The Andes Mountains

Dramatic mountain range featuring cloud forests, high-altitude grasslands and snow-capped peaks, home to exceptional trekking and Inca heritage.

           Amazon Rainforest

Some of South America's most pristine and accessible rainforest, offering rich wildlife viewing from remote lodges and river cruises.

          Machu Picchu

Iconic Inca citadel set high in the mountains, combining dramatic architecture with mountain wilderness.

          Pacific Coast

Arid coastline hosting significant pre-Inca sites, impressive marine wildlife, and the cosmopolitan capital of Lima.

          Sacred Valley

Former agricultural heart of the Inca Empire offering excellent acclimatization, cultural encounters and historic sites.

         Cusco Region

Historic Inca capital featuring extraordinary colonial architecture, traditional markets and access to major archaeological sites.

            7-14 nights: 
            Southern Andes Focus 

Perfect for focused exploration of mainland Peru. This allows time to combine:

• Highland colonial cities and haciendas
• Cloud forest wildlife viewing
• Amazon rainforest experience
• Active volcano exploration
• Or a more relaxed focus on just two regions with deeper exploration.
  

           14-28 nights: 
           Extended Exploration 

Enables comprehensive coverage of Peru's diversity, including:

• Traditional southern circuit
• Northern kingdoms and archaeological sites
• Amazon rainforest experiences
• Coastal highlights including Chan Chan
• This duration allows for proper exploration of lesser-visited regions and more remote locations.

             28+ nights: 
             Full Country Experience

Extended trips enable:

• Multiple trekking routes
• Both northern and southern archaeological sites
• Extended Amazon experiences
• Comprehensive coastal exploration
• Combination with other South American destinations
  
  

Peru wildlife & cultural trip costs

Travel in Peru ranges from good value adventure experiences to premium luxury trips, with prices varying significantly based on style of travel and specific components included. You can expect to spend around USD 500 to 1,200 per person per night, with luxury train journeys and premium Amazon cruises commanding the highest rates.

We are more than happy to work across this range of prices. The only important thing is that we help you find the very best way to experience Peru within your budget.

The two dominant price factors are the specific properties you choose and the particular experiences you want to include. 

A basic 9-night cultural circuit can cost from USD 4,500, while the same journey with luxury lodges and premium trains can reach USD 10,800. Adding Amazon extensions or trek components creates further variation.

If you have a higher budget, we will help you determine which luxury lodges and premium experiences deliver genuine value. We can enhance your journey through private guides, luxury train journeys, premium Amazon cruises, and exclusive cultural encounters. A 13-night luxury trip combining the Andes with Amazon can range from USD 13,000 to 15,600 per person.

If you have a medium budget, the best way to manage costs is to carefully balance premium and standard properties. You might choose one or two special experiences - perhaps a luxury train journey or premium lodge - while using comfortable standard properties elsewhere. Adventure-style trips of 14-15 nights including the Amazon typically range from USD 7,000 to 11,200.

If you have a lower budget, we can focus on Peru's excellent adventure properties, which offer authentic experiences at more moderate prices. A 9-10 night cultural circuit can be arranged from USD 4,500, while still including all key destinations and experiences.

Jaguar Viewing

The Pantanal offers three distinct ways to encounter wild jaguars, each providing unique experiences. The most renowned is by motorboat in 'Jaguarland', where these normally elusive cats hunt along riverbanks with remarkable predictability. Here, in just 0.5% of the Pantanal's total area, around 75 different jaguars are regularly seen, with multiple daily sightings common and hunting behavior witnessed every few days.

For more exclusive encounters, some ranches in the southeastern Pantanal offer guided tracking of radio-collared jaguars, allowing intimate experiences away from crowds. A third, pioneering approach involves visiting ranches where innovative conservation programs compensate farmers for cattle losses to jaguars, creating safe havens for these magnificent cats.

The best viewing is during the dry season (July-October), though 'secret seasons' in June and early November can offer excellent sightings with fewer visitors. Early morning and late afternoon boat trips often provide the most rewarding experiences, when visitor numbers are lower and jaguars are most active. In peak season, it's important to choose your location carefully - some areas can see up to 20 boats gathering at a single sighting, while other sectors offer much more exclusive viewing opportunities.

For the most rewarding experience, we recommend combining at least two different viewing approaches over 3-6 nights, perhaps mixing the reliable boat-based viewing of 'Jaguarland' with the more exclusive tracking experiences of the southern ranches.

