Peru Holidays
A holiday in Peru has so much to offer the visitor. Nestled entirely within the tropics, it comprises three main geographical regions – narrow coastal desert plains, the snow-capped mountains of the Andes and dense Amazon rainforest – each blessed with its own magnificent scenery and wildlife. A little under half of Peru’s 26mn inhabitants live in the coastal plains, where the three largest cities of Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo are situated.
Peru boasts one of world’s highest concentrations of flora and fauna. In addition to the famous Andean condor and the llama, it is home to most of the world’s 1700 known species of birds. Nature reserves worth visiting include the Paracas Peninsula and the Ballestas Islands, for outstanding marine wildlife such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins and flamingoes; and the Tambopata Reserve and Manu National Park, both of which are a bird-watcher’s paradise.
In addition to landscapes and wildlife, Peru is steeped in history, tradition and culture. Undoubtedly and with good reason, the country’s most visited tourist attraction is the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, perched high in the cloud forest above the beautiful Urubamba valley. However, Peru’s store of archaeological treasures also includes ruins from pre-Inca civilisations, some dating as far back as 2000 BC. From the extraordinary Nasca lines in the south to the world’s largest adobe city at Chan Chán in the north, there are ample opportunities to immerse oneself in this country’s fascinating ancient history.
With a wealth of volcanoes and river systems, Peru provides an idyllic setting for practising a wide range of water sports and mountain activities. The Cordillera Blanca is a major climbing and trekking centre in the north and is home to the country’s highest mountain Huascarán (6768m). The Andes also boasts the world’s deepest canyons – the Colca canyon in the south near Arequipa, is more than twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. Lake Titicaca – considered the highest navigable lake in the world – is on the high Andean plain which straddles the border with Peru and Bolivia. A boat trip around the lake takes in the intriguing floating reed-islands of the Uros indians and can include visits to the islands of Amantaní and Taquile, where you can observe islanders in traditional dress and learn about their age-old traditions, still practised today.
No matter where you decide to go in Peru, it is almost impossible not to spend at least one day visiting the charms of the country’s capital. With its superb collection of Colonial buildings and museums, as well as endless dining and nightlife opportunities, Lima offers a real taste of typical South American city life.
Journey Ideas for Peru