5. Manú National Park

Peru might be synonymous with ancient ruins and Andean peaks, but more than half the national map is smothered by the sprawling Amazon Rainforest. Few parts of this wilderness feel more pristine than the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Manú National Park, which is easy to reach from Cusco, but is atmospherically a world away. Capuchin monkeys swing through cloud forests, waterfalls tumble into streams and some 850 bird species flit through the canopies. Scientists and researchers have projects here by the dozen and boat trips are the easiest way to get into the belly of the jungle.

How to do it: Journey Latin America’s 12-day Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon itinerary begins in Cusco and takes in Manú National Park, with time to meet local researchers. From £2,066 per person.

6. Iquitos and its rivers

Iquitos is generally regarded as the most atmospheric settlement in the northern Peruvian Amazon, but there’s more beyond its faded mansions and lively bars. The city is also surrounded by a large network of rivers — not least the mighty Amazon — making it well placed for everything from short fishing trips to multi-day cruises that take in jungle lodges and tribal villages dotted around the region. The tributaries snaking off from the main river open up an exotic realm of flora and fauna, and for sheer pinch-yourself escapism, little measures up to watching the planet’s largest tropical rainforest slide by.

How to do it: Abercrombie & Kent offers a three-night luxury small-ship cruise from £3,200 per person, departing from Iquitos and including pink dolphin spotting, piranha fishing and a visit to a manatee rescue centre.

7. Puerto Maldonado

Indigenous Amazonian groups have been faced with some daunting struggles over the years, so tourism projects that hold a tangible benefit for local communities can only be a good thing. The southern hub of Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to swathes of lowland rainforest and is under an hour by boat from Posada Amazonas, a lodge owned and partly managed by the Ese Eja indigenous group. As a base, it not only offers the opportunity for plenty of up-close encounters with local wildlife, but it also teaches guests about the traditions and lifestyles of the people who know the region best.

How to do it: Rainbow Tours’ 13-day Eco-Friendly Peru Holiday is a 13-day tour takes in classic Inca sights before three nights at Posada Amazonas. The trip as a whole benefits various local communities. From £3,470 per person.