When to visit Peru

The optimal timing varies significantly between regions, requiring careful planning for multi-region trips:

April-September: Highland Season

• Prime conditions for Andes exploration
• Cool, clear days with lots of sunshine
• Daytime temperatures around 20°C/68°F
• Best trekking conditions
• Peak season pricing
• Coincides with Amazon dry season

October-March: Green Season

• Regular rainfall in highland areas
• Warmer temperatures around 27°C/80°F
• Reduced visitor numbers except holidays
• Better conditions on the coast
• Lower pricing in many areas
• More challenging trekking conditions
  

Shoulder Seasons (April-May & October-November)

• Variable mountain conditions
• Good coastal weather
• Lower visitor numbers
• Better value opportunities
• Pleasant temperatures
• Good for combining regions
  
  

Expert

Our travel experts are uncommonly knowledgeable and experienced

765,000

The number of superb trips we have  so far created

Seamless

Arranging your trip should be almost as much fun as actually going on it!

Value

Your trip should cost you no more than if you booked all the components directly

Tailored

Your trip will be perfectly tuned to meet your requirements

What our guests say

“We’ve used many different travel organizers and agents, but one truly stands like a giraffe, head and shoulders above all others.”

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“ATR are the experts in their field and I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”

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“ATR are honest in their appraisal of individual lodges. You can trust their judgement.”

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1999

The year that we started to build great trips

Lima

Set on the central coast, Lima is Peru's capital city and main entry point. Far more than just a gateway, it offers impressive colonial architecture, several superb museums, and a world-renowned food scene. 

The best hotels are located in the upmarket southern suburbs, providing excellent bases for exploring this sophisticated city. Recent years have seen Lima emerge as South America's culinary capital, with innovative restaurants combining local ingredients with contemporary techniques. 

Most visitors spend 2-3 nights here, though food enthusiasts often extend their stay.

Cusco & Sacred Valley

Set high in the Andes Mountains 700km southeast of Lima, Cusco stands as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. This fascinating city combines remarkable Inca stonework with colonial architecture and features some of Peru's finest historic hotels. 

The nearby Sacred Valley, which runs between Cusco and Machu Picchu, offers perfect acclimatization, authentic culture, and extraordinary archaeological sites. The valley served as the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire, and today its traditional markets, ancient terraces, and working haciendas provide some of Peru's most authentic cultural experiences. 

Most visitors spend 5-7 nights exploring this region.

Machu Picchu

This iconic Inca citadel, set high in the mountains west of the Sacred Valley, remains Peru's most important archaeological site. 

While visitor numbers can be high during peak season, there are still clever ways to experience this remarkable place. Several accommodation options near the site enable early access and afternoon visits when crowds diminish. 

The site can be reached by luxury train or multi-day trek, with the famous Inca Trail offering just one of several possible hiking routes. 

Many visitors choose to spend at least one night near the site, allowing for more in-depth exploration.

           Seasonal planning

The Apr-Sep dry season offers optimal highland conditions, while the Amazon remains accessible year-round. Coastal regions follow different patterns.

           Regional combinations
 
Strategic planning helps maximize time, particularly when combining Andes and Amazon. Many regions connect directly without routing through Lima.

           Transportation choices

Luxury trains serve major southern routes, while private vehicles work best elsewhere. Avoid public transport except for specific mountain routes.

           Altitude management

Most highland destinations sit above 2,500m. Schedule activities and locations carefully to aid acclimatization.

           City and coast timing

Lima and southern coastal sites experience heavy fog Jun-Aug. Consider shoulder seasons May or November for better conditions.

          Location selection  

While Cusco and Machu Picchu draw crowds, lesser-known sites like Choquequirao and northern archaeological zones offer equally remarkable experiences.

          Lake Titicaca

World's highest navigable lake, featuring traditional island communities and significant archaeological sites.

          Northern Kingdoms

Lesser-visited region containing remarkable pre-Inca sites including Chan Chan, the largest adobe city of the ancient world.

          Traditional Culture

Living heritage from Andean communities to Amazon tribes, offering authentic cultural encounters across diverse regions.

Tambopata Amazon

Located in southeastern Peru, Tambopata forms the heart of the largest uninhabited, unhunted section of Amazon rainforest in the world. 

Most commonly combined with Cusco and Machu Picchu, it offers exceptional wildlife viewing from remote lodges. The area provides a more intense rainforest experience than the northern Amazon, with a stronger focus on wildlife encounters. Lodges range from comfortable to luxurious, with activities including guided walks, canopy tours, and river explorations. 

A stay of 3-4 nights is recommended to fully experience the rainforest's rhythms.

Lake Titicaca

Set in Peru's far southeast, Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake. Sacred to the Inca, this vast body of water features beautiful islands, fascinating archaeological sites, and traditional cultures. 

The lake combines well with Cusco and the Sacred Valley, offering insight into both ancient and living Andean cultures. Traditional reed boats still ply these waters, while ancient agricultural terraces and pre-Inca ruins dot the shoreline. 

Most visitors spend 2-3 nights here, often as part of a journey between Cusco and La Paz or while traveling by luxury train through the region.