Looking Forward to Traveling Again?

Check out these Treasures of Peru

By Lily Ong

As travel begins to open up more and more each week, it’ll be tempting to start making plans to explore new places. When the time comes for a VTL with Peru, you’ll want to know about some of the best spots to explore.

Manu National Park

Renowned as one of the largest refuges of terrestrial biodiversity in the world, Manu National Park is wrapped by meandering rivers located at the confluence of the South Eastern Andes in Peru and the magnificent Amazon basin. A tropical forest of 1.5 million hectares, the park spans over a wide altitudinal gradient of the Eastern slope of the Andes from around 350 to 4000 meters above sea level. A haven of majestic biodiversity, it harbors 200 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 68 species of reptiles, 77 species of amphibians, and a spectacular number of freshwater fish. Thankfully, Manu Park has been spared from human impacts and remains largely inaccessible to this day.

Temple of Chavin

Known for their construction of temples and advancement in engineering and metallurgy, the Chavin was a civilization in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900-250 BCE. Seen here is the Temple of Chavin in the central region of the Andean Mountains in Peru. Built and occupied between 1200 to 400 BC, its priests were known for their extensive influence in the Northern and Central highlands and coasts.

Machu Picchu

Referred to as “probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height,” and “among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization,” Machu Picchu is truly the most iconic archaeological masterpiece of Peru. The citadel perched at its top is surrounded by a stunning landscape of exceptional beauty. Its seamless integration with its environments makes it look like an extension of nature. Built in the first half of the 15th century, Machu Picchu was hidden for centuries before being discovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.

A 30,000-km network of roads, the Inca Trail highlights the achievements of the Incas in architecture and engineering. An infrastructure for trade, storage, and accommodation, it also houses sites of religious significance. What makes this trail extraordinary is the terrain upon which it was built – from the snow-peaked mountains of the Andes to the coast, running through forests, fertile valleys and arid deserts. It is so vast that it encompasses the present territories of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Cathedral and Archbishop Palace in the Main Square of Lima

One of the most important landmarks of the historic town inscribed in the World Heritage List, the Cathedral and Archbishop Palace sits in the Main Square of Lima, which was founded in 1535. Up until the 18th century, the capital of Lima was the most important city of the Spanish territories in South America. Most of its historic monuments, which date from the 17th and 18th centuries, are described as typical examples of “Hispanic-America Baroque” and the “result of collaboration between local crafts people and others from the Old World.”

Former residents of America but currently based in Singapore, Lily and her daughter, Tess, traverse the world regularly as a motherdaughter team. Lily is involved in media and diplomacy while Tess is a kindergartner and the only one known to study the safety instruction cards before every flight.