Days 1–2
Lima and the desert coast
Two days in Lima's museums and kitchens, on a coast that almost never rains. The Larco and the MALI lay out four thousand years of coastal civilisation, which is what makes everything inland legible.
Alex.travel
I design journeys to places of power for those who want to travel deeper
Epic Peru
18–24 days Peru journey
A private line across Peru from the Pacific fog desert to the Amazon headwaters, taking the Andes slowly enough that the altitude becomes part of the journey rather than an obstacle to it.
Designer's note
Why the route runs west to east
Starting at sea level and finishing in the Amazon is not just scenic order — it is the only sequence where the altitude works in your favour.
Alex
Journey designer
How the days fall
- Days 3–5
Arequipa and the white stone city
The first real step into altitude at 2,300 metres, in a city built from white volcanic sillar under three volcanoes.
- Days 6–8
Colca canyon and the condors
Over a 4,900-metre pass into a canyon twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, farmed in pre-Inca terraces, with condors on the morning thermals.
- Days 9–12
The altiplano and Lake Titicaca
Across the treeless altiplano to the highest navigable lake in the world, staying overnight on the islands after the day boats leave.
- Days 13–16
The Sacred Valley
The Urubamba valley 600 metres below Cusco: terraces at Pisac, the concentric circles at Moray, the salt pans at Maras, and Ollantaytambo's living Inca street plan.
- Days 17–21
Machu Picchu and Cusco
In to Machu Picchu on foot over the Inca Trail's last pass where permits allow, then up to Cusco for the Inca capital beneath the colonial city.
When to go
Best time for Epic Peru
May to September
The Andean dry season
High passes openCold, bright mornings above 3,000 metres and reliable trekking weather. This is the only dependable window for the high passes and the Inca Trail, and the reason most of the route is planned around it.
- Temp
- Near freezing at dawn to about 20 °C by day in the highlands
- Crowds
- Cusco and Machu Picchu busy
- Good places
- Cusco · Sacred Valley · Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca
December to March
Highland rains, open coast
Inca Trail closed in FebruaryHeavy afternoon rain across the highlands makes the high roads unreliable and closes the Inca Trail every February. The desert coast and the Amazon stay workable, so the journey changes shape rather than stopping.
- Temp
- Mild but wet inland; warm and humid in the Amazon
- Crowds
- Quietest months inland
- Good places
- Lima · Arequipa
Epic Peru questions
Short answers about Epic Peru
Q01Can this be done in less than 18 days?
Not as one line. Below 18 days something real has to go: usually the Amazon descent, sometimes the canyon. I would rather cut a section than compress the altitude.
Contact
Plan it with me
Every journey is planned individually; there is no fixed departure calendar.
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