Peru
Peru is a small nation saturated with culture, archaeological mystery and spectacular scenery. Towards the end of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st, Peru has fast become a popular backpacking destination. With the Andes mountain range flowing through the country, it is a hikers paradise and boasts some of the most well developed landscapes on the planet. Use this Peru travel guide to plan your visit.
| Currency: | Nuevo Sol |
|---|---|
| Language: | Quechua, Spanish |
| Capital: | Lima |
| Time Zone: | GMT/UTC -5 |
| Population: | 29,000,000 |
| VISA: | UK (plus many other Europeans), USA, Australian tourists can stay up to 90 days with no VISA required |
The Inca Trail is an infamous South American trek and incredibly popular with backpackers world wide. This is a challenging four day trail covering 33km which takes you up into the mountains (max. 4200m) from the sacred valley, across three passes and back down to Machu Picchu. Encounter ruins, forests, snow covered mountain trails, and incredibly views. As the trail is so popular, the route will not be so tranquil with many other tourists around. The Incas took many other paths to Machu Picchu and so diverting down some of these footpaths can be just as rewarding. If you go to Peru, this is what you do. It is the best way to get a piece of the culture, see some beautiful scenery and native flora.
Canon Del Cotahuasi This is the deepest canyon in the world. Not as widely recognized as the Grand Canyon but is almost twice the depth. It is popular to hire an experienced guide and take trekking tours deep into the canyon itself, and stay in traditional rural settlements. Deemed one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and a chance of seeing the endangered Andean Condor at close range, this is an attraction to remember for a long while to come.
Islas Flotantes (Two hour boat ride from Puno) These are lake Titicaca's top attraction. They provide a brilliant insight into the Uro people's culture, supposedly predating the Inca's. It is said they took to the waters centuries ago to avoid confrontation and interference from the outside world. The islands are constructed from totora, a type of reed which grows in the lake. Building and water craft are also made from the same reed confirming that the plants can sustain a civilization. Like any tourist attraction, the popularity has affected their culture. People used to beg the tourists but the problem is not so bad now. Locals have also constructed viewing platforms from the reed to make extra money. To find more secluded reed islands you can take private boats to more isolated locations
Machu Picchu is the final destination of the Inca Trail. Once a forgotten city, these ruins have been excavated since the turn of the 20th century when they were accidentally discovered in the early 20th century. The grounds are loaded with burial sites and have an aura of mystery surrounding the founding of the settlement. Theories are set forward as to why ruins are there with the top being that the Incas moved there to persevere their people from the outside world.
The Nazca Lines are another of Peru's unsolved mysteries. Brought to attention recently in Indiana Jones' fourth adventure, the 800 lines, only conceivable from the air, have baffled archaeologists for years. Located on in the Nazca desert, the lines created from the removal of the reddish-brown rocks leaving grey earth showing beneath, are shaped into drawings of plants and animals, symmetrical shapes and patterns. Theories as to why they exist are alien intrusion, a form of calendar or part of irrigation systems for crops. You cannot walk onto the lines but can be taken up above in tour planes. An enchanting experience.
WeatherAs Peru is mountainous is follows the pattern that the higher you go, the colder it becomes. The dry season, which coincides with the tourist peak season, is from June to August. If you wish to hike in the Andean mountains then it is best to avoid the wettest time of the year between December and March as it could get muddy underfoot.
The coasts are very misty between April and November, and humid for the remainder of the year, little rain and temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) and 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) at night. The rain forests are wettest between December and May but when it rains it is only for a couple of hours and there is still plenty of sun.
Vaccinations| Disease | Required? | See doctor |
| Typhoid | Yes | 10 days before travel |
| Hepititus A | Yes | 2 weeks before travel |
| Yellow Fever | Yes | 10 days before travel |
| Hepititus B | Sometimes | 2 months before travel |
| Rabies | Sometimes | 1 month before travel |
Festivals
Peru has thousands of festivals throught the year as the country is so rich in culture. You can combine your visit to Lake Titicaca near the town of Puno on 5th November to see costumes and dancing in the streets.
The most spectacular festival is that of Inti Raymi which translates as the festival of the sun. It takes place on the 24th June at Sacsayhuaman in honour of the God Inti and to mark the winter solace. Thousands of locals and tourists turn out for the events to witness the ceremonies lasting for days.
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