LRM TRAVEL GUIDE
THE EXPERIENCED CHOICE
Marvin Verheyden has one of the best jobs in the world, having been involved with Land Rover Experience for many years – and in the destination selection process. This process can take up to one and a half years.
“Peru was already in our mind some years ago,” he says. “We were very excited when we recognised the variety of the country; desert, mountains, rainforest, and everything within hours going by car.”
Peru threw up plenty of challenges because of this variety, however, with Marvin and the team requiring three separate recce trips due to heavy rains changing tracks.
And then there were the vehicles. The new Discovery required few modifications, according to Marvin.
“We drove more or less with standard SE/HSE vehicles,” he says. “The only thing we changed was more underbody protection and the Goodyear Duratrac tyres. Roof rack and luggage carriers were standard accessories. Each vehicle also got an ARB fridge, Garmin GPS and a 220 V inverter, plus spare tyre and jerry cans up top.”
MORE THAN ONE WAY
Land Rover Experience runs a number of these trips globally, with upcoming destinations for 2018 including Utah, in the USA, and Namibia. The Peru trip will become a regular in the LRE trip list. However, there’s no getting around the fact it is expensive.
For those who are keen to explore Peru and who are not flushed with cash, there are other far cheaper options, such as those offered by the operators listed below.
PERU SAFARI
This company offers a number of driving trips in Peru. You can opt for guided trips of between seven and 16 days, a self-guided adventure, or you can tackle a bespoke journey, adding in outdoor activities or a side trip to the Galapagos Islands, for example.
Peru Safari supplies expedition-ready off-road vehicles and has been running tours in-country for 20 years. • See perusafari.com
PERU ADVENTURE TOURS
Here you will find a range of off-road touring itineraries, as well as different levels of accommodation packages to tailor to your budgets. The company also tailors the trip to the time you are in the country. The vehicles are expedition ready as well. • See peruadventurestours.com.
MACHETE TOURS
For those with plenty of time, Machete Tours offers a 19-day off-road adventure that takes in central and southern Peru’s main tourist attractions as well as some out of the way destinations.
You will be sharing a vehicle with three other occupants and it is a jam-packed itinerary, but for those keen to see as much of this magical country as possible, for a decent asking price, it’s a brilliant option. • See machetetours.com/en/program/1130/ peru-4-x-4-off-road-adventure-19-day.