The best of Peru and Colombia with a beach extension to Mucura Island

Lima stretches along the desert coast of the Pacific, capital of Peru and the gateway to every journey through the Andean nation. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the "City of Kings," it preserves a historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Spanish colonial legacy intertwines with the energy of a contemporary metropolis. The monumental heart revolves around the Plaza Mayor, framed by the Cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno and the famous carved wooden balconies overlooking the streets of the old town. A few steps away, the Convento de San Francisco holds catacombs and an ancient library, while the Casa de Aliaga recounts five unbroken centuries of history. Moving toward the ocean, the districts of Miraflores and Barranco reveal the city's modern, bohemian soul: along the Malecón, clifftop paths run high above the sea, the Parque del Amor offers Pacific sunsets, and paragliders glide over the waves. Barranco, with its pastel-coloured houses, the Puente de los Suspiros and its art studios, is the haunt of artists and musicians. Not far from the centre rises the Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid of the pre-Columbian Lima culture, a testament to a past that predates the arrival of the Europeans. Today Lima is recognised as one of the gastronomic capitals of Latin America: birthplace of fresh ceviche, fish marinated in lime, the pisco sour, nikkei cuisine blending Peruvian and Japanese traditions, and acclaimed restaurants ranked among the world's best. The markets of San Isidro and the refined eateries of Miraflores reflect a passion for food that defines the country's identity. Between museums devoted to pre-Columbian gold and Moche ceramics, ocean-battered cliffs and a lively nightlife, Lima invites you to discover it slowly, amid colonial history, unforgettable flavours and the boundless horizon of the Pacific.

Arequipa rises at over 2,300 metres, watched over by the three volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu, and owes its nickname "Ciudad Blanca" to sillar, the pale volcanic stone of its elegant historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's heart is the Plaza de Armas, framed by arcades and the grand cathedral, while nearby the Santa Catalina Monastery unfolds like a small citadel of ochre and indigo lanes. Don't miss the church of La Compañía, with its finely carved Baroque façade, and the districts of Yanahuara and Cayma, which offer spectacular views of the volcanoes. Arequipa's cuisine is among Peru's most celebrated, with dishes such as rocoto relleno and chupe de camarones. Gateway to the Colca Canyon, Arequipa blends colonial elegance, bold flavours and sweeping Andean landscapes.

The road to Puno crosses a wild and suggestive landscape that resembles the tundra, with small herds of llamas and alpacas, lakes and rare villages; stop at the Lagunillas pass at 4,410 m with a view of the lake populated by flamingos and other scenic spots. Puno stretches along the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and is regarded as Peru's folklore capital. From its waters rise the famous Uros Islands, built entirely from totora reed that the inhabitants weave into their homes and boats, while further out lie the islands of Taquile and Amantani, where ancient traditions endure. The textile art of Taquile is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. A meeting point of Quechua and Aymara cultures, Puno is at its best in February, when the festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria fills the streets with music, dance and vivid costumes. Amid vast waters and high-altitude skies, it is a place where Andean culture is still lived authentically.

You cross the Andes Cordillera amidst magnificent landscapes, with stops in the village of Raqchi with the imposing walls of the Inca temple built to appease the wrath of the god Viracocha, in Andahuaylillas with a 17th-century church, a magnificent example of provincial colonial art, and in the village of Pucarà, famous for its colorful ceramics. The highest point of the journey is the La Raya pass (4,335 m). Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco unfolds at over 3,400 metres above sea level among the mountains of the Peruvian Andes, holding within its very name — Qosqo, "the navel of the world" — the sacred role it played for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is a living palimpsest in which mighty Inca walls, perfectly fitted without mortar, form the foundations of Spanish colonial palaces and churches. Its beating heart is the Plaza de Armas, dominated by the Cathedral and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, surrounded by arcades, cafés and craft workshops. Nearby, the Qorikancha — the Temple of the Sun, once clad in sheets of gold — bears witness to the architectural genius of the Inca, upon which the conquistadors built the convent of Santo Domingo. Climbing toward the San Blas quarter, cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies and artists' studios reveal the city's most intimate soul, while the famous alley of Hatun Rumiyoc guards the legendary twelve-angled stone. On the heights above Cuzco rises the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its enormous megalithic blocks, an ideal starting point to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From here you reach the sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, with their colourful markets and agricultural terraces carved into the mountains, and above all Machu Picchu, the mythical lost city among the clouds. Cuzco is also a sensory experience: markets such as San Pedro are fragrant with corn, Andean potatoes and tropical fruits, while local cuisine offers dishes such as cuy, alpaca and chicha de jora. Amid ancestral ceremonies, festivals like Inti Raymi and a spirituality that still pervades the streets, Cuzco welcomes the traveller into a journey out of time, where Inca history and colonial heritage coexist beneath the clear Andean sky.

Also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, Aguas Calientes is the town that serves as gateway to the world's most famous Inca citadel, reachable only by train or on foot along the Urubamba valley. Set between steep, forest-clad mountainsides where the Andes begin to give way to the Amazon, it owes its name to the hot springs that have long made it a place of rest. From here begins the climb to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world, where the trail leads to the Puerta del Sol and its legendary views. Among restaurants, craft markets and the ceaseless rush of the river, Aguas Calientes is the lively threshold to an unforgettable experience.

Cartagena de Indias unfolds along Colombia's Caribbean coast as one of Latin America's best-preserved colonial cities, a fortified port that for centuries guarded Spain's New World treasures. Its heart is the Ciudad Amurallada, a walled old town enclosed by mighty limestone ramparts now strolled at sunset, when the sky glows orange over the Caribbean Sea. Within the Centro Histórico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, pastel mansions with timber balconies spill over with bougainvillea, shady squares such as Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza de los Coches invite a pause, and stern colonial churches line the streets. The Getsemaní district, once working-class and now the city's creative soul, throbs with murals, salsa bars and courtyards alive late into the night. The skyline is dominated by Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, while La Popa hill offers sweeping views over bay and islands. Cartagena is also a gateway to beaches, from the high-rise strand of Bocagrande to the crystalline waters of the Islas del Rosario, reached by boat for days of sea and snorkelling. The cuisine blends Caribbean and African flavours, from coconut seafood to the arepas de huevo sold on street corners. With its music, warmth and timeless architecture, Cartagena remains one of the continent's most seductive destinations.

Isla de Múcura is part of the San Bernardo archipelago, in the Colombian Caribbean, and is famous for its white-sand beaches and calm turquoise waters. Far from the bustle of the mainland, the island offers small resorts and eco-lodges set among palms and mangroves, ideal for those seeking relaxation and crystalline sea. The coral seabeds are perfect for snorkelling and diving, while the calm waters invite swimming and kayak trips. The nights bring starry skies and the phenomenon of bioluminescent plankton. Quiet and idyllic, Múcura is a timeless Caribbean refuge.