Peru for small and big explorers

Your journey begins where Peru is the most colorful: in Barranco, Lima's artists' district high above the Pacific. Between pastel-colored townhouses, huge murals stretch across entire facades, and over the Bridge of Sighs, simply follow the sound of the sea. A stop at an ice cream shop is a must: Lúcuma, the favorite ice cream flavor of Peruvians, comes from an Andean tree that grows between 1,000 and 3,000 meters high. Under the green shell lies a bright orange, almost mealy fruit flesh that tastes of caramel and maple syrup.

South of Lima, the desert swallows all greenery until the palms of the oasis Huacachina appear among the sand dunes. From the dune crests, you can sandboard down, and for those seeking more speed, hop into a UTV and race through the desert landscape.
With the boat, you will ride out to the Ballestas Islands, where sea lions lie close together on the rocks, lounging, nudging each other, and roaring over the water. Above them, thousands of guano birds circle, and with a bit of luck, Humboldt penguins waddle along the cliffs. On the way, the Candelabro appears on the steep slope, a roughly 180-meter large geoglyph, the origin of which remains a mystery to this day.

The Sacred Valley lies at about 2,800 meters, making it pleasantly lower than Cusco – the best place to acclimatize to the altitude in peace. In the community of Misminay, you will be hosted by a Quechua family: Here, wool is still dyed with plants and insects, patterns are created on the backstrap loom that have been passed down for generations, and the children can draw on the threads themselves. On a half-day trek, you accompany llamas from the Llama Pack Project through the mountain world, an initiative that brings back old native llama breeds and works closely with the valley's villages. This includes a stroll through the markets at the foot of the Ollantaytambo fortress with a short hike up to the terraces and an afternoon on the water as you paddle across one of the quiet mountain lakes. Back on the spacious grounds of your lodge, horses, meadows, and plenty of space for romping await you.

Early in the morning, you board the train that runs along the Río Urubamba, slowly descending into the valley until the ruins city is laid before you at 2,430 meters: Machu Picchu, surrounded by fog and steep green mountain slopes. Then you continue to Cusco, the old Inca capital, where you simply stroll through the streets, browse the market, and taste the first ear of corn with kernels as large as thumb nails. In a small workshop, you paint your own Toritos de Pucará, the small ceramic bulls from the highlands: They always come in pairs, traditionally placed on the roof of a house, often with a cross in between, and are meant to bring protection, fertility, and luck to the family. On the hotel grounds, friendly alpacas live, allowing the children to wander through the garden while you enjoy the view over the roofs of Cusco.

A short flight takes you down to Puerto Maldonado, then the boat takes over: The river narrows, the forest moves closer, and suddenly it’s all just green. Capybaras sit on the bank in the sun, the largest rodents in the world, which can weigh up to 65 kilograms. They swim with webbed feet between their toes, dive for minutes, and are so relaxed that birds simply ride on their backs. At dawn, you watch macaws flying in bright red and blue over the treetops, and those who look up patiently may spot small monkeys swinging through the branches. In the evening, things get really exciting: with rubber boots and flashlights for a night hike, as frogs call and eyes flash in the beam of light. If you still have energy during the day, you can bike with a guide along jungle paths around the lodge.