Fodors - Fodors Peru. Full-color Travel Guide Series, Book 5

Lima. In Perus cultural and political center, experience some of the best dining in the Americas, vibrant nightlife, and great museums and churches. See the Catedral and the catacombs at the Iglesia de San Francisco, and stroll about Miraflores for shops and eats.

The Southern Coast. Head south for wines and piscos around Ica, dune-boarding in Huacachina, the mysterious Nazca Lines, and the marine life of the Paracas National Preserve. The inland area, particularly Pisco, was devastated by an earthquake in 2007, but is rebuilding.

The Southern Andes and Lake Titicaca. Colca and Cotahuasi canyons are the worlds two deepest canyons. Perus second city Arequipa may also be its most attractive. Lake Titicaca is the worlds highest navigable lake and home to the floating Uros Islands.

Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Cusco (11,500 feet above sea level) is a necessary stop on your journey to Machu Picchu. The former Inca capital is gorgeous, and packed with fine restaurants, hotels, churches, and museums. Visit the nearby Inca ruins of Sacsayhuamn, take a day trip to the Pisac market and Ollantaytambo, and spend a night in the Sacred Valley.

Machu Picchu. The great Machu Picchu, crowded or not crowded, misty rains or clear skies, never ceases to enthrall, and the Inca Trail is still the great hiking pilgrimage. Stay in Aguas Calientes for the best access.

Amazon Basin. Perus vast tract of the Amazon may contain the worlds greatest biodiversity. Fly into Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado for the wildlife preserves, jungle lodges, rain-forest hikes, and boat excursions.

The Central Highlands. Festivals and market towns dominate Huancayo and the Mantaro Valley, while the passionate Semana Santa celebrations are the rage in Ayacucho. From Lima to Huancayo, the worlds highest railroad tops out at 15,685 feet.

The North Coast and the Northern Highlands. Go up the coast for beach life and inland to the Cordillera Blanca for some of the worlds highest mountains. Many of Perus greatest archaeological discoveries were made in the north. Sites are still being uncovered near Chiclayo, Trujillo, and Chachapoyas.

Peru shares the Eastern Standard Time zone with New York and Miami when the U.S. East Coast is not on daylight saving time. So when its noon in Lima it will be 11 am in Dallas and 9 am in Los Angeles.

Cell phone coverage and wireless Internet access are increasingly common in Peru, which means you can take your smart phone and laptop with you if you want to. Check with your carrier to see if your cell phone will work in Peru, and what the rates are. It is probably expensive, so keep in mind that there are locutorios (phone centers) all over Lima and other cities, and calling cards for sale at most convenience stores and pharmacies, which means you can call home for pennies a minute. You can also buy a prepay cell phone for around $40. All but the cheapest hotelseven some of the jungle lodgeshave Wi-Fi, which is free at all but the most expensive hotels. If you dont want to carry a laptop, most hotels also have computers for guest use, and there are Internet cafs all over the country that charge S/1 or S/2 an hour.

Peru is safer than it has been in years, but standard travel precautions apply. Remember: you represent enormous wealth to the typical person here; the budget for your trip might exceed what many Peruvians earn in a year. Conceal your valuables, watch your things, avoid deserted streets, walk purposefully, take taxis at night, and be vigilant if somebody invades your personal space, or if there is a scene of commotion, either of which may be done to distract you. Bag slashers and pickpockets tend to work in markets and on buses; keep track of your valuables in any crowded place.

In terms of health and sanitation, few visitors experience anything worse than a bout of travelers diarrhea. If you stick to upscale eateries in well-trodden destinations, you may minimize even those problems. Be wary of raw foods (peel your fruit!), and dont drink tap water. If you visit the Amazon Basin, you should get vaccinated against yellow fever. Check with your physician about any other pretravel immunizations or medications at least a month before you leave, since some vaccines require multiple injections.

Perus lofty heights present you with both majesty and menace. The Andes, the countrys signature geographic feature, provide a glorious backdrop. The 6,768-meter (22,204-feet) Huascarn tops Perus peaks, and much of the center northsouth band of the country sits at 3,0004,000 meters (9,80013,000 feet) altitude.

Treat that altitude with respect. Its consequences, locally known as soroche, affect many visitors. For most, its little more than a shortness of breath, which can be minimized by taking it easy the first couple of days and a good intake of nonalcoholic liquids. It occasionally requires immediate descent to lower altitudes. Peruvians swear by tea brewed from coca leaves, a completely legal way (in Peru, at least) to prevent symptoms. We recommend a pretrip check with your doctor to see if any underlying conditions (hypertension, heart problems, pregnancy) might preclude travel here.