On the western side of South America, this 'Land of the Incas' is a microcosm boasting diverse landscapes, colourful natives, and a strong Incan heritage. Most visitors on a touring holiday to Peru will inevitably make a beeline for Machu Picchu, the remarkable, awe-inspiring mountain-top village perched over 2,000 meters above the Urubamba River, built during the Inca Empire. The once-hidden ruins of Machu Picchu make it one of the world's best-known archaeological sites, and a destination of a lifetime. Another must is a visit to the enigmatic Nazca lines, a series of intriguing lines and figures created between 200 BC and AD 700 by the Nazca culture. To complete the historic hit, a stroll around the open museum of Cuzco, with its fragments of Inca wall, should be enough to satisfy.
Away from the rich history on a touring holiday, Peru also has some spectacular scenery that lends itself to all kinds of leisure pursuits. Peru's mountains mean that trekking is popular here, although unwinding on a beach is also a possibility.
- On an escorted tour of Peru, browse the markets of Cuzco, which are ideal for buying Indian craftwork, while the vibrant capital of Lima has some great dining places and museums.
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