Peru

Peru, in Western South America, is famous for Machu Picchu and its Quinoa. With a great history of the Incas, Peru’s archaeological ruins are fascinating relics of memory and culture, whilst in its stunning natural landscape lies testament to why all its neighbouring countries have tried to conquer it. The people of Peru punctuate their landscape with a colourful and complex tradition of textiles, food, superstitions and Andean music.

Read Russ and Pat Johnson’s adventures to Lake Titicaca for an inside scoop on smugglers, giant hummingbirds and “Peru’s Got Talent”.

As colourful and complex as it’s most intricate weavings, is the country of Peru where festivals mix ancient pageantry with brass bands and trails discover dense jungles.

Peru is ancient with a 5000 year history and the most powerful place of energy is the glorious Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Some cultures are haunted by the existential. For many Peruvians, food is all important with their slivers of ceviche, chili and corn, or stews simmered for hours in beer and cilantro. The capital of Lima has perplexing choices as the geographical and cultural diversity have brought their own ingredients – to have a fusion cuisine including the history of the Spanish, indigenous, African and Asian influences.

Walk through the dusted remnants of a vast ancient city at Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian ruins in all the Americas. Fly over the puzzling geoglyphs etched into the arid earth at Nazca. Or venture into the rugged wilds that hem the stalwart fortress of Kuelap. Lima’s great museums, with priceless ceramics, gold and some of the finest textiles in the world, reveal in full detail the sophistication, skill and passion of these lost civilizations. Visit remote communities and see how old ways live on. Immerse yourself, and you will leave Peru a little closer to the past.

As the heart of the once mighty Inca Empire, the magnetic city of Cusco lures people to its cobbled streets, and colonial and religious splendours built on the hefty stone foundations of the Incas. And lying within easy hopping distance of the city is the country’s biggest draw of all, the ‘lost’ city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, a lofty Inca citadel perched high on an isolated mountaintop.

When you get a blast of hot, muggy tropical air you know you have arrived in the Peruvian Amazon Basin. Amazonas, as known in Spanish is a vast tract of jungle territory comprising 50% of the country.

The biosphere of the eastern flank of the Andes preserves some of the most diverse fauna and flora reserves and has managed to look after its natural heritage for future generations. You have a mixture of river life, jungle trekking, birding and animal-spotting. The Peruvian Amazonas is a vivid, bright, exotic and challenging frontier zone.

Vogie living features an article by Himali Singh Soin – Poetry of Peru.

An article by Ms Himali Singh Soin on Land of the Incas in vice.com.

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