Overview
SouthWild Peru
Peru may be the most extreme and extraordinary country on Earth, a land of towering tropical peaks, immense deserts, ancient civilizations, extraordinary indigenous cultures, and one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere on the planet.
The country is home to the legendary mountain citadel of Machu Picchu, the ancient imperial capital of the Inca civilization, timeless desert landscapes, and the most biodiverse region of the Amazon Basin, the very region where SouthWild began its conservation and ecotourism story.
SouthWild invites you to experience all of Peru’s astonishing richness through carefully designed journeys that combine archaeology, wildlife, culture, adventure, and exceptional comfort.
Most expeditions begin in Lima, a sophisticated coastal capital renowned for having some of the finest traditional and fusion cuisine in South America. The city also offers extraordinary museums, colonial churches, historic architecture, and a fascinating blend of indigenous, European, and contemporary cultural influences.
From Lima, travelers continue to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and one of South America’s great UNESCO World Heritage cities. Surrounded by dramatic Andean landscapes, Cusco opens the door to the Sacred Valley and an immense range of outdoor experiences including birdwatching, photography, trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, and rock climbing.
At the center of Peru’s cultural legacy stands Machu Picchu, perhaps the world’s most romantic archaeological setting, a still-mysterious mountaintop citadel surrounded by cloud forests, steep Andean peaks, and breathtaking scenery that continues to inspire travelers from around the world.
The majestic Andes themselves reveal another dimension of Peru’s natural grandeur: high-elevation lakes filled with thousands of flamingos, rolling grasslands inhabited by wild golden-colored camelids such as vicuñas and guanacos, soaring condors, and snowcapped mountains sheltering some of the world’s most dramatic, and surprisingly accessible, tropical glaciers.
The Peruvian Amazon represents one of the greatest biodiversity concentrations on Earth. With more than 15,000 species of plants, over 1,000 bird species, and hundreds of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, these rainforests offer extraordinary opportunities for exploration and wildlife encounters. Macaws gather at clay licks, monkeys move through towering canopies, Giant Otters patrol oxbow lakes, and pristine forests stretch across immense protected wilderness areas.
SouthWild’s Peru expeditions combine authentic exploration with conservation-focused travel, expert naturalist guiding, carefully selected lodges, and deep respect for the indigenous cultures and ecosystems that define this remarkable country.
We invite you to discover Peru’s unparalleled diversity of wildlife, landscapes, archaeology, and living traditions through journeys designed to reveal one of the most extraordinary destinations on Earth.
