The beginning of the year is, for many, a time for planning our next adventure. Where will this year take us? What exploration lies ahead? Our bucket list is a medley of cities to stroll, coastlines and rainforest to admire. Peru, of course, is always top of our wanderlust list as a country which always offers new, exciting experiences. Whether you’re an intrepid explorer, culture vulture or just want to escape the chaoticness of quotidian life for a while, we think Peru deserves a pin on your map.

A must-know for excavationist travellers is that 2018 is the Year of the Bird. The likes of National Geographic and Audubon have teamed up to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which implements the protection of migratory birds across the United States and Great Britain. Where better to honour the Year of the Bird than Peru?

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is a birdwatcher’s paradise having recorded 214 bird species (of which 18 are hummingbird). There are also 99 species registered at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, in both of our rainforest lodges 540 and, still to come, Cabo Blanco which has 86. Binoculars are always at the ready to spot the next. Tucked away in the cloud forest or deep in the Amazon guests can enjoy a birding arena with a variety of birds from the golden-headed quetzal and beautiful green-blue motmot to the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock. To mark this significant year in birding, twitchers should follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with all of our recent sightings and to share their own snaps of species at Inkaterra. Don’t forget to use National Geographic’s hashtag #BirdYourWorld and our own #BirdofMouth.

For those wanting to experience Peru like a local, national holidays are definitely a sight to behold. This month, Carnival kicks off on February 10th, and lasts for three days. The streets of Cusco come alive with brightly coloured textiles roaming the city as people don costumes and join the vibrant parades; a historical dialogue of dress, dance and drink. Crowds also gather with buckets of water and water balloons for a competitive battle; the winner is the person least soaked after the ceasefire of aqua ammunition. The central message of these celebrations is to have fun. Whatever time of year you visit Peru there is always something to celebrate.

Peru is also a center of wellness, spas often taking inspiration from the ancient Andean approaches. Come spring each of our five luxury properties will be complete with a spa for guests to unwind after a day of exploration. Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is the last to launch a spa, opening later this year. The Mayu Spa at the hacienda will be the ultimate Peruvian retreat combining rustic elegance and authentic Cusco architecture with incomparable views of the Sacred Valley. The terrace courtyard will bear medicinal plants, used as the base for massage therapies and there will also be a small gym so that guests can connect their body and mind. The spa will be a way to truly connect with Peruvian nature and history.

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba