Peru, land of the Incas, has it ALL! You’ve got the Amazon Rainforest with its tribes, the Andes with 6,000m high glaciers, breezy Pacific Coast beaches great for surfing, and desert oases close to Pisco vineyards. Then you have the highest lake in the world – Lake Titicaca (meaning “Puma Rock”), and mysterious Nazca Lines.
Are we forgetting anything at all?! Ah yes… Machu Picchu! The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, as it is known in full, is a revered World Wonder. Set at an altitude of 2,450m in the vast jungle, the surroundings are impressive in themselves.
You can either embark on a gruelling 4-day jungle trek along the famous Inca Trail, or as I much prefer, a 1.5 hour train ride. Either way it will be absolutely worth it to witness this spiritual sanctuary.
Lima, meaning “Lime”, the capital is a buzzing and sprawling metropolis of around 12 million people. It would have been less buzzy back in 1535, when the city was founded as a Spanish colony by Pizarro.
It holds onto its colonial charms, whilst having ballooned into Latin America’s 2nd biggest city, losing only to São Paulo. And with 30% of Peru’s population living in the capital, I would describe rush hour traffic as absolutely diabolical! In extreme contrast, the glitzy Miraflores promenade provides a relaxing respite.
Nothing comes between a Peruvian and their food, which is as flavourful as it is colourful. It really is a foodie-lover’s frolicking, as Peru hosts several of the world’s top 10 restaurants – including Maido, Central, and Kjolle.
Lima may very well mean “Lime” in Spanish, but the only limes you will find here, will be in your Pisco Sours. Make sure to catch a “Cathedral” (giant sized glass) of Pisco Sour cocktail – their national drink.
If I were to say “Amazon Rainforest”, it may initially conjure up lush, green images of Brazil, with brightly coloured macaw parrots swooping high between tree tops. That’s actually quite accurate. But did you know that The Amazon actually covers 40% of the whole of South America?! Add to that fact that 60% of Peru is indeed blanketed by it too!
Many start their adventure in Iquitos – the gateway and capital of the Peruvian Amazon. From there speedboats are used to get to remote lodges, many of which located on the Amazon River and tributaries.
Boating down The Amazon River on a unique safari, you can spend days spotting anything from toucans, sloths, monkeys and fireflies, to pretty pink dolphins. Yes, you read that right – pink. You may even get lucky fishing for Piranha. Although, not so lucky for the poor Piranha, as it will end up on the menu.
A few hours south east of magical Machu Picchu, lies its gateway city – the ancient Incan capital of Cusco – and the surrounding Sacred Valley, which offers-up treasure after treasure, as you wind through.
Here you can marvel at the mystery of how sacred structures have stood strong for well over 5 centuries, even being rocked by earthquakes. Joined like a jigsaw puzzle using only gravity, the precision carving techniques used are the biggest puzzle of all.
For these reasons, Peru is way, way up on my list of top countries! Variety – it has it all. World Wonder – check. The Incas – ancient history and shrouded in mystery. With certainty, you will return feeling not only full spiritually, but also full physically – having put on approximately 5kg, devouring all the delicacies. Your waistline has been warned!
Timbuk2Stu – Adventuring with YOU, “from here to Timbuktu!”