PERU This enigmatic land, where time has remained still for thousands of years, longs for you coming to explore its ton of different landscapes..., beginning from its beautiful Pacific Ocean , sailing to its rich wild life islands, inhaling peace at the silent sight of thousands of waving dunes along its impressing tropical coastal desert, passing through oasis, valleys and relaxing beaches, to later continue up to the spectacular Andes, the highest tropical mountain range in the world, paradise to trekking lovers and mountain climbers..., beyond its Andes, we finally reach its Amazon rain forest, home to the largest variety of bird species in the world, not to mention its more than 80% of existing life zones on earth,... thus, we can honestly state : “ Peru has been blessed with most of climates, most of life zones, and most of landscapes on earth”, trust us on this!!! Location Peru is located in Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador , to the north, and Chile , to the south, as well as Brazil , to the east and the Pacific Ocean , to the west... the very heart of south America ! Geography Peru is made up of, at least, seven main regions : The Pacific Ocean and its rich islands, paradise to sea wild-life lovers, the Northern Fertile Coast, right south equator, the Southern, Barren Coastal Desert, home to the highest sand dune in the world, the Majestic Andes, bearing hundreds of snow-capped mountains , the High Plateau, housing the highest navigable lake in the world, the Cloud Forest, sheltering “The Lost City of The Incas”, and finally, the Amazon Rain Forest, refuge to more than 1,800 species of birds, all of which, make Peru, a mega-diverse destination. Experience has taught us that it is not just its geography what makes Peru different,... it is not just its incredible variety, or its amazing scenery, but, above all, it's our people , yes, our warm, humble, and hospitable countrymen are, indeed, what makes Peru so especial... Smile back at your friendly Inca trail porter who, with a genuine grin, helped you make it to Macchu Picchu , or at that kind family who hosted you on that remote island in the Titicaca lake .... , feel a warm welcome from a native music band upon arriving at Cusco airport.. yes, our gentle people are, for sure, the very soul of our Nation. History Peru is the cradle of America 's largest pre-Colombian civilisation: the Incas, inheriting, this way, a rich history, making it South America 's most popular cultural destination. More than five thousand archaeological sites have been discovered so far, nevertheless, there are many more unexplored ones waiting for you... Indeed, it is not unusual for locals to stumble upon some ancient remains from time to time, most of them ranging from 10,000 year-old camp sites of early hunters, to astonishing, fifteenth century stone Inca citadels. Peru ancient cultures domesticated a variety of crops, many of which, such as potatoes, corn, and tomatoes, are very important in today's world. Peru offers a brief, 90-minutes summery of its total historical development process at any of its 180 museums, spread throughout the country. See a list of museum tours. Bio-Diversity and Ecology The incredibly ecological areas variety of Peru, depicting 84 out of the 104 “Life Zones“ on earth, have made our government sign up many international agreements for the preservation of wild life and nature on our planet, for this privileged bio-diversity does not just belong to us, but to all mankind, to future generations. Bird-Watching Please, pay attention - if you love and respect birds-: Our country, in terms of bird species variety, it is not just for us to enjoy, but to you as well, since it shelters the largest bird species variety on earth, becoming, this way, a place to be preserved and protected, yes, by you and me. a real bird watching paradise!!!, Peru has more species of birds than North America and Europe put together, (the so far known species all over the world are no more than 9,000, and from those, we have more than 1,800, almost 20% of total number of recorded species on earth), 120 of these species can only be found here, since they are endemic to our precious country, we have around 73 endangered species which you can help preserve . Bird-watching in Peru is performed in their different natural environments such as deserts, wave-washed beach shores, small islands facing our coast, highlands lagoons among the western slopes of the Andes, the high Puna, the lakes of the high plateau, the exuberant and wet cloud forest of the eastern Andean slopes, and the vast forested lowlands of the Amazon basins, therefore, it is totally safe to say to all those who love and respect birds life-habits and wisdom: Peru is a must for you, a place you should not wait long before coming , whether you come through us or through other company, we will welcome you open arms. Mountain Climbing and Skiing Peru is considered a top point for mountain climbers, for, basically, three reasons: 1.- Its unusual concentration of snowed-capped mountains, bearing more than 70 summits topping 20,000 feet , 2.- Its year- round mild weather, enabling us to enjoy the treks before climbing 3.- Its relatively easy access to yet isolated mountains, all of this only 6 hours north of Lima, the highest chain of snow-covered peaks in the tropics, is willing to provide you with a unique climbing experience. Hiking and Trekking We can not talk about trekking in Peru without mentioning the Legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu , by far, Peru 's most famous trek.. see our tours Nevertheless, the Inca Trail is not the only alternative for hikers, since Peru bears one of the most spectacular alpine hiking regions in Latin America, the “White Range”, located only 6 hours north of Lima, this range offers the world's largest concentration of snow-capped mountains in the tropics, with more than seventy peaks over 20,000 ft . including massive Mt. Huascarn, Peru's tallest peak and third highest in the Western Hemisphere, not to mention its more than 15,000 glacier lakes, the first and second deepest canyons on earth, its bucolic valleys and picturesque villages, plus its archaeological sites spread along these ancient treks, all of which make Peru, a hiker's dreamed destination. BIKING Our mountain biking programs In Cusco are designed to give riders of any skill levels an opportunity to experience safe adventure in the peaks and valleys of the scenic Andes mountains. Each trip provides a unique outdoor experience that includes fascinating scenery, visits to archaeological sites, and encounters with native Andean communities. Biking in the Cordillera Blanca, in the northern Andes of Peru, has a different feel altogether, and is much more scenery driven than in the Cuzco area. Surfing Peru is an undeniable authority in surfing , bearing the 2004 World's surfing champion: our Sofia Mulanovish .Want to have some basic training from her coach ? contact us ! The beaches of Paracas (south of Lima ) and along the northern coast are best for sports such as surfing, windsurfing, fishing and scuba diving. White Water Running and Kayaking Peru is a paradise for white water running and kayaking, Andean rivers in the east and western slopes of the mountains offer tons of options for first descents and commercial rivers. Metal work Get a good picture of what the legendary “Dorado” of the Incas looked like by coming with us to one of Peru 's gold collections, which displays dazzling arrays of pre-Columbian gold, silver and copper works of art created by Peru 's innovative metal-smiths, ranging from early civilisations to Incas. Pottery Ceramics are perhaps Peru 's best known artistic legacy, found in museums throughout the world, and especially in Lima 's archaeological museums and collections. Weavings From beginnings of Christian era, Peruvian weavers were producing high quality textiles to rap their dead into funerary bundles, developing a vast array of techniques, ranging from fine cotton gauze to intricately-woven tapestries of alpaca. Colonial Art Witness the melting pot of cultures in striking and prosperous cities founded during Peru's Colonial era, which today, with its churches, convents, monasteries and aristocratic mansions, is a showcase of architecture and art from a “gone with the wind” age. Spirituality The Andean philosophy and religion is the very reason for its great and unique cultural developing process, evolving into a balanced relation man-environment, men-resources, body-spirit, believing that earth, mountains, waters, rivers, oceans, and even the wind had spirit and therefore, were alive, keeping, for this reason deep respect and overall do not polluting the sacred Mamapacha, or Mother Earth, or the worshipped Mamacocha or Mather Water, for damaging them was like damaging themselves... since their faith was that men were born from them, becoming, this way, their children. Music and Festivals The spirit of ancient Peruvian man, sculpted by art and religion, has given rise to a creative vein which crops up in an endless variety of shapes, rhythms and rituals. Year after year, more than 3,000 folk festivals nation-wide show the living culture and recent history in the present years. Entertainment and Night Life Entertainment and live music are easy to find everywhere in Peru . Clubs with contemporary Latin or Coastal criolla-style music are popular in Lima. Restaurants and hotels in Cuzco and other cities offer floor shows with folk music and dancers or perhaps a "Peña", a lively club with colourful performances and audience participation! Relax Peru 's relaxing beach resorts offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature at its best in the comfort of any of our many beach hotels, at reasonable rates and beautiful Pacific Ocean scenery. Cuisine – A wonderful and varied ethnic mixture, offers visitors our different regional cuisine , yes taste the spirit of this land, with rich coastal waters and one of the largest fisheries in the world, seafood is typical to the coast. In the highlands, the alpaca meat, ( Peruvian cameloid ) as well as the guinea pig made up the highlights for those willing to try exotic meals, not to mention the jungle specialities, of course , it is not compulsory to try them, it is always up to you! |
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