TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN PERU

North

From  Lima to the border with Ecuador (1300 Km/897 miles), the visitors will find extraordinary archaeological sites like Sechin in Casma, Chan Chan in Trujillo, and Sipan and Tucume in Chiclayo. There are also several tropical beaches in Piura and Tumbes and, Northeast from Lima , the paradisiac Callejon de Huaylas , seat of the majestic Huascaran , the highest peak in Peru (6,768 / 20,629 ft a.s.l.) is an ideal place for the practice of mountaineering. To the north and over the Andes Mountain is Cajamarca with its picturesque landscapes, Inca monuments and buildings from the colonial period.

Center

Lima , Capital city of Peru was founded in 1535, and later came to be the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Nueva Castilla. To the east is the Mantaro valley in the Department  of Junin, which can be reached over a road with its highest inhabited place in the world. Running in parallel to this road is the railroad, with a bridge known as Infiernillo, a masterpiece of engineering built by Henry Meiggs. It holds the record of being the highest rackless railroad in the world, with 4,781m/ 14,752 ft a.s.l. at the Galera tunnel. The Mantaro valley is rich in folklore and handicraft. To the south of this region is Huancavelica , a mining zone, and descending towards the central jungle, there are cities like San Ramon, La Merced, Oxapampa, Villa Rica and Pozuzo . Located to the north are the cities of Huanuco and Tingo Maria with its Sleeping Beauty, a mountain with a shape that resembles a sleeping woman.

The jungle is an extensive area with more than 500,000 km2 (193,000 sq miles) where the Amazonas river is the main protagonist.

A real paradise for nature lovers, due to its richness and variety of flora and fauna.

South

Between Lima and the border with Chile (1,350 km./ 838 miles) several cities and beach resorts have developed. In the Department of Ica , an outstanding wine producer. are to be noted: the National Paracas Reserve, the Ballestas islands, south of Pisco, usual stop-over for plenty of migratory birds and home of an extraordinary variety of marine life, and the cozy city of Ica with its nice weather. Further south between Palpa and Nasca, lie the immense and mysterious markings over the desert.

Arequipa is considered the second city of Peru, with its beautiful colonial architecture and its impressive Colca canyon, considered to be one of the deepest in the world, with its lowest point al 3,400m. (10,363ft.). Even further south is Moquegua rich in mine settlings producing mainly copper.

Close to Chile, Tacna is a thriving commercial city. In the south sierra from Ayacucho to Puno , close to the Bolivian border, there are several extraordinary monuments which go from Pre-Inca vestiges to beautiful colonial buildings. The city of Cusco , declared Cultural Patrimony of the World, evidences with clearness these expressions.

Machu Picchu , is a must for every visitor, its mystery and magic have no limits.

To the South, Puno, with its Titicaca lake , the highest navigable lake in the world, has been recognised as the Folklore Capital of America because of its dances and musical diversity.