WELCOME TO PERUFew countries offer such wide array of options to the traveler. Within its territory, you can find deserts, mountains and tropical forests. Peru is best defined as a country containing many countries, climates and types of people.
The land's climate varies according to the altitudes of the Andean Mountain Range. The cold "Humboltd" and warm "El Niño" ocean currents are also responsible for Peru's variety of climates, which in turn contribute to our rich diversity of landscapes, each with its own distinct flora and fauna.
When planning to travel in Peru, distances should be taken into account, due to the country's extension: The Coast is a long desert strip more than 2,680 km long running from North to South, it is interrupted by rivers running down from the Andes' glaciers, forming rich valleys in which many of the counties main cities and richest agricultural land can be found. The Northern Coast boasts fine beaches and sunshine all year round, suitable for spear fishing and water sports like scuba diving, fishing and surfing.
In the Highlands, the Peruvian Andes have 35 snow capped peaks over 6,000 m. The rivers formed from this melting snow form the country's various rivers and canyons, among them the world's deepest canyon the "Colca", and the Urubamba, which feeds the Inca's sacred valley in Cusco. Another must see is the Titicaca lake, the world's highest navigable lake.
Special mention should be made of the protected Natural Reserves , which occupy 10% of Peru's national territory. The Paracas, Manu, Tambopata-Candamo and Pacaya-Samiria are among the most exceptional worldwide, due to the variety of plants and wildlife they enclose, especially in the Amazonian Forest, making of Peru a privileged country for ecoturism, trekking, canoeing and adventure tourism.
If you are into history, Peru has a millenary heritage. The Incas, and many cultures before them flourished until the Spanish Conquest in the 16th Century. The Nazca Lines south of Lima; Chan-chan, the world's largest clay city in Trujillo; Cusco, the archaeological capital of the Americas; Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas; and the Tomb of the Lord of Sipan, the burial where an incredible treasure of gold and precious stones was found are just some of the countries classic tourist spots. Other points of interest are Lima and its museums, the blend of Inca and Spanish architecture in Cusco, Arequipa's Mestizo Baroque temples, and Trujillo's Colonial and Republican mansions.
Peru's historic, archaeological and natural attractions make of it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. Incidentally, Peru is by far, the South American country in which tourists spend the most days in average More than half a million visitors a year can't be all wrong..
Come to Peru once, we guarantee you will soon be back for more.
For more information: http://www.peru-explorer.com
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Coastal Attractions
In the Highlands
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This page was last updated on January 20, 1999
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