The Sacred Valley of the Incas carves through the green peaks of the Peruvian Andes near Cusco, where salt mines and snow-capped peaks make for a dramatic backdrop. Deemed a spiritual epicenter by the Inca people due to the way it aligns with the solar system and its exceptionally fertile land, the valley is also home to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, pockets of terraced topography and remote villages of Quechua-speaking communities whose deeply traditional way of life endures. 

No number of visitors can detract from the mystery and magic of the Incas' great 15th-century citadel in the mountains – particularly when the terraced plateau and the peaks at either end are wreathed in cloud from the surrounding rainforest. Machu Picchu can be reached in several ways, including the four-day, 27-mile Inca Trail hike at around 13,830ft above sea level, followed by a tough 90-minute climb up a 2,000ft-high mountain, and a train ride in five-star luxury aboard Belmond's Hiram Bingham train from Cusco. Whichever way you choose is worth it to marvel at Incan engineering and the view from the Sun Gate, which aligns with the sunrise at the summer solstice.

Built in the shape of a puma by the Incas, Cusco stretches like a slumbering feline along the Huatanay valley. Far from sleepy, spirited cevicherias in San Blas, a UNESCO-protected historical quarter and steep cobbled streets make the gateway to Machu Picchu a worthy warm-up to the main event. Perched in the Andes at 11,200ft, you will find 16th-century Spanish colonial churches and remnants of Inca temples dedicated to the worship of the sun, plus locals adorned in traditional attire that showcases the craftsmanship of Andean culture. 

Enjoy a half-day tour of high-altitude La Paz, set in a bowl-like depression nearly 12,000ft up in the Andes. The city and its surroundings can transport you back to a mysterious past, with every corner, every street, telling a story about its pre-Hispanic and colonial past. Immerse yourself in tradition and ritual at the Indian Market and the Witch Doctor's Market, and take in breathtaking panoramas framed by the majestic Illimani Mountain. 

Located on the Bolivian High Plateau, Uyuni Salt Lake is the largest salt flat on Earth. In the middle of the lake, Incahuasi Island is an outcrop famed for its giant cacti, some of which are a hundred years old and more than 40ft in height. The astonishing combination of the huge expanse of salt with its hexagonal formations on the surface, vast blue sky and the soaring cacti makes you feel that there is no other place like this in the entire world. During the rainy season, some highlights in the area are not reachable – but as light reflects off the resulting layer of water, especially at sunset, you feel you are walking on the world’s largest mirror. 

Located high in the Andes, on the border of Peru and Bolivia, UNESCO-listed Titicaca is the largest lake in South America and – at an altitude of 12,507ft – the world's highest navigable example. It is also considered the birthplace of the Inca civilization. Rise early to catch the breathtaking sunrise across this vast freshwater expanse and the unique landscape surrounding it. Discover its rich diversity of wildlife, meet the region’s indigenous communities and embark by traditional boat to the Uros, artificial islands made from carefully woven reeds. 

Running from its source in central Peru to the Atlantic Ocean, this iconic river is a magnet for wildlife lovers. Immerse yourself in the sleepy backwaters, lush islands and deep jungle of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a wedge of rainforest bounded by the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali tributaries. A luxury cruise aboard A&K’s new riverboat, Pure Amazon, is the most indulgent way to experience this untouched wilderness – a wonderfully biodiverse stretch of jungle alive with sloths, monkeys, caimans, pink dolphins, turtles, manatees and stunning birdlife.