Peru

Population: 22.3 million
Size: 496,222 sq. miles
Capital City: Lima
Currency: Nuevo Sol

Peru has stepped out of the shadow of its larger neighbours on the other side of the Andes to become one of the destinations for world travellers.

It has tropical rainforests, the dizzying majesty of the Andes, Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines on the Atacama Desert and the jewel in the crown Machu Pichu.

The conquistadors may be cursed as the bringers of death, disease and pestilence to the native population but they also left behind some fine colonial buildings that can be seen throughout Peru.

Up the Jungle

The part of the Amazon that is in Peru comprises covers nearly two thirds of the country. Much of the Peruvian Amazon is contained within national parks; one of the foremost is the Manu National Park. In the park, only about 20% of its total 1.8million hectares are accessible to visitors. This is a haven for birdwatchers although many species of mammal can also be seen including Jaguar.

Where do you keep your Andes?

Despite the large area covered by jungle it is the Andes that hold the imagination as the dominant feature of the landscape. The Andes are the highest mountains outside of the Himalayas, they stretch down the western side of the continent and they give rise to the mighty rivers of the interior. Those wishing to take in the breathtaking - literally - scenery should make for Huarez. This town has been a Mecca for backpackers and mountaineers for many years.

The Incas and Machu Pichu

Aside from their spectacular visual impact, the Andes was the mountain home of the Incas. The centre of the Inca Empire was the city of Cuzco (the name means navel or belly button). When Pizarro and his conquistadors found the city it was at the height of its powers. Cuzco was the administrative centre of an empire that stretched from what is now Ecuador down into northern Chile.

Many Inca sites can still be seen the most famous of these is the still mysterious Machu Pichu. Machu Pichu was only discovered in 1911 having evaded the avaricious gaze of the Conquistadors. The exact reasons for its being are, even now, only being guessed at, as is the precise manner of its construction. This is a South American must and one of the best ways to enjoy it is as part of the Inca Trail, this is a 3 or 4 day hike through the mountains and can be very hard going. It is possible to hike the trail alone if this is for you then make sure you are properly prepared for its rigours. Many people prefer to take guided tours the main advantage being that someone else takes on the logistical burden.

The Incas were the last of the Peruvian civilisations but the ruins left by their predecessors are also to be found all over the country.

Lake Titicaca and the Nazca Lines

The two other great attractions in Peru are Lake Titicaca and the Nazca Lines.

Titicaca is not the worlds highest lake, as everyone (including me) had been led to believe, it is, however, the largest in South America and the largest above 2000 meters in the world. The countryside and the unique flora and flora encircling the Lake makes it an excellent place to visit. The main port on the lake is Puno and this is a good base from which to explore the lake and the surrounding Andean altiplano. This is the place to visit if you are hoping to catch some local native colour. Whilst Spanish influences are apparent in the local music and dancing the 'Indian' influence is still very strong. The exuberance of the dancing alone makes it worth seeking out.

A deeper mystery than Machu Pichu surrounds the Nazca Lines. Were they a message to ancient astronauts, did Erich von Danniken put them there with a very large pencil or are they an astronomical calendar. One thing is for sure these giant depictions of animals can only be fully appreciated from the air and despite all manner of theories -some reasonable and some clearly insane- as to their origin they remain a conundrum.