Trip Inspiration

Explore peru

14 Days

Ecuador

Ecuador and Peru- Galapagos to Machu Picchu

An exceptional opportunity to witness a diverse range of endemic flora, fauna, and marine life up close. Iconic species such as blue-footed boobies, sea lions, brown pelicans, herons, and white-tipped reef sharks thrive here, alongside unique creatures like the flightless cormorant and the adorable Galápagos penguin.

From £6490

Peru Country Information

Empire of Sun

The Pioneer team, alongside our local partners have a real love of developing unique experiences in this wonderful country to ensure you have a holiday of a lifetime.

Peru has so much more than meets the eye and few explorers have seen its remote destinations. Peru has a collection of some of the finest natural wonders in the world such as spectacular volcanic scenery and mountains as well as a unique coastline.

Geography

Peru is located in South America on the west coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of over 1,200,000 square kilometres which is slightly smaller than the area of Alaska. The country sits between Chile and Ecuador as well as bordering Columbia, Brazil and Bolivia. Peru’s terrain varies in to three main regions; the western coastal plain (costa), the high and rugged Andes in centre (sierra) and the eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva). Peru- with Bolivia shares control of what is interestingly the world’s highest lake: Lake Titicaca.

Politics & Security

Peru’s foreign affairs have been dominated by conflict with neighbouring countries; however most of these disputes were resolved in the 20th century. Peruvian politics is relatively stable with Peru being a presidential representative democratic republic. There is a multi party system in Peru and voting is compulsory for anyone between 18 and 70.

economy & Tourism

Despite recent growth Peru’s economic performance has been inconsistent. It has abundant mineral reserves in mountainous areas as well as rich costal fishing waters. However due to over overdependence on metals and mineral trading Peru is subject to fluctuations in world prices. As well as fishing and mining, tourism is the country’s third largest industry, with government figures show that there is a 95% satisfaction rate from tourists who visit Peru. Peru’s economy recently has shown more stability with steady growth and low inflation figures.

Language

In Peru the first language is Spanish; spoken by 84% of the population. Several other indigenous languages exist, but the one most commonly spoken second to Spanish is Quechua- about 13% of the population speak this language. Both Spanish and Quechua are official Peruvian languages.

religion

The main religion in Peru is derived from the Spanish conquest, for that reason over 75% of the population is Roman Catholic.

When To Travel

when to travel

Peru can be visited year-round, although the best conditions for exploring much of the country are generally between May and October, during the dry season in the Andes. These months offer clearer skies and excellent conditions for trekking, including visits to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. The wettest months typically fall between November and April, when rainfall is more common in the highlands, although the Amazon rainforest is warm and humid throughout the year with good wildlife viewing in all seasons.

Country Insight

Laurenne Director and Peru Specialist

“Peru is a country of incredible diversity, and we love showing it in ways most travellers never see. Beyond the classic highlights of Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, we guide adventurous explorers along alternative Inca trails, and offer off-the-beaten-track experiences like rafting, biking, and remote village visits. And then there’s the food—Peru’s culinary scene is simply world-class, from ceviche on the coast to Andean specialties in the mountains, making every meal a discovery. For me, the magic of Peru isn’t just in the sights—it’s in the adventures, culture, and unforgettable cuisine.”

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Whatever you want from your trip, our team of experts are ready to help.

A wonderful trip

Great PNG Island Experience

10 Day Tour of Nicaragua

Costa Rica - tailor made off the beaten track

Komodo Kayaking Holiday

5!

We had a wonderful trip to Guatemala and Belize, thank you both for organising it for us. The hotels you selected were all very comfortable and we especially loved the traditional one in Antigua. The local guides were all excellent, so knowledgeable and friendly as were our drivers. We had a slight problem at Guatamala airport as our itinerary didn’t have information about either the carrier or time of the flight to Flores but a very helpful person at check in found our booking and all was well! The itinerary you planned was really interesting and exciting. We loved the visit to the Mayan ruins, kayaking on Atatlan lake, the volcano hike where we had pizza freshly cooked at the top of the mountain and the pontoon experience turned out to be amazing. We had an unexpected waterfall descent which was great fun and the highlight of the day was seeing a jaguar at close quarters swimming across the river in front of us . Even the guide who had spent the last 13 years in the area had never seen one before! John enjoyed the zip wire experience at the lake while I was able to enjoy the nature park it was set in with its walking trails; these included some exciting hanging bridges with incredible views. There was also a butterfly house and lovely gardens. We thought that the timing of this experience would have been better if it was on the day we arrived at the lake. We arrived by 1pm and had the whole afternoon free. It was really rushed to fit in the zip wire experience the morning we left because of catching our flight. It might also be worth mentioning that the volcano climb can be done on horseback. A lot of people were making use of these to take them up the trail so it could be an option for anyone unable to tackle the hike. I’m sending you some photos in a separate email. Again many thanks for all your planning which allowed two over 80 + year olds to have another adventure!!

Apr 14, 2026 by Rosemary and John Llewellin
5!

