon’s tropical landscape and not far from the purpose built Eco Lodges. There’s no better way to fully appreciate and totally immerse yourself in the exquisite nature of the rainforest, than by staying at an Amazonian Eco Lodge. These fantastic locations are fully equipped with all the essential equipment and knowledge necessary to safely guide you through the Amazon’s dense jungle and thick vegetation.

The Amazon is bursting with awesome activities and experiences, head out on guided bush walks in search of incredible and vibrant wildlife, cruise along the Amazon River soaking up the area’s exquisite landscape, sample food that’s naturally grown in the region or simply learn about the Amazon’s incredible ecosystem.

Without a doubt, the absolute best thing to do in Peru is embark on an epic and demanding four day journey along the thrilling Inca Trail, in search of the spectacular Machu Picchu. When people think of Peru, their mind is instantly drawn to this iconic spot and rightfully so, Machu Picchu is not only one of the greatest archaeological sites on the planet, but it’s also officially named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Proudly perched high in the misty and luscious valleys of the Andes Mountains, this ancient citadel sits gracefully frozen in time, once home to the ancient, thriving civilisation of the ferocious Incan Empire.

The Inca Trail is one of the greatest hiking opportunities on Planet Earth and therefore needs to be correctly maintained, hence the reason a number of strict regulations are now in place. The Inca Trail is limited to a maximum of 500 visitors per day, all of whom must be accompanied by an official and accredited tour guide at all times. With that in mind, booking well in advance of your intended trip is highly advisable, as days and weeks begin to fill up months ahead of time. No matter how organised you are though, nothing will ever quite prepare you for the magical feeling you get as you reach the notorious Sun Gate and first set eyes on the mystifying ruins of Machu Picchu.

Located approximately 50 miles to the southeast of Machu Picchu is the stunning city of Cusco, ideally situated to act as a base for your adventure, allowing you to get fully prepared and organised before embarking on your journey along the Inca Trail. Make sure you’re fully equipped for four full days of trekking and camping along the trail, without the use of any facilities. The porters who dedicate their lives to the trail will assist with the transportation of all cooking and camping equipment, allowing you to focus all of your attention on the awesome adventure in front of you.