Specialist tour operator Journey Latin America is thrilled to announce a new 4WD holiday in Peru.

The 16-day overland trip named Peru: Drive across the Andes is a pre-designed adventure holiday covering some of Peru's top sights as well as emerging destinations with colonial city Ayacucho featuring top of the holiday company's list. The journey takes travellers off the beaten track through dramatic and untamed territory including desert, Andes and Amazon.

Starting in Lima clients collect their 4WD Toyota expedition vehicle (or similar) and drive south down the Panamerican Highway to Nazca via Paracas accompanied by a support vehicle. The next challenge is the drive across the ice-jacketed Andes to remote Pampas Galeras National Park (4,000m), climbing and plunging through valleys whilst tackling sinuous, rock-and-dirt roads. Eagles, pink flamingos, condors and vicuñas can be spotted here. Descend to the city of Cusco (3,300m) and the gateway for Machu Picchu where there is an option to visit the famous Inca citadel. Looping back towards Lima, the drive traverses the Andes watershed encompassing some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in Peru; high above the Amazon jungle to the east, and the Pacific coast to the west. Stay in the evocative city of Ayacucho with ornate Spanish colonial churches, authentic street markets and houses fronting cobbled streets are hung with wooden balconies. “Virtually unknown to tourists Ayacucho resembles Cusco 20 years ago” says Isabelle Mazille, Product Manager at Journey Latin America. Heading further towards the Amazon basin, the terrain becomes even more challenging fording swollen rivers and tackling dense vegetation whilst the climate becomes warmer and more humid. From your lodge in the Pampas Hermosa Reserve spot river otters and monkeys along the way. Leaving the jungle, the last stop is Tarma, where a traditional Peruvian celebration awaits. Enjoy pachamanca, a cooking ritual where a dish of meat and potatoes is buried underground and cooked over hot stones for 3-4 hours paying homage to Mother Earth.

Journey Latin America's Head of Product Stuart Whittington comments, “Peru is a country we at Journey Latin America know and love, so we are delighted to offer a new way to explore this fascinating country – in your own private 4x4. Staying in some simple but fascinating properties en route, this is a unique opportunity to get behind the wheel and explore well-and-truly off-the-beaten track locations, with the trusted support of our local team at every turn.”

The holiday is best taken during the drier months from April to December and costs from £2,980 per person.

The price includes a variety of accommodation from comfortable mid-range hotels to simple rustic lodges depending on the infrastructure of the location, breakfast, excursions and support vehicle with guide are also included. International flights are extra.

Solo travellers have the opportunity to join the 4WD adventure and will not be charged a single supplement.

Book before 31 March 2016 and get a free guided excursion to Machu Picchu.

Journey Latin America has been offering self-drive holidays in Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba for over 10 years and recently launched a new self-drive in South Brazil last August.

About Journey Latin America

Journey Latin America is an award-winning tour operator with over 36 years of experience creating tailor-made holidays and group tours to all of Central and South America as well as Antarctica, Cuba and Mexico. The holiday firm has over 70 members of staff who have all lived, worked and/or travelled extensively throughout the region and as such can offer first-hand knowledge based on personal experience.

For more information on Journey Latin America visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk or telephone: 020 8600 1881.