Home to the great Inca empire, Peru has a wealth of historic sites, the most famous being the “Lost City” of Machu Picchu. But there are also compelling monuments in the beautiful city of Cusco, the Inca capital sacked by the conquistadores, who built their own churches and homes on the secure stone foundations of the previous civilization. The Sacred Valley, through which flows the Urubamba River ­— regarded by the Inca as an earthly equivalent of the Milky Way — is filled with ancient towns, markets and impressive ruins such as the fortress at Ollantaytambo and the fascinating Inca terraces at Moray. Farther south, the Lake Titicaca region offers a rare glimpse of a centuries-old society little influenced by the modern world. 

The best way to see the upper Amazon in Peru is the 16-suite Aria Amazon, a strikingly designed, custom-built vessel that offers the comfort and sophistication of a five-star boutique hotel, with gourmet cuisine and privately guided shore excursions.

Peru has three main climatic areas: the dry, foggy coastal area including Lima; the Andes Mountains (home to Cusco), with their distinct rainy season; and the humid, rainy Amazon Basin. The dry months of June and August are the best time for a visit to Cusco and Machu Picchu. From November to March, heavy rains fall in the Andes.