Paul Bird
Reaching the sun gate and marvelling over Machu Picchu unveiled one of the most impressive landscapes that Paul has seen in his global travels.
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Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
the people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education
Nazca is no ordinary dusty oasis town. Tucked away on the southern coast of Peru and overlooked by the enormous Cerro Blanco sand dune, this sleepy town was hastily awoken in 1939 due to the discovery of mysterious drawings etched into the nearby rocky desert plains.
The otherwise barren Pampa de San José bears a vast tapestry of intricate geoglyphs spread over an area of approximately 500 sq kilometres, depicting not only parallels but also geometric drawings and figures thought to have been constructed by the Nazca (pre-Inca) culture in 400BC. Among the principal figures are a monkey (90m), pelican (135m), condor (135m), spider (42m), and lizard (180m). Best seen from the air, these huge, unique designs are still the subject of much speculation. Various theories have arisen as to the origin of these figures. The most accepted view is that of Dr. Maria Reiche, a German mathematician who studied the lines for more than 50 years, sustaining that the figures serve as an astronomic calendar.
Head north and to the Pacific Coast and the Paracas Peninsula, a marine reserve and starting point for trips out to the Ballestas Islands, where you can mingle with penguins, watch seals and sea lions frolicking in the surf and dolphins swimming in the bay. Watch out also for one of the world’s largest concentration of guano-producing birds resident on the islands.
Tell us what you love doing and we’ll curate a journey that’s perfect for you.
Speed down the huge dunes in the desert oasis that lies outside of Huacachina atop a sand board.
Marvel at this mysterious, candlestick-shaped prehistoric geoglyph that is etched on a sandy hillside and associated with the Nazca Lines.
Our experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.
Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.
Casa Andina Classic Nasca is well situated being close to the Plaza de Armas and the Aerodrome, ideal for those taking a flight over the famous Nazca Lines. This simple, yet contemporary hotel offers 60 deluxe and superior rooms, with interconnecting options for families, and arranged across three storeys overlooking a long open-air terrace. All accommodation is rustic in design. A buffet-style breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner menu are offered in the hotel restaurant which opens out onto a sun terrace with a bar and pool.
An ideal base from which to explore Peru’s southern coast including the Paracas National Reserve, the mysterious Nazca Lines and the large sand dunes of Huacachina, Aranwa Paracas Resort & Spa offers 115 well-equipped ocean-view rooms, restaurants, two pools and a spa.
Hotel Paracas is a Luxury Collection Resort just 3 hours from Lima by road and 45 minutes by plane. Located next to a natural nature reserve, Isla Ballestas, and within close vicinity to Nazca, activities are plentiful here including the opportunity to take a private flight over the Nazca lines. This five-star hotel has over one hundred rooms, two restaurants, a luxury spa and a bar lounge. Each room has an i-pod docking station, 37inch LCD televisions and is decorated in a traditional style using bamboo and wood. Facilities at the property include the Ballestas restaurant, which serves Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisine, La Trattoria, an Italian restaurant, business centre and two heated swimming pools.
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Reaching the sun gate and marvelling over Machu Picchu unveiled one of the most impressive landscapes that Paul has seen in his global travels.
If your passion is the outdoors and you are looking to delve into South American culture, Roxy recommends one of the lodge-to-lodge hiking programmes to explore the Sacred Valley and beyond. Hopping between the quiet mountain towns, meet the locals that live off the grid and immerse yourself in the welcoming spirit of Peru.
This barren and largely inhospitable landscape is carved by the powerful Rio Colca as it snakes its path through an enormous volcanic…
Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is one of the most…
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a fertile valley that follows the Urubamba River from Pisac in the east to Ollantaytambo…
At 4,000 metres altitude, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, it is also one of the most beautiful…
Perched spectacularly on the flanks of El Misti, Chachani and Pichu-Pichu Volcanos and beneath the predominantly blue skies of southwestern Peru, Arequipa…
Cusco is a stunning combination of ancient Inca and colonial Spanish influences. Attractive churches, monasteries and convents are interspersed with perfectly preserved…
The city of Huaraz is known as "the Switzerland of Peru" due to the beauty of the spectacular Cordilleras Blanca and Negra…
Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, in colonial times Lima was considered the City of Kings, and UNESCO designated it as a…
Northern Peru is a fascinating area of the country that very few tourists visit. It is rich and varied in terms of…
The sparsely populated Peruvian Amazon Rainforest blankets more than half of the country in northern Peru and is quite literally teeming with…
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
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