From exotic jungle to coastal desert via the breathtaking peaks of the Andes, Peru’s staggering variety of places to visit. Whether you want to trek the hallowed Inca Trail, drink pisco sours in a sleepy colonial town, swim with pink dolphins or paddle your way down the Amazon in a dugout canoe, this is a country that’s ripe for exploring. Wherever you go, Peru’s vibrant Andean culture, one of the most exciting in the Americas, will brighten your travels. For those looking for adrenaline-fuelled fun, a host of outdoor activities are on offer, from trekking ancient trails and whitewater rafting to paragliding and hurtling through the desert on dune-buggy rides. For all this, Peru in an amazing country you will find unique locations, a mix of culture, exotic food and an unforgettable experience.
The stunning Peruvian site of Machu Picchu, the fabled "lost city of the Incas," is South America's greatest attraction. The grassy terraces and stone staircases of Machu Picchu lure you to explore and view the Royal and Sacred Areas, including the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana -- the most important shrine of the ancient site. Intrepid hikers should come early in the morning to climb Huayna Picchu, the huge mountain that looms over Machu Picchu. Another hiking option is to follow the Inca Trail from the Caretaker's Hut to the high pass where the Sun Gate stands.
To stay right at the site, there's only one option: the plush Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, perched outside the entrance to the ruins. Its two restaurants have both international and Peruvian specialties, such as ceviche and alpaca carpaccio. Most hotels in the area line the main road in nearby Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo: Ask for a room with balcony that overlooks the Río Urubamba. For dining options in town, choose between small Peruvian restaurants and pizzerias.
Machu Picchu is a spectacular citadel. I've been here 3 times and it never ceases to amaze especially for the peace that passes. It is a magical place.
Incredible sensations and energy of this place, something unparalleled and not enough words to describe it. If you can walk the Inca trail doing much better.
The Nazca Lines are widely considered among the greatest mysteries of South America. Carved into the surface of the desert floor, the lines are shallow, narrow and fragile. Some of them are several kilometers long. The Nazca Lines are more than just lines in the sand. They are ancient drawings called geoglyphs that were created over 1,000 years ago by a tribe living in Peru's southwestern desert. The drawings are in the form of animals, people, and plants that played an important role in the culture and religion of this ancient tribe. These include a whale, hummingbird, pelican, lizard, dog, human hands, tree, stork, and many more. Some of the figures depict animals that were native to this region, while other figures depict animals that can only be found in the jungle and cloud forests, hundreds of miles away.
You can see them from a plane
It’s known who created them, and known approximately when they were created. The mystery of the Nazca Lines is that nobody knows how they were created, or why.
You can see them from a gazebo
This national reserve is a vicuĂąa sanctuary high in the mountains 90km east of Nazca on the road to Cuzco. It is the best place to see these shy animals in Peru, though tourist services are virtually nonexistent. Every year in late May or early June is the chaccu, when hundreds of villagers round up the vicuĂąas for shearing and three festive days of traditional ceremonies, with music and dancing, and of course, drinking. Full-day or overnight tours from Nazca cost US$30 to US$90 per person.
Flying above as enigmatic lines and see those drawings that may have originated beyond other worldly cultures. Much I think about our origins and purpose on earth moves. It is amazing This is another of the wonderful buildings of our beloved Earth. From the sky they are so well-defined lines and drawings looks amazing.
The Colca Canyon in southern Peru's Arequipa region is an area of astounding scenic beauty, and one of Peru's top tourist destinations. It is best known as one of the world's deepest canyons, reaching a depth of 4,160 meters (13,640'), whose depth can most easily be appreciated from the Cruz del Condor, a viewpoint where Andean Condors can be seen most days throughout the year. It also offers a vibrant indigenous culture, high-quality handicrafts, and a range of activities from adventure sports to mystical tourism and tourist home-stays. The valley also features an incredible amount of Inca and pre-Inca agricultural terraces and the irrigation systems necessary to operate them.
A journey to the Colca Valley usually takes about 3-1/2 hours via public bus, across the high Andean plateau, reaching a high point of 4800 meters. Tourists generally arrive in Chivay, a nice and very friendly town at the beginning of the canyon, with plenty of hotels and hostels and restaurants. Chivay is a good place to look for high-quality, locally-produced crafts, in particular goods hand-knitted from 100% alpaca fiber, and elaborately embroidered goods produced by hand on sewing machines (hats, coin purses, belts, etc.)
Arequipa, known as the White City for its beautiful white walls of sillar, a volcanic stone, lies at the feet of the mighty volcanos of Mount Chachani, Mount Misti, and the snow covered peak of Mount Pichu Pichu. The downtown of the city, placed on the World Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plazas. SabandĂa, Tiabaya, and Tingo, located among the large fields, are must see places, and the irresistible Arequipa cuisine is the perfect complement to the visit.
Spectacular place. I recommend sleep in Chivay because you must go to Colca Valley at 5:00 am to see the flight of the condors.
Worth the crossing and the trip, the experience of watching the flight of the condors is amazing. Visit the different viewpoints and see the nearby towns are pretty good too.
Peru's Amazon rain forest is one of the last true frontiers on earth and a thrilling place for an adventure. The Amazonas Region is a land of microclimates each containing an extensive amount of biodiversity. Additionally, the department was home to pre-Columbian civilizations that have left stunning remnants of their once great culture. The capital of the department, Chachapoyas, adds to the diversity of ecology and culture as it is home to picturesque colonial architecture. The streets of this city are narrow. It contains a main square as common throughout Peruvian cities and maintains colonial mansions and balconies which add to the flavor of the area's mixed culture.
Arguably the most impressive destination of the department is the ancient fortress of KuĂŠlap. Often referred to as the Machu Picchu of the north, Kuleap was built by the Chachapoyas civilization, an ancient tribe of warriors who resisted the Incas imperial expansion. The Gocta Waterfall is in this department and is the third highest waterfall in the world. As it was only recently discovered in 2005, the Peruvian government is making plans to develop it for tourism.
This area comprises 3, 479. 73 hectares of natural forest temporarily flooded, characterized in that it has plenty of trees and dominant population of renaco and aguaje. This is a wildlife refuge, where most monkeys and birds, it is also the natural habitat of endangered species and vulnerable. You can see a variety of plants such as ferns, lianas, orchids, bromeliads, among others. Among the fauna, mammals such as; otter, monkeys (monk saki, black monkey and Omeco) pelejo, achuni, anteater and others. Among the species of birds you can find: tarahui, flauterillo toucan manacaraco Heron; shirui and fish like tilapia, crappie, atinga, carachama, among others.
The guided visit Kuelap really worth. The fact reach it from Chachapoyas and recreates the view itself ... The walk, views, explanations of the guides, the environment, all contribute to transport us in time.
I love waterfalls and this one seriously blew me away. Amazing. Awesome - in the true sense of the word. A must-see for anyone in northern Peru and for anyone who likes waterfalls. If you're fit, the hike is pretty easy, though there are some pretty steep hills.