Exploring the Hidden Trails of the Andes

HOME > JOURNAL > Exploring the Hidden Trails of the Andes

Peru has it all – a vibrant culture, rich history, spectacular food, bustling cities and rugged scenery. With the right guide to take you behind the scenes, you can discover the true country. Whether freedom for you means remote hikes through the Andes or interacting with locals in the ‘real’ markets of Cusco, what’s most important is the chance to explore. As Silvia says, it’s about the freedom to allow your inner child to go on an adventure. And there’s no better place.

There’s something about the mountains which epitomises freedom for many of us – the chance to feel wild and breathe freely. With its spectacular natural scenery, Peru certainly offers this sense of space, yet an adventure to the Andes and the Inca trails also offers the opportunity to discover a rich history and culture, from the iconic Machu Picchu to the hidden villages of the Andes’ deep valleys.

Across our global destinations, we champion the mantra that your guide will make or break a trip. So we make it one of our core ethoses at True Travel to always work with the best local guides. It’s an essential element in Peru of all destinations, where with the right leader you will experience private hideaways, remote corners and the sites in their quietest moments, rather than following the crowds along backpacker routes. For you, we can design a vast range of bespoke trekking routes and unforgettable expeditions, from the world-famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to breathtaking, not-published, off-the-map routes through vibrant communities. These can be adapted to any kind of traveller – anyone from the hardcore adventurers seeking out local flavours and accommodations to those who prefer a balance, happily indulging in gourmet menus and luxury tents in the shadow of the magnificent Andes.

We would highly recommend allowing yourself at least two or three nights for a trek through the remote Andes and its communities for spectacular scenery, real people and a personal experience. And whether freedom for you means practising yoga surrounded by the landscapes of the Andes and in the ancient lands of the Incas, arriving in the Sacred Valley by helicopter to gain a new perspective on iconic sites, or discovering the legacy of the pre-Inca culture of the Chachapoyas in unbelievably hard-to-access locations, there’s an experience to suit you. You can mountain bike, horse ride, quad bike or kayak your way through the landscape, or for a pure adrenaline release, slide along a zip line after climbing an almost vertical via ferrata, overlooking the Sacred Valley. To top off the extreme experience, stay in the small transparent capsules of the Skylodge which cling to the cliffside, complete with beds, bathrooms and dinner served in your transparent room high in the air.

In the words of John Muir, “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” Head to South America’s largest network of trails to get ‘lost’ in complete comfort and safety in this natural haven.