Peru is open & 2023 tours

Few destinations on earth pack the bragging credentials Peru garners and PROMPERÚ (the official tourism board of Peru) is urging travellers to add it back to their itineraries with the country fully open, safe and operational following recent unrest, and with Australian operators relaunching their 2023 Peru programs in recent weeks.

Whilst Peru’s bucket-list experience Machupicchu is open again following a temporary closure, PROMPERÚ also wants to shine a light on some of the lesser-known adventures the nation has to offer, encouraging travellers to get off-the-beaten track and look further north. From the lush rainforests of the Amazon to the snow-capped peaks of Ancash, this part of Peru offers unique journeys and cultural encounters that few people can say they’ve experienced.

Here are some of the currently available tours taking in Peru’s scenic north in 2023:

Intrepid - Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road

Intrepid is debuting a 12-day trek of the newly opened Great Inca Road, which will offer an alternative trekking route to the more popular Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Intrepid, which helped scout and preserve the new path, will be the first global tour operator to bring travellers along part of this 25,000-mile ancient highway, which has been regarded as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. Made up of ancient Inca trade routes cutting through the Andes, the Great Inca Road is every bit as significant and special as its more famous counterpart – it just doesn’t have the crowds. Travellers will join a local leader and traditional llama caravan to hike storied paths that few travellers have ever seen, visiting archaeological sites along the way. The group will also spend time in the adventure hub of Huaraz, the capital of Ancash, to acclimatise and hike the spectacular surrounding landscapes.

Adventure World - Ancient Cultures and Waterfalls

This six-day tour takes in some of Peru’s most unique and interesting destinations, including Leymebamba Mummy Museum and Karajia, known for its larger-than-life sized sarcophagi. Standing up to 2.5 metres tall, sarcophagi are bullet-shaped coffins made of mud, wood and straw, topped with oversized heads and located in ledges high on cliffs. The monumental anthropomorphic sarcophagi are associated with the Chachapoyas and they are evidence of the great respect in which this culture held its dead. Set in the region of Amazonas, the cradle of one of Peru’s major pre-Hispanic cultures, the tour, which combines history, culture and adventure, also visits the towering Gocta Waterfall, set amid jungle sheltering toucans and monkeys.

Crooked Compass: Forgotten Peru

This 10-day tour with Crooked Compass offers an Andean Adventure for those looking for something a little offbeat. Exploring the Temple of Pachacamac in Lima; the largest Mud City of the Americas, Chan Chan and the region’s lush rainforest, the tour offers a host of exciting and unique adventures and experiences.

World Expeditions - Huayhuash Circuit

World Expeditions’ 19-day tour takes in Cordillera Huayhuash, one of the most spectacular ranges in the Peruvian Andes. The full circuit trek showcases the sheer scale of the snow-capped summits including Yerupaja, the second highest mountain in Peru and offers some of the best trekking in South America. Travellers will trek among towering peaks over 6000m, cascading glaciers, alpine meadows and azure glacial lakes; explore Huaraz and the stunning Cordillera Blanca; experience indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems and enjoy a side trip to Siula Grande Base Camp and an ascent of Cerro Bella Vista for incredible views.

Contours Travel - Chachapoyas: warriors of the clouds

This 5-day tour visits Chachapoyas in the lush cloud forest region of Amazonas, home to The Chachapoya people, an ancient civilisation known as the Warriors of the Clouds. History buffs will love the rich Chachapoya culture, the Karajía sarcophagi and the Revash mausoleum while nature lovers will marvel at the incredible diversity of flora and fauna as they hike through the forest to discover one of the world’s highest single drop falls, Gocta Falls.

Chimu Adventures – Signature Peru

Chimu Adventures offers Signature Peru packages, with flexible itineraries and daily departures designed to simplify and refine the travel experience, showcasing unique destinations and high-quality accommodation. With local operations on the ground, they stay abreast of local conditions in real time to offer the best support and safety for travellers visiting the wonderful destination. North Peru yields a plethora of unique experiences which can be tailored into an itinerary.

Luxury Amazonian cruises in the north of Peru are also available through World Journeys, Abercrombie & Kent, Bunnik Tours and Wendy Wu Tours.

GETTING TO PERU

LATAM Airlines operates daily services from Sydney to Lima via Auckland and Santiago. The flight time is approximately 21 hours and 15 minutes and thanks to the International Date Line, travellers can depart Sydney and arrive in Lima on the same day. Qantas also operates flights to Santiago four times weekly, with connections to Lima and beyond via LATAM Airlines.

For more information on remote experiences in Peru please visit www.peru.travel or follow @peru on Instagram and facebook.com/visitperu.

*Source: Nadine Ghanem  nadine@thisishelm.com.au  +61 (0) 410 474 540