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 Peru is without doubt the most fascinating country in South America. Its astonishing cultural heritage and incredible natural diversity is simply unmatched. Thanks to its strategic location, Peru is a privileged destination for tourism and with ancient cultures and a rich colonial tradition, that combines with one of the richest biodiversities on Earth.
Peru's outstanding variety of climates and
eco-systems places the country amongst the world's top eight
nations in terms of biodiversity, where of the 104 life zones
that exist on the planet, Peru is home to 84. With more than
400 species of mammals, 300 species of reptiles, 1,700 species
of birds and more than 50,000 plants registered to date, Peru
is a remarkable destination for all who are interested in
the natural world.
In addition to Peru's staggering biodiversity,
visitors can spend weeks touring the fascinating coastal deserts
that extend along the whole of the west coast, or visit numerous
colonial cities home to a wonderful display of colonial architecture.
Adventure-lovers will also find Peru, with the Andes running
across the entire length of the country, ideal for trekking,
camping and mountain climbing. The highlands are riddled with
more than 15,000 lakes, snow-capped peaks soaring over 6,000
meters, the world's deepest canyons and picturesque villages.
The entire Andean chain offers unparalleled opportunities
for white-water rafting along with superb trails for mountain
biking.
The beaches of Paracas (south of Lima) and along the north
coast (Huanchaco, Máncora, Punta Sal) are ideal for
surfing, windsurfing, sand boarding, fishing and scuba diving.
There are also superb opportunities for fishing in the Amazon.
With more than 50 protected natural areas along
the coastline, Andean foothills, wetlands, Amazonian forest
and tropical highlands, including Paracas, Manu, Tambopata-Candamo,
Pacaya-Samiria and Pampa Galeras, a vast array of eco-systems
are a haven for dozens of species on the verge of extinction.
Peru will also lead visitors into a world of art and culture
with a legacy of numerous pre-hispanic civilisations such
as the Quechua, Aymara, Mochica and Nazca cultures, whose
views of the world were based on their observation of both
the heavens and nature. Over the course of centuries, Peru
has also incorporated cultural influences from European, particularly
Spanish along with African and Asian migrants.
A diverse nation featuring many cultures,
Peru with its historical, archaeological and architectural
legacies, is also famous for more than 1,500 musical genres,
combining instruments from the outside world with native Andean
equivalents, such as the quena and zampoña flutes.
All of which provide the accompanying music to more than 3,000
festivals such as the Candelaria, Inti Raymi, Carnivals, Corpus
Christi and Easter Week. Not forgoing the table, Peru boasts
one of the most exquisite and varied cuisines on Earth, as
local chefs have succeeded in adapting a diverse variety of
native ingredients while remaining open to outside influence.
Peru's cooking is an invitation to discover exotic flavours
and fragrant aromas, which are as authentic as they are ancient,
from Pacha Manca prepared today just as it was hundreds of
years ago to cuy, the guinea pig that has been a domesticated
food source for over 10,000 years.
The first Pan-Andean civilisation of Chavín
(1500-400 BC), with numerous stone temples riddled with labyrinthine
galleries at altitudes over 3,100m to the mysterious mud-brick
citadels and pyramids built near the sea by the Mochica dynasty
(200 BC-700 AD); to the royal tombs of the Lord of Sipan,
laden with hoardes of golden treasure, have all contributed
to the most important archaeological discoveries of the twentieth
century.
Following in the footsteps of the fierce Chachapoyas warriors
(1000-1400 AC) along their 25-metre-high ramparts in the Kuelap
fortress in Amazonas or strolling around Cuzco, the capital
of the Inca empire (1300-1500 AC), visitors are faced with
an incredible choice of the most significant cultural legacies
in South America. As the Incas were the greatest pre-Colombian
civilisation in South America, Cuzco and its environs feature
colossal constructions such as the Machu Picchu citadel, hailed
as the eighth wonder of the world.
Witness this staggering combination of cultures along with
prosperous cities founded during the colonial era, with their
churches, convents, monasteries and aristocratic mansions;
Peru is indeed a showcase of architecture and art from a bygone
era.
There are few countries on Earth that can
match Peru in offering such a variety of significant cultural
and ethnic backgrounds to one of the most diverse and complex
geographies on Earth. This characteristic gave rise in Peru
to some of the world's greatest ancient civilizations, and
is what makes Peru today a fascinating country for visitors
from around the world.
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