What a wonderful kayaking trip in a beautiful group of PNG islands. The trip was expertly run by local guide Javith, his wife and excellent cook, Lisa and skilled boatman/fisherman, Levi. I experienced a perfect blend of kayaking, snorkeling and cultural experiences in these islands inhabited by the friendliest people you could imagine. This is a pristine kayaking destination with healthy coral reefs, providing a stunning snorkeling experience. I highly recommend this trip!

Apr 9, 2026 by Sue Draheim
5!

I had the most amazing time on my 10 day tour of Nicaragua. Pioneer created a perfect itinerary for me as a solo traveller, which allowed me to see all the highlights of the country and immerse myself in the culture. I visted the main cities of Leon and Granada, which involved lots of sightseeing, but I aso had the oportunity to make a piece of traditional Nicaraguan art with a local artist in Leon. I also did a home stay on Ometepe Island with a lovely Nicaraguan family, which allowed me to practise my Spanish and learn more about the local community/culture. I also stayed on the Corn Islands off the Caribean Coast of Nicaragua, which were pure paradise! Rafe and Teresa were both super helpful when orgnaising my trip and quick to respond to email queries and calls. I was disappointed at first that I wasn't on a group tour (as I was travelling alone)when I arrived in Granada, but my guides were all brilliant I didn't mind too much in the end. I found the gifts left for me in my first hotel room on the tour a nice personal touch, especially the Nicarguan rum, which went down a treat! Before I started this tour I'd been with another group on a yoga retreat in the jungle in the South Nicaraguan. I got ill there at the end of the week with a bad stomach. My tour guide when I arrived in Granada to start my trip was very helpful and went out of his way to take me to a Doctor. After the medication he prescribed I was right as rain again. Big thanks to all the team at Pioneer Expeditions for such a memorable trip!

Apr 9, 2026 by Corrie Doogan
5!

Having met Laurenne a few years ago and then planned this holiday with Rafe a year ahead for a group of six of us, we had time to look forward to it in the knowledge that we were going to enjoy our wildlife adventures, but what an under-estimation that proved to be! The sheer number and variety of bird species we found, the diversity of forests and coastal environments, the incredible scenery, and the friendliness of everyone we met – it all came together to give us an absolutely wonderful holiday. Our guide, Martin, really enhanced our travels, not only with his knowledge of the birds and his ability to find them, but also his enthusiasm for his country and other fauna and flora. He was a careful driver and very attentive of our needs, plus spot on with his ideas for extra activities, and very good company too! A huge thank you to Pioneer Expeditions and their local agents

Apr 9, 2026 by Marguerite and Mark
5!

We had the most incredible time on the 5 day Komodo Kayaking trip. Matias and the crew on the boat offered a 10/10 service, from tasty food to amazing local knowledge and all so friendly and helpful. Kayaking across beautiful ocean, snorkelling around pristine reefs with turtles, dolphins jumping infront of the boat, bats, Komodo dragons and camping on small islands - such an incredible adventure and we miss it so much! The Pioneer team were wonderful, and we couldn’t fault their organisation and guidance when planning the holiday.

Dec 19, 2025 by Megan

Trips You Can Trust

Why book with Pioneer Expeditions

Tailormade Trips

These are trips which are perfectly created, organised, and lead specifically for you. If you are considering one of our wildlife, multi-activity adventures, small group trips or family holiday adventures then we would be delighted to design a tailormade itinerary, to meet your interests, travel dates and accommodation requirements. Just get in touch!

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escorted small groups

We operate small group holidays for a maximum of 8-12 persons. As well as multi-activity trips we offer trekking trips, kayaking, rafting, wildlife, cycling and photography. These small group trips make ideal holidays for singles and couples, particularly for those wishing to visit Madagascar, the Galapagos islands, explore Borneo or kayak the Komodo Dragon islands, Indonesia.

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Specialist Adventures

We are delighted to offer a number of specialist trips, depending on your interests. We organise a number of specialist holidays such as family adventure holidays that can be designed to meet the requirements for children of certain ages. We also design unique and interesting luxury holidays and honeymoon trips as well trips for celebrating special events and anniversaries.

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Practical Information

For your African Adventure

Visas

British nationals don’t need a visa to travel if the purpose of the visit is tourism. On arrival you are normally given permission to stay for up to 6 months. For up-to-date information please check the Peruvian Embassy of the UK http://www.peruembassy-uk.com/

Please note, if your flights transit a country, you will also need to check if an additional visa is required as a number of countries now require a transit visa

Currency

Peru uses the nuevo sol (S) and the majority of transactions are in cash. It is helpful to carry small denominations as it can be difficult to get change in some locations. ATM’s are available in large towns and airports, exchange bureaus may only accept USD. USD is accepted in most restaurants but you will get better value using the local currency.

For your convenience we have partnered up with a currency exchange company that offer you next day delivery on any currency orders. Please note not all currencies are available. Order details along with any terms and conditions can be found at https://ttngtravel.money/pioneerexpeditions

Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is mandatory for everyone who participates in a Pioneer Expedition; this will need to cover you for emergency medical evacuation. The sooner you book your insurance, the sooner you are covered if you have cancel your trip due to personal or family illness.

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