Otavalo, Galapagos, Inca & Amazon

Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Otavalo is an attractive rural area, a major centre for Quechua-speaking peoples and their artisanal crafts. A handful of historic haciendas serve as superb rural retreats. An alternative to staying in Quito.

Set high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, Quito is the historic capital city and the main flight hub for the country. It’s a rather pleasant place to explore, with both Inca and Spanish origins. The city also contains some interesting boutique hotels.

Set in the centre of Galapagos, Isla Baltra is a small island which is home to the main airport and, although there is a good population of land iguanas, is rarely considered anything other than a transit location.

Set on the central coast of Peru, Lima is the capital city and the main port of entry for the country. Virtually all travellers end up spending at least one night here. There are some good hotels in the upmarket southern suburbs, some impressive colonial architecture, several superb museums and a seriously trendy food scene.

Set in the south of Peru, Arequipa is an historic Spanish town which is renowned for its fabulous white-stone colonial architecture and is encircled by three impressive volcanoes. Commonly combined with the dramatic Colca Canyon, there are onward road and rail links from here up Lago Titicaca and Cusco.

Set amidst the dramatic landscapes of the Andes Mountains to the north of Arequipa, the Colca Canyon is the second deepest in the world, a famous location for viewing Andean condors and a lovely rural area to explore and relax.

Set in the far southeast of Peru, Titicaca is a very large, deep and scenic lake, the highest navigable body of water in the world, sacred amongst the Inca, with some beautiful islands, fascinating archaeological sites and attractive cultures to explore.

Set between the Inca capital of Cusco and its primary religious centre at Machu Picchu, Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) was the agricultural engine room of the great mountain empire. It’s a lovely place to relax and acclimatise, offering a wide range of historical, cultural and outdoor activities.

Set high in the Andes Mountains around 700 km southeast of Lima, Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire, a fascinating place to explore, with a remarkable range of historic hotels. It’s also the main point of access for the Valle Sagrado, Machu Picchu and the trekking areas.

Set in the remote northeast of Peru, Iquitos is the gateway to the Amazon River and the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, an area which is largely explored on small, high quality live-aboard cruise boats. Certainly a much easier experience than the Tambopata area further south, but with a lesser focus on major wildlife sightings.