
Travel Guide
Peru
Home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Peru is a magical land offering historical sites, deliciously flavored cuisine and richly diverse landscapes. Itโs a country in South America known for Amazon rainforests and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region is also famous for stops like the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and colonial city of Cusco, along with countless other archaeological sites. The capital city of Lima feels playful and refreshing and Paracas, Arequipa and Huacachina stand out as must see destinations.
Once capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is famed for its rich history, culture and architecture. Cobblestone streets lead visitors to Plaza de Armas, alongside archaeological remains like the Twelve-Angled Stone. It's also the spot for freshwater trout ceviche and the perfect jumping off point for Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain.
Sacred Valley is a region in Peru's Andean highlands known for fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages, stretching from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. Together, with Machu Picchu and the nearby city of Cusco, they formed the heart of the Inca Empire in the late 1500's.
A two hour drive from Cusco, Vinicunca, also called Mountain of Seven Colors, is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 16,522 feet above sea level and extremely harsh conditions. The seven colors come from mineral composition but are only visible during Augustsโs dry season.
Colca Canyon is a river canyon in southern Peru famed as one of the deepest in the world. Itโs a trekking and rafting destination with canyons, valleys and remote traditional villages with terraced agriculture predating the Incas. And the giant Andean condor can often be spotted from viewpoints like Cruz del Condor.
Known as the โWhite Cityโ because of its baroque style buildings made of sillar, a white volcanic stone, Arequipa feels warm and welcoming and is filled with live music, spicy food, antique stores and a lively historic center. The town is also surrounded by four imposing volcanoes.
Sunsets, sandboarding, lagoons and dune buggy rides. Huacachina is a tiny village and desert oasis west of Ica in southwestern Peru. Its center is filled with emerald green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon, thought to have therapeutic properties.
Known for its sandy beaches, unique wildlife and sunny weather, Paracas is a special little beach town on Peruโs western coast. Itโs also an incredible area to explore the Ballestas Islands, Paracas National Reserve and Nazca Lines.
Founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes, Lima is a coastal city full of life. Surfing, paragliding and dancing, cathedrals, parks and museums, nightlife, restaurants and plazas, Lima has it all.
Located eight miles west of San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chileโs Atacama Desert lies el Valle de la Luna. Part of Los Flemencos National Reserve, the area was declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1982 for its natural environment and unique lunar landscape filled with stone and sand formations formed by wind and water.
The Atacama Desert is said to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing because of its extremely dry climate, high altitude, minimal light pollution and near absence of humidity, creating crystal clear skies with perfect visibility of stars and constellations.
El Tatio is the third-largest geyser field in the world and largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Itโs located in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile more than 14,000 feet above sea level. This geothermal field boasts over 80 geysers that spew steam and boiling water best witnessed in the early morning.
The driest place on Earth, the deserts of Atacama boasts natural wonders like salt flats home to pink flamingos, red rock formations and mysterious blue lagoons at Laguna Chaxa, Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic Lagoons.
At almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Set above the Urubamba River valley, the site was built in the 15th century and later abandoned. Even today, it carries an air of mystery with its exact purpose still debated.