Wildlife, gastronomy and culture experiences in Peru

A tear forms slowly in the corner of my right eye, then another pools in the left and suddenly I am weeping tears of joy. Maybe it’s the altitude, or perhaps it’s just sun cream, but the vista is making me teary-eyed.

I am standing on the precipice of Colca Canyon in southern Peru watching a flock of majestic condors swoop from the heavens and then glide effortlessly between rock faces. “We have been so incredibly lucky,” marvels my guide Gaudi as she gazes at the nine or 10 birds performing a spectacular aerial show. “Some days you can wait here for hours and see only one, but today they knew we were coming.”

On 18 September this year, operator Latin Routes started rolling out its new escorted group tours for a maximum of 16 people to complement its tailor-made individual trips, with Peru being used as a pilot destination. I am lucky enough to be one of the first to experience it.

“Peru is the number-one destination for Latin Routes since we launched it around five years ago,” reveals Martin Johnson, Latin Routes’ director and co-founder. “It’s one of the most stable countries in the continent, with good infrastructure, and it offers fantastic value for money. It’s also a country that combines stunning scenery with a rich culture, and it’s growing in popularity thanks to a thriving gastronomic scene.”