November 5, 2015 TnH Global 1

Famous Places to Visit in Peru

Situated on the Pacific coast, Peru is a stunning South American country. This country is famous for being the home of the one of the supreme centers of ancient civilization. The country spans over 1, 285, 216 square kilometers of area. Peru is blessed with rich and diverse geography which vary from the mighty peaks of the Andes Mountains to the arid plains of Pacific coast to the tropical forests under Amazon Basin. It is often called the “Land of the Incas”, because this place was once home to the expansive Inca Empire. Later, the region conquered and colonized by Spain during the 16th century. With rich history and cultural heritage, Peru is an incredible tourist destination. Here, we have listed some of the famous places in this country you must visit!

Machu Picchu

The most famous tourist attraction in Peru, Machu Picchu receives a large number of tourists and history lovers. It is one of world’s most popular archaeological wonders; this place is situated at 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above sea level in the Andes Mountains. This wonderful Inca site provokes many mysteries than facts, it is believed that Machu Picchu was first established during middle of the 15th century as a military fortress and later, served as an estate for Inca royalty. Once here, you can discover the Machu Picchu and explore the well-preserved buildings including houses, temples, fountains and baths. In addition, you will get a chance to see agricultural terraces and proof of a well-planned irrigation system.

Cusco

This place mainly serves as a popular base to discover nearby famous ruins such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. Once, Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is situated on southeastern Peru; it is one of Peru’s key tourist destinations. This city is steeped in history and features various well-preserved buildings dating back to Inca and Spanish colonial times. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city which is encircled by cafes, restaurants and churches. Apart from exploring the city, you can step out and visit another important Inca site called Sacsayhuaman, which is a huge walled complex built by large limestone boulders.

Lima

The largest city and capital of Peru, Lima is an extensive conurbation that represents an architectural blend of pre-Hispanic, colonial as well as modern infrastructure. This city was established in the year 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. It provides rich history, vivacious culture, excellent food and amazing nightlife. This city’s historic district features some of the most interesting attractions including old churches, Spanish palaces, and monasteries etc. The city has one of the oldest universities in the Americas. Beaches located at the south and north ends of Lima city are popular amongst local crowd and tourists. The famous Miraflores suburb has a large number of restaurants and hotels for wonderful stay in the vibrant environment.

Nazca Desert

A long strip along the northern Pacific coast on a high arid plateau forms the Nazca Desert. The major highlights of this region are the popular “Nazca Lines”. The lines are located between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. These lines are believed to be formed between 200 BC and 700 AD. The lines or figures range from simple lines to stylized spiders, lizards, monkeys and other kinds of human figures. The dry, windless and stable climate of the Nazca Desert has aided keeping the lines preserved till date. To view these lines and figures, you can take the assistance of tour agents who offer round flights in a Cessna to observe the lines. Besides the flights, you can observe these lines observation tower along the Pan-American Highway.

Apart from these, you can visit Arequipa, Sacred Valley, Iquitos, Mancora and Puno while in Peru!