Photograph the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu at sunrise, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, condors over Colca Canyon, and the vivid mineral bands of Rainbow Mountain.
Peru is the most photographically layered place I've been. Machu Picchu we visit twice, once in golden afternoon light and again at sunrise, when clouds drift through the ruins and the citadel feels like it belongs to another world. Cusco and the Sacred Valley give me architecture, markets, and faces; the light at altitude here is crisp and direct, which suits close-up work with longer lenses.
Lake Titicaca is enormous and calm, and the light on the water changes beautifully through the day. The floating Uros islands offer something entirely unique, woven totora reeds, brilliant textiles, and a way of life that's been here for centuries. Colca Canyon delivers the iconic condor shots, but I also love the terraced hillsides and the canyon light in the early morning hours.
Arequipa is a photographer's city, the white volcanic stone of the Santa Catalina Monastery creates incredible contrasts with the blue sky and vivid painted walls. The Rainbow Mountain at Palcoyo is something else entirely: five minutes of walking and you're standing in front of mineral striations that look artificially saturated even in the raw file. It's one of those places where the camera almost does the work for you.
What Photographers Say
From beginners to professionals: real stories from people who've traveled and learned with me
“Despite warnings before departure about the country being dangerous, throughout the entire stay we did not have a single feeling of being in danger. Honza, who had planned everything very precisely in advance, certainly had a big share in that.”
Petr Bavor🇨🇿
Peru 2018
“I think that if I had gone alone, I would not have come across many beautiful places at all, and if I had, then not for the price that the guide always negotiated perfectly.”
Venca Novotný🇨🇿
Peru 2017
“Traveling through Peru with Zirhamia was a new experience for me, a unique way of traveling in its own way; thanks to the great guide Johnny it was easygoing.”
Jana Zajíčková🇨🇿
Peru 2015
Ready to explore Peru?
Secure your spot — small groups mean every tour fills up fast.