Perú fires the imagination. It is a land of dramatic natural beauty; of giant mountains, arid deserts and impenetrable rain forest. It is the land of the Incas and other ancient and fascinating civilizations that still perplex and mystify today. It was the epicentre of the cataclysmic crash of two worlds. It is the essence of South America.

When to go: there is no one best time to visit Peru due to the diversity of climates across the country. In the Andean and Amazon regions the dry season is from May to September, this is the best time to visit these regions. However, if you plan to stay on the coast, the weather is better October to April.

Where to go: you can come back to Peru year after year and still find wonderful places to visit. The country is just overflowing with the raw ingredients that holidays of a lifetime are made of. These are our favorite places by region:

The Andes: Cusco and its environs, including Machu Picchu of course. South west from Cusco and straddling the Bolivian boarder is Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, birth place of the Inca dynasty and home of the famous Uros floating islands.

The Amazon is a vast jungle wilderness and the most biologically diverse place on earth. We can arrange the most rewarding wildlife tours in the Manu National Park, amongst other reserves. The Amazon is also home to dozens of native tribes, many of which adhere to their ancient traditions.

The Coast: From the beautiful city of Ariquipa and the amazing Colca Canyon in the south to colonial Trujillo in the north, the Peruvian coast is testament to thousands of years of human civilization. Not to be missed are the enigmatic Nasca Lines and the great fortress of Kuelap.