Overview: Peru is a large country on the Pacific coast of South America,
encompassing a desert coastline, tropical rainforest and soaring
mountains, each with distinct environments. These offer an
exceptional opportunity for travellers to experience a variety of
landscapes, an abundance of wildlife, a rich history and
archaeological heritage, and the vivacious character of durable
native cultures, all within one nation. Fishing villages, fine beaches, agricultural lands, and Peru's
major towns and cities, including the capital of Lima, are
interspersed along the narrow belt of desert coastline that
stretches the length of the country. The lush Amazon Basin takes up
half of Peru and is an ecologically rich area of tropical
rainforest that encompasses some of the world's most remote and
least explored areas, sparsely populated and for the most part,
inaccessible. Separating the coastal desert from the jungle is the
splendid Andes mountain range, an endless chain of soaring peaks
over 22,000 feet (7,000m) high, and home to millions of indigenous
highland people, speaking the ancient Inca language of Quechua, and
living in traditional villages with steeply terraced agricultural
fields, with their wandering herds of llamas and alpacas. An interesting history of ancient civilisations, tales of lost
cities, undiscovered treasures, and unsolved mysteries make Peru
one of the most exciting countries to visit. Travellers can marvel
at the sophistication of pre-Colombian cultures and explore the
many legacies left by the imperial Inca Empire, particularly the
ancient Inca capital of Cuzco. Hiking along the legendary ancient
royal Inca highway brings visitors to the awesome, majestic 'Lost
City of the Incas', Machu Picchu. Boats transport tourists to the
unique floating islands and the traditional world of the island
people on Lake Titicaca. Travellers can wander around splendid
colonial cities that have preserved their Spanish architecture,
look into the depths of the world's deepest canyon, and contemplate
the intrigu
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