The southern Andes are the Inca heartland — the old capital of Cusco, the terraced Sacred Valley, the trails to Machu Picchu, and the vast blue expanse of Lake Titicaca. It is Peru's most visited region for good reason: staggering history, high-altitude trekking and living Andean culture in one place.
Inca trails and Machu Picchu
From Cusco, the classic Inca Trail and the Salkantay, Lares and Choquequirao treks lead to Machu Picchu, with Rainbow Mountain, the Ausangate circuit and Urubamba rafting nearby.
Titicaca and the altiplano
South, Puno sits on Lake Titicaca at 3,800 m, where homestays on the Uros reed islands and Amantaní and Taquile open a window onto living Andean life. Open the Book here tab for dates.
