The Peruvian Andes and Colombian Coast

With 80 miles of coastline and virtually no rain, Lima’s unique position on Peru’s Costa Verde means the capital is spritzed in salt and soaked in sunshine. The 18th-century haciendas, baroque stonework and colonial architecture are upstaged by the country’s pre-Columbian history on display at museums like Pueblo Libre’s Larco. Surfboards are strapped to mopeds that dip between the mansions of Miraflores, whilst pisco sours are shaken to the beat of peñas in Barranco. Lima's much-starred restaurant scene is so effervescent that the city is widely acknowledged as the culinary capital of Latin America, and shows no signs of dimming; the city has more than 16,000 cevicherias (UNESCO has declared Peru's staple dish one of Intangible Cultural Heritage), while chefs like Virgilio Martínez and Pedro Schiaffino are innovating with indigenous ingredients from Andean tomatoes to Amazonian river snails. 

Shaped by the mighty Urubamba River, the Sacred Valley is a peaceful patchwork of fertile farmland and ancient communities that continue to survive on time-honored farming practices and handicrafts. It’s packed with beautiful and exhilarating trekking routes, as well as the Incan citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. 

No amount 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. Getting to Machu Picchu involves the four-day, 27-mile Inca Trail hike at around 13,830ft above sea level, followed by a tough 90-minute climb up a 2,00ft-high mountain; or the somewhat easier option: in five-star luxury aboard Belmond's Hiram Bingham train from Cusco. Either way 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 Pichu a worthy warm-up to the main event. Perched in the Andes at 11,200ft above sea level, you’ll find remnants of Inca temples dedicated to the worship of the sun and 16th-century Spanish colonial churches, plus locals adorned in traditional attire that showcase the craftsmanship of Andean culture.  

Set more than 8,500ft above sea level, Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, is a modern metropolis that benefits from a year-round spring-like climate. Stroll the lively Paloquemao market and sample local delicacies at its food stalls. Explore La Candelaria, the oldest part of Bogotá, with its colonial-era architecture. Visit the Botero Museum to view works by acclaimed Colombian artist Fernando Botero, alongside pieces by Picasso, Renoir and Monet. The fascinating Gold Museum, which boasts 34,000 pre-Hispanic artefacts, is also not to be missed.  

The quality of the beans grown in central Colombia’s volcanic-rich soil is not the only reason people flock to the Coffee Triangle: the landscapes are also astonishingly beautiful in their own right. Don’t miss the Cocora Valley, a dreamlike cloud forest swaying with the tallest wax palms in the world. 

Exuberant, colorful, tropical and beautiful, Cartagena is widely regarded as Colombia's crowning destination. Visit its colonial walled city and walk its picturesque streets and plazas. Not to be missed are the imposing Castle San Felipe Barajas, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial military engineering built to defend the city from pirate attacks, and the imposing church of San Pedro Claver with its fine collection of stained-glass windows.