February 21, 2017 TnH Global 0

Exploring exotic destinations of Peru- a beautiful country in South America

Also known as the “Land of the Incas”, Peru has multiple faces each beautiful, different and fascinating. Peru is called the land of the Incas because it was used to be the home of the expansive Inca Empire. As a result, it has a rich heritage and is presently dotted with colonial architecture and archaeological remains. The country’s picturesque natural beauty adds up to make it an attractive travel destination. If you are planning a trip to the less explored Peru, then read on to know some of the interesting places you must visit during your vacation…

Lima

The largest city and capital of Peru, Lima is an extensive metropolis constituting an architectural blend of pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary infrastructure. This city was founded in the year 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Lima offers a rich history as well as extraordinary food, a vibrant culture and vivacious nightlife. Lima’s historic district features the most interesting attractions with old churches, Spanish palaces, monasteries and one of the oldest universities in the Americas. Beaches at the north and south ends of the city are popular crowd-pullers, like the popular Miraflores suburb.

Machu Picchu

One of the most stunning and impressive ancient sites in the world, ‘Machu Picchu’ is surely the number 1 among the top tourist attractions in Peru. The “Lost City of the Incas” is invisible from the Urubamba Valley below and totally selfcontained, surrounded by agricultural terraces and watered by natural springs. This archaeological wonder is situated 7,000 feet above the sea level amidst the Andes Mountains. You can explore this historic place and see the well-preserved buildings that include houses, temples, fountains and baths. Although known locally, Machu Picchu was largely unknown to the outside world before being re-discovered in the year 1911 by historian ‘Hiram’.

Cusco

Regularly serving as a famous base to explore nearby renowned ruins such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco was the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire. Situated in southeastern Peru, it is one of the most significant tourist destinations in Peru. This city is steeped in history featuring various well-preserved buildings dating back to Inca and Spanish colonial times. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city is the main square surrounded by many cafes, restaurants and churches. You can see an important Inca site called ‘Sacsayhuaman’, which is actually an enormous walled complex constructed of large limestone boulders.

Sacred Valley

Previously the heartland of the Inca Empire, The ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas’ is a valley in the Andes, located close to Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. It was appreciated by the Incas because of its special geographical and unique climatic qualities. The region contains abundant archaeological remains and villages including the Inca cities of ‘Písac’ and ‘Ollantaytambo’.

Nazca Desert

Another unique destination to visit is the Nazca Desert. It occupies a strip along the northern Pacific coast on a high arid plateau. The world famous ‘Nazca Lines’ are situated between the towns of Palpa and Nazca. It is believed to be created between 200 BC and 700 AD the figures range from simple lines to stylized spiders, lizards, monkeys and various human figures. The dry, stable climate and windless of the Nazca Desert has helped keep the lines uncovered to the current day.

Arequipa

Arequipa is amongst the most visited cities in Peru. It is surrounded by three picturesque volcanoes in the country’s Southern Coastal region. Arequipa embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. Among the most considerable of these is the Santa Catalina Convent, which is often described as a city within a city because of its colorful buildings, charming streets and flowers. This city is also the gateway to most visited natural attraction in Peru, the ‘Colca Canyon’.

Puno

Last but not the least; Puno is a famous port city on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano in Peru. Regardless of its charming hillside setting, the city itself is a ramshackle collection of unfinished modern buildings. Its biggest attraction is as a departure point for the famous ‘floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca’.

How to Reach Peru?

By Air

Flights from Europe and America bound for South American locations land in Lima’s Aeropuerto International Jorge Chauez. There are direct flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome and Madrid. There are daily flights from all South American countries to Peru. Miami is the main gateway to Peru.

By Road

Running north to South is the recently rebuilt Pan American Highway. Cars can be hired from local agencies for those who like to do their own thing.

By Sea

Boats from Brazil link to Callao, the international port, which is sometimes one of the stopover points of cruise liners from many countries across the world.