Huaraz is the perfect departure point for excursions into both the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. It's in the heights of the Sierra that you will truly discover all the fantastic features that the Ancash region has to offer.

Huarez: a jewel nestled between snow-covered peaks

It's at Lima that the great numbers of Peruvians found themselves in the 50s, when the rural exodus was at its peak. The capital has seen a tenfold increase in its population and it's this mixture of people and cultures from all over the country that gives it all its variety today.

Visiting Lima's various neighbourhoods

A visit to the heart of the various pre-Incan civilisations in the land of the Lambayeque. The region is brimming with important archaeological remains, so let's follow the tracks of this impressive historical heritage...

Lambayeque: follow in the footsteps of ancient civilisations

Located between the Selva and the Cordillera of the Andes, the Huancavélica and Cerro Pasco region will put you under its spell, with its incredible landscapes, the welcoming nature of the local inhabitants and the old traditions that are still very much alive

Pasco and Huancavélica: a voyage combining nature and tradition

The huge capital of Peru sprung up out the desert. Lima is a noisy town, an easy going place where clouds cover the sky for 8 months of the year.

South America

On these pages you will find ideas for a trip to Peru to help you prepare for your trip. All these ideas are there just to get your imagination going; you can alter, mix and match them as you please. Your local agent will help you create a unique and unforgettable trip, just for you! Peru has three distinct parts, each with its own character: the Pacific coast, which is the most densely populated; the Andes range, with the highest mountain being the towering Huascarán at 6,768 metres; and the Amazon, which covers the largest part of the country. If you’re going, start with the must-see: Machu Picchu – fortunately not found by the Conquistadors – rediscovered in 1911. You should visit it at dawn to see the ruins shrouded in mist. This extraordinary site still clasps a few secrets to its bosom. Not far away, the Andes range draw ramblers and trekkers to magnificent landscapes. The ultimate rambling experience is the Inca Trail through exceptional archaeological sites. During your stay in Peru, you must stop in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. The Spanish erected their buildings, especially religious ones, over Inca constructions which they systematically destroyed, only sparing their characteristic foundations, which are still visible today with their large, perfectly cut and fitted stones. A voyage out of time awaits you in Cusco.

Peru

Lima

 Pisac: a wonderful site that remains still very well preserved today and where you can see and appreciate the ingenious system of terraces developed during the pre-Inca era in all its splendour.

Pisac

 The town of Ollantaytambo and it's archaeological site are situated between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Take the time to visit this charming, little Inca town.

Ollantaytambo

Andahuaylillas, a small village in the Andes mountains is still protected from the many tourist buses roaming all around Cusco.

Andahuayillas

Immense stones, perfectly balanced on one another, form the impressive Inca walls of Sacsaywaman. 

Sacsayhuamán

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There are some who say that when the Incas came and conquered Cusco, they built the city here in the shape of a Puma. The Sacsaywaman site is supposed to have been built up on the heights as the head of the animal. The Spanish colonists thought, due to its geographical position, that the structure must have been a military fort. But experts today agree that it was actually a religious temple. 
With that little history lesson out of the way, <a href="/peru/">it has to be said that Saksaywaman is one of the places you absolutely have to visit on your trip if you're interested in seeing ancient, lost cities</a>. Because it's so easy to get to from the region's main tourist hotspot (and in fact the whole country's), namely Cusco, it can get very crowded with visitors. But this is of little importance because this is still a very impressive place to visit. Firstly there's the perfectly constructed Cyclopean stonework, with the boulders fitted perfectly flush together, one on top of the other, without the use of any kind of binding material. Then there's the mysteries that still enshroud the place today. And finally, there's the fact that the whole site stands in such a fantastic setting – I absolutely loved it. The view out over the city is also something special. If you happen to be in the area in the month of June, you'll be able to celebrate Inti Raymi, the Inca summer solstice (which takes place on the 24th rather than the 21st of the month) by attending the highly popular festival held here. Not having seen it myself, I can't offer you any personal opinion about what it's like.

An impressive Inca site constructed by the Emporero Pachacuti and lying just two kilometres from Cusco.

Sacsaywaman dominates Cusco. From up there, the colossal walls of stone are its setting. When I first saw these enormous pieces of rock, some of which are 10 times bigger than me, I found them incredible. How on earth did they get there? That is the mystery and the wonder of these Inca constructions. The capacity that this civilisation had to develop systems of this size to expand its empire. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Did you know that the Inca method of building without mortar was a great way to prevent buildings collapsing during earth quakes? Peru is subject to a lot of seismic activity. When the Spanish arrived in Peru they destroyed everything that belonged to the previous civilisation in order to rebuild in their own fashion. But what they didn't take into account, unlike the Incas, was the seismic activity. As soon as there was an earthquake, their buildings were destroyed by Mother Earth!

Immense stones, perfectly balanced on one another, form the impressive Inca walls of Sacsaywaman.

Sacsayhuamán Vacations

Sacsayhuamán: How to get there?

Sacsayhuamán: See when to go ?

Sacsayhuamán: For how long?

Sacsayhuamán: What to see nearby?

Peru: our articles for your vacations