Adventure World

Peru

Peru is blessed with a rich and ancient past, making it one of South America’s most popular travel destinations. Thousands of archaeological sites are all over the country, ranging from 10,000- year-old camp sites of early hunters to the monumental stone walls of 16th century Inca Cuzco.

Although the Incas are by far the best known of Peru’s cultures, it was the pre-Inca civilisations such as Moche, Chavin and Nazca that set the foundations for the rising of the Inca Empire.

Peru’s museums are filled with relics of its ancient history. More than just history, Peru boasts outstanding and varied scenery including majestic Andean peaks, the Amazon Basin and the coastline.

Top Highlights

Machu Picchu: The ‘Lost City of the Incas’ was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and is Peru's greatest attraction. The city is on a green saddle between two mountains in the southern Peruvian Andes. Over 1000 tourists visit the ruins each day in the high season (Jun-Sep).

The journey by rail from Cuzco (daily departures) is wildly scenic all the way up the four switchback zig zags. The train rises above the city to the open mountain plateau at 13000ft then precipitously down to the sacred valley of the Incas at 9000ft, then further down to 7900ft to the ‘eyebrow of the jungle’ in continuous deep spectacular vertical sided Andean gorges, as the line clings to the banks of the cascading Urubamba River on the approach to Aguas Calientes (gateway city to Machu Picchu).

To reach Machu Picchu from the railway station (only 6 kms away), small buses climb the steep and twisting road around 22 hairpin bends. Travellers can walk around the ancient community of Machu Picchu through narrow passages into residences, climb stairways to the heights past temples of magnificent stonework and admire the monuments to sun worship, all with a 360 degree panorama of some of the world’s most magnificent mountain scenery. Another way of reaching Machu Picchu is to trek the Inca Trail. (see separate information)

Cuzco: This bustling city is at 3326m above sea level, so if you are arriving by air from Lima make sure to take it easy as altitude sickness can take its toll and can make the highlight of your stay not so enjoyable. It is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city.

Massive Inca-built stone walls line most of Cuzco’s central streets and form the foundations of colonial and modern buildings. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, and Avenida Sol is the main business street, off which you find streets that have changed little over the centuries. The indigenous cultures with their traditions and dress are the highlights of the Cuzco area.

Sun worship was the religion of the Incas and the Sun Temple in Cuzco has the best stonework, plus there are also a number of other impressive structures of religious importance to see. Sacsayhuaman (2 kms from Cuzco) is a massive Incan fortress with impressive stonework, like the three-tiered zigzag walls of the main fortification. It takes an hour to walk to the ruins, and it is important that travellers have acclimatised, as though the climb is short, it is steep. Another option is to take a taxi to the top, and then it is only a 20-25 minute downhill walk to Plaza de Armas.

Cuzco Surrounds: The Urubamba Valley (the Sacred Valley) is about 15 kms north of Cuzco and is a picturesque valley featuring Incan ruins, Indian markets and villages, and offering outdoor activities such as river rafting. The main points of interest in the valley are the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The colourful markets of Pisac (32 kms from Cuzco), are the starting point for a visit to the Sacred Valley. There are two Pisacs - one is colonial and the other is an Inca fortress on a mountain spur about 600m above.

Colonial Pisac is where the locals come down from the hills to sell their produce. The main market day is Sunday, with smaller markets on Tuesday and Thursday. The Sunday market attracts traditionally dressed locals from miles away and tourists from all over the world. The prices in Pisac are not any lower than in Cuzco. Ollantaytambo is massive Incan fortress located at the end of the Sacred Valley. The huge, steep terraces guarding the Inca fortress are spectacular and highly defensible.

The Inca Trail: One of the most famous treks in the world - the 43 km trail can be done in 3 days but it is recommended to take 4 to 5 days to enjoy the scenery and explore the less visited ruins along the way. Departures are normally from Cuzco or nearby. The trek can be quite strenuous in parts and one needs to be reasonably fit. Accommodation is in tents with camp meals.

Organised tours include porters to carry the load (travellers only carry a day pack) and a guide to point out the many interesting sights and ruins along the way. The weather can be extreme even in the warm dry season, May to September.

The Inca Trail begins at Km 88, but most people begin the trek at the village of Chilca (or Km 82). Why is it called Km 82? Because the train track that passes through here is 82 kms from Cuzco. At Km 82 we recommend travellers buy a bamboo hiking pole (by the end of the Trek this would be your best investment), plastic disposable ponchos and a chocolate fix. From Km 82 (2750m) to Machu Picchu (2400m) it is 43 kms of uneven paved trails which are hiked over 4 days. Porters carry 35 kg each, which includes clients’ back packs and all equipment, while the clients only carry daypacks with water, snacks and warm clothes.

Inca Trail Permits: In an effort to preserve and protect the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the Peruvian governing bodies have taken drastic measures in the past few years to limit the amount of people hiking the Trail. As of March 2004, no more than 500 people (including support staff) per day are allowed on the Inca Trail and this number is strictly adhered to and very tightly controlled. Once this limit of 500 people is reached, the Trail is effectively closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made. Reservations are not held on the Trail and all permits to trek must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct passport information, to which no modifications can be made. Any attempts at modifications result in a loss of the permit and any money paid. We strongly recommend booking early, at least 4-6 months in advance to avoid disappointment.

Arequipa: A beautiful city at 2325m above sea level, Peru’s second largest city is surrounded by spectacular mountains, the most famous being El Misti (5822m) which rises behind Arequipa’s cathedral. Many buildings date back to colonial times, and are built from a very pearly white, very soft and attractive volcanic stone, ‘sillar’, which is why this city is nicknamed ‘the white city’. It has one of the most picturesque main plazas, with its impressive twin towered cathedral on one side, with cloistered walkways on the three remaining sides. The Monasterio de Santa Catalina, is actually a convent and is not to be missed. It covers an entire city block (20,000 sqm), was built in 1580, and opened to the public in 1970. Arequipa is surrounded by active volcanoes, thermal springs, high-altitude deserts and some of the world’s deepest canyons; the most famous is the Canon del Colca.

Colca Canyon: Perhaps the deepest canyon in the world. If you are lucky you can view the huge Condor birds flying at almost an arms length away. The people living in this area are known for their traditional clothing, especially the women’s embroidered hats, waistcoats and skirts. Ask permission before taking a photo, as the women generally prefer photos not to be taken.

Nazca Lines: A small town 598m above sea level, about 450 kms south of Lima, Nazca is located along the Panamericana Highway and has become famous for its huge geometric designs drawn in the desert and visible only from the air. Some of the designs represent animals, such as a 180m long lizard, a 90m high monkey with an extravagantly curled tail and a condor with a 130m wingspan. The designs were made by removing sun-darkened stones from the desert surface to expose the lighter coloured stones below.

The question still remains, who constructed the lines and why?: Best way to see the Lines is to take a flight (small aircraft) ex Ica (4 hrs from Lima), or from Nazca (6½ hrs from Lima). Both Ica and Nazca have good accommodation options. 30 km away from Nazca is the Cemetery of Chauchilla, where you can see bones, skulls, mummies, pottery shards and fragments of clothing dating back to between 1000-1300 AD.

Lima: The capital of Peru is situated on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, and 95% of the time is covered in a blanket of fog. Almost a third of Peruvians live in and around Lima making the city over-crowded, polluted and noisy. Most travellers stay in the more modern areas of San Isidro and Miraflores (8 km south of downtown). Miraflores is where you will find numerous restaurants, shops and nightspots.

Main attractions: Plaza de Armas, the Gold Museum, San Francisco (a Franciscan church and monastery famous for its catacombs), La Merced (an historic church), the city's Spanish architecture and Cerro San Cristobal, a 409m high hill overlooking central Lima for views.

Amazon Basin: Half of Peru lies in the Amazon Basin and is home to approximately 1700 bird species. From Puerto Maldonado (gateway to the Amazon), travel up river to the Jungle Lodges for overnight stays. You can fish for piranha, look for caiman, iguana, monkey, anaconda, pink and grey dolphin plus there are jaguar, ocelot, manatee, anteater and more. However wildlife can be very hard to view in the dense jungle.

Amazon travel can include visits to native villages, jungle walks, seeing the huge Victoria Regia water lilies, and early morning bird watching from small boats. The Manu Reserve in the Amazon Basin is a refuge for unique species and the Cloud Forest is a unique ecosystem which receives high rainfall and hosts a large number of endemic species such as the Spectacled Bear and the Cock-of-the-Rock. Iquitos is Peru’s largest jungle city and is used as a base to access the Amazon lodges. The weather is hot, humid and rainy just the way you would expect a rainforest to be.

More Highlights

• The Andes (Cordillera Blanca, with dozens of peaks exceeding 5000m)
• Trujillo and Chiclayo in Northern Peru

Altitude Sickness

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is what can happen if you ascend to high altitudes too quickly. As you go higher there is less oxygen in the air, and so less oxygen in the blood. Your body immediately responds to this by: an increase in rate and depth of breathing, therefore you breathe harder and faster; an increase in pulse rate, so you feel your heart pounding; and you may experience swelling of hands and feet.

Common symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, sleeping difficulties and swelling of hands and feet. Barley sugars and coco tea can help alleviate altitude sickness. We also recommend that you allow extra time in your itinerary to allow for acclimatization before attempting any strenuous activities (ie. Hiking the Inca Trail).

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 51
• When to Go: May to September is the best time to travel to Peru, the days are cool (14-18°C) and clear with low rainfall. However, as this is the most favourable time to visit, there will be a lot of other travellers about. January-April is Peru’s wettest time. The jungle is hot and humid with sporadic rains all year round. The Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun is held in June.
• Capital: Lima
• Official Language: Spanish
• Electricity: 220V, 60Hz except Arequipa which is on 50Hz. Plugs - flat, two pronged type.
• Currency: Nuevo sol (S/) divided into 100 centimos.
• Cash: US dollars can be easily exchanged.
• Credit Cards & ATM’s: Visa accepted everywhere, while MasterCard, Amex and Diner’s Club have limited use. ATM machines located in major towns.
• Tipping: Is a way of life in Peru and if you are provided with a satisfactorily service you should leave a tip.
• Bargaining: Expected in markets.
• Email & Internet Access: Widely available in Lima and Cuzco but less so in other parts of the country. There are many internet places called “Cabañas de Internet”. Recommend travellers set up a free internet based email service before leaving home, ie: hotmail, gmail, yahoo etc.
• Famous For: Pisco Sour, ponchos, pan pipes and Inca ruins.
• Good Buys: Alpaca sweaters, weavings, ceramics, paintings and silver jewellery.
• Geography: Peru is made up of three different regions - the narrow coastal strip, the wide Andean mountain range and Amazon rainforest. The Andean mountain range is the second greatest mountain range in the world. Peru borders Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. It is the 18th largest country in the world and covers over one million square kilometres and is South America’s third largest country.
• Gateway Airport: Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima.