Lonely Planet - Best of Peru

BEST OF PERU

TOP SIGHTS, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

Welcome to Peru

Peru is as complex as its most intricate and exquisite weavings. Festivals mark ancient rites, the urban vanguard beams innovation and nature brims with splendid diversity.

Perus rich cultural heritage is never more real and visceral than when you are immersed street-side in the swirling madness of a festival. Deities of old are reincarnated as Christian saints, pilgrims climb mountains in the dead of night and icons are paraded through crowded plazas. History is potent here and still pulsing, and there is no better way to experience it.

Visitors make pilgrimage to the glorious Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, yet this feted site is just a flash in a 5000-year history of peoples. Explore the dusted remnants of Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian ruins in all the Americas. Fly over the puzzling geoglyphs etched into the arid earth at Nazca. And spend time in Limas great museums, which reveal the sophistication and skill of these lost civilizations.

Few destinations have such madly diverse terrain. From the glaciated peaks of the Cordilleras to the sweltering untamed Amazon the worlds most biodiverse forest Peru dazzles with opportunities to explore outdoors. Trekking routes abound, rafting is increasingly popular, as is mountain biking and surfing. Then grab your binoculars to see a staggering array of bird and animal life.

One question haunts all Peruvians: what to eat? Ceviche with slivers of fiery chili and corn, slowsimmered stews, velvety Amazonian chocolate in the capital of Latin cooking, the choices dazzle.

Giant sand dunes, chiseled peaks and Pacific breaks a few heartbeats away from the capitals rush- hour traffic: take this big place in small bites and dont rush. And thats when you realize: in Peru the adventure usually lies in getting there.

/ BYELIKOVA OKSANA / GETTY IMAGES

PERUS TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

Mysterious giant geoglyphs

Made by aliens? Laid out by prehistoric balloonists? Conceived as a giant astronomical chart? No two evaluations of Perus giant geoglyphs and biomorphs known as the are the same. The mysteries have attracted outsiders since the 1940s but no one has been able to fully crack the code. The lines remain unfathomed, enigmatic and loaded with historic intrigue.

PERUS TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

The Pacific Oceans most astonishing fauna

A barren collection of guano-covered rocks, the support an extraordinary ecosystem of birds, sea mammals and fish. They also represent one of Perus most successful conservation projects. Boat trips around the islands cliffs and arches allow close encounters with barking sea lions, huddled Humboldt penguins and tens of thousands of birds.

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Floating reed islands and traditional living

Less a lake than a highland ocean, is home to fantastical sights none more surreal than the floating islands crafted entirely of tightly woven totora reeds. Requiring near-constant renovation, the reeds are also used to build thatched homes and elegant boats. There are plenty of other islands to choose from, such as Isla Taquile, where rural Andean life from centuries long gone lives on, and the quinoa soup recipe has been perfected.

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The ancient Inca capital

With ancient cobblestone streets, grandiose baroque churches and the remnants of masterful Inca temples, no city looms larger in Andean history than , which has been continuously inhabited since precolonial times. Cuzco also serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu. Mystic, commercial and chaotic, this unique city is still a stunner. Where else would you find ornately dressed women walking llamas on leashes, a museum for magical plants, and the wildest nightlife in the high Andes?

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Scenic hiking, biking, rafting and zip-lining

First colonized by pre-Inca civilizations, the cultural history of the is as alluring as the endless trekking possibilities. Stretching 100km from end to end and plunging over 3400m at its deepest, the canyon has been embellished with terraced agricultural fields, pastoral villages, colonial churches, and ruins that date back to pre-Inca times.

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World-class food and museums

Want to understand Perus ancient civilizations? Begin your trip in . The citys museums hold millennia worth of treasures. Want to understand modern living in Peru? Its all about the diversity reflected in Limas cuisine. The coastal capital is replete with options ranging from street carts to haute-cuisine eateries.