Tourism in Peru
Tourism in Peru
General information about Peru
Peru is located in western South America, bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, to the east by Brazil and Bolivia, to the south by Chile, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. It extends over an area of 1,285,216 square kilometres.
Tourist places in Peru
lima
Lima, the capital of Peru, is located on the arid Pacific coast. Although maintained as a city that went through violent colonialism, it is a bustling city and one of the largest in South America. It is home to the Museo Larco Collection of Pre-Columbian Art and the Museu de la Nación, tracing the history of ancient civilizations in Peru. The Plaza de Armas square and the 16th-century cathedral are in the heart of old Lima Centro.
Other Lima Centro landmarks include San Francisco’s Baroque Convent and Torre Tagli Palace. Downtown, the hip coastal neighborhood of Barranco is known for its nightlife. Lima is also known for its vibrant food scene, which includes fine international specialties and cuisine.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is located 2,430 meters above sea level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an unusually beautiful setting. It is one of the most exciting creations of the cities of the Inca Empire at the height of its power. Its gigantic walls, balconies, and staircases appear to have been cut naturally from solid rock. The natural surroundings, on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains, include the upper Amazon basin, which is rich in its diversity of flora and fauna. Tourism in Peru 4
Cusco
Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was the capital of the Inca Empire and is now known for its archaeological ruins and Spanish colonial architecture. The Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old town, with arcades, and carved wooden balconies. Built atop the Incan Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), the Baroque Monastery of Santo Domingo contains archaeological remains of Inca stonework.
Spanish landmarks such as the 17th-century cathedral use Inca buildings as foundations. The city’s hilltop complex, Sacsayhuamán, boasts distinctive sinuous stone walls, as well as views of the red-tiled roofs and the surrounding mountains. At an altitude of 3,400 metres, Cusco is the gateway to Inca sites in the Urubamba (Sacred) Valley and on the Inca Road, a multi-day trek that ends at the mountain fortress of Machu Picchu.
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, located on the border between Peru and Bolivia in the Andes, is one of the largest lakes in South America and the world’s largest navigable surface of water. Said to be the birthplace of the Incas, it is home to numerous ruins. It harbors rare wild animals such as giant frogs.
The common Bolivian entry point, Copacabana, includes two important religious areas: the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana and Cerro El Calvario, and there are trips to the car-free islands of Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna.