Peru: Overview
It is located in western South America and the coast of its capital, Lima, is washed by the waves of the Pacific Ocean, while the rest of its borders are shared with Chile, Equator, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia – to whom is bound by the Titicaca Lake. Peru cannot only offer us forest and beach, but also mountains, since it is next to the Andes Mountain Range.
For a long time this country has been chosen by tourists from all over the world. Perhaps this is due to the wide variety of its landscapes and the mysteries kept by their lands, wich invite us to weigh anchor on a trip to the glorious past of gone civilizations. The long and amazing Inca Trail, traced through forests and mountains and used by the ancient Inca civilization to arrive to the sanctuary of Macchu Picchu (Machu Pichu), and the surprising Lines of Nazca and Pampas de Jumana, are only some of the reasons that magnetize visitors throughout the year.
Climate
The climate of Peru varies according to the area. It changes from dry to subtropical and tropical.
Winter last from June to September on the coast. During this time in the mountains the days are sunny but the nights are cold. From December to April the heavy rainy season takes place in the mountanious areas and in the jungle.
What to see
If you are coming from the South a good choice will be to make a previous stop in Bolivia and there to visit Copacabana, from where you can go to Peru crossing the Titicaca Lake. In this lake you can spend two days in the Sun Island, one of the most important one. After that you will go to Puno. This lake, located 3,810 m above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. Its blue waters are calm during the day, but they become more turbulent in the afternoon, when cold winds blow. The trasparent air makes distances fade so the mountains that surround the lake seem to be nearer.
The journey to Macchu Picchu begins at Cusco travelling by train to Aguas Calientes, where a package along the Inca Trail can be booked. The traditional pakage is for 2 or 4 days, but there is also another one for 6 days. Depending on the package you have chosen, a tent, food and carriers for heavy luggage, among other things, will be included. If you are not attracted by long walks you can continue from Aguas Calientes to the ruins by bus and return to Cusco by train.
The ruins of the citadel and the temples of the Historical Sanctuary of Macchu Picchu (built in the XV c) have been a World Heritage Site since 1983. The ruins are located 2,430 m above sea level in the promontory that joins the homonymous mountain to the Huayna Pichu mountain. From their highest point, in the mountain Macchu Picchu, to the river Urubamba that runs at its feet there is a 600 m- height cliff. The area is home of several endangered species.
The Lines of Nazca were declared World Heritage Site in 1990 and they were traced in one of the dryest areas of the planet. The first inhabitants who populated the area and gave origin to the Nazca civilization date from 200 AD approximately.
The lines form drawings of different birds and reptiles, a monkey, a spider and two llamas. The proportion of these figures and their lines are of a surprising perfection, mainly if you know that they can only be completely seen from above.
