Peru:Legacy of the Incas

Travel to Peru and discover a captivating land of skyscraping mountain tops, vast stretches of coastal deserts, an Amazon wildlife adventure through tropical jungles, serpentine rivers full of life and beauty and the most extraordinary natural phenomena left from the pre-historic Inca civilization. Meet the pulsating multi-ethnic culture blended with Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians, resulting in a wide diversity of expressions in art, cuisine, literature and music.

Lima, Peru Photo by the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board

The Andes Mountains offer spectacular views for trekkers on an extraordinary Peru travel escapade and are home to several aborigines, who still speak the ancient tongue of Quechua and live the country's Native American traditions.

The original setting of the Inca Empire - the largest state in the Americas during the 13th century - Peru is the destination where the world's most enthusiastic trekkers, lovers of nature and vacationers with active imaginations come to explore Machu Picchu and many more of humankind's most legendary enigmas.

Travel to Lima, Peru: Retreat to the City of Kings
Upon your arrival to the country, enjoy an aromatic cup of coca tea to acclimate to the height. Come across several richly historical neighborhoods, museums and striking architecture as you travel to Lima, Peru. Start your journey through the remnants of Incan history at the National Museum of Archaeology and the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum, which guards priceless Incan and pre-Incan works of art, artifacts and other preserved collections. At the city's center, find Huallamarca Huaca and Pucllana Huaca, the stepped pyramids made of adobes linked to the ceremonial or administrative uses of the Incas.

As you travel through Lima, pay a visit to the unique natural reserve called Lomas de Lachay in the Huaral Province. A burst of greens in the midst of the Peruvian desert, the Lachay foothills make up a unique habitat for palillo trees, cacti, white-tailed deer, lizards and more than 60 different bird species. Down through the valley of the Lurín River lies Pachacamac, an archaic coastal sanctuary that the Incas continued to operate for religious practice and consultation with their oracle. Originally built by the Spanish Huari, the structure still shelters many of their ceramics and textile designs.

Family Culture Tour to Cusco Peru

The next stop on your Lima travel excursion is the sacred city of Caral, one of the oldest civilization centers in the Americas. Dating back to 3,000 BC, Caral contains an elaborate complex of temples, plazas, an amphitheatre and ordinary houses stretching over 150 acres of desert - and has been historically noted as a thriving metropolis during the same period that the Great Pyramids of Egypt were built. Dip into one of Peru's thermal springs such as Churín, a sacred natural spot which, according to local legend, contains therapeutic mineral waters that can cure anyone.

Travel to Cuzco, Peru: Inside the Kingdom of Cuzco
In the western region leaping into the Amazon, travel to Cuzco, Peru and find archaeological treasures such as Koricancha, or "Temple of the Sun," and the palace of Inca Roca and Andean Baroque structures from the Colonial

Cusco - Incan ruins Photo by Travel Sense Community Member fallschirmhosen

Period along the cobble-stoned streets. Just outside of the Inca Empire's once revered capital, you'll find the massive walls of the Sacsayhuáman fortress, as well as the Inca buildings of Qenko, Pukapukara and Tambomachay, constructed entirely of stone.

Continue your Cuzco travel experience into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This ancient region inside the Andes Mountains is fed by numerous rivers descending through adjoining valleys and gorges and contains many villages and Incan remains. While away an entire day visiting the colorful Indian market in Písac; walk around the beautiful Inca village and fortress of Ollantaytambo, the best serving example of the Incas' talent for meticulous town planning; stop for lunch at a local Peruvian café in Urubamba; and explore the Quechua village of Chinchero, which offers sweeping views of the Sacred Valley with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. If there's time, carry on your Cuzco travel plans through Maras and Calca.

Follow the Inca Trail
You may decide to opt for the scenic train ride from Cuzco to Machu Picchu or trek the Inca Trail, one of nature's most splendid network of pathways that

Machu Picchu Photo by the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board

weaves among the snow-covered mountains, rivers and astounding countryside. This is one of the world's top trails, as you'll find remarkable archaeological sites and areas rich in unique plant and animal species scattered all the way to the citadel of Machu Picchu.

The enigmatic complex of Machu Picchu is venerated as an important legacy of the ancient Peruvian culture and still tops the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. At the enlivening conclusion of the Inca Trail, you'll reach Machu Picchu at the top of a mountain 2,000 feet above the rumbling Urubamba River. The cloud-shrouded ruins presents an exuberance complementing its unique natural surroundings and have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation.

The Amazon Photo by the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board

These structures carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius.

Embark on the journey of a lifetime in South America's beautiful jewel of natural wonder. Take an invigorating Amazon tour trekking through Peru's legendary jungles, trace the historical path of the Inca realm or discover the breathtaking sights of the country in your own way. Peru's exhilarating regions offer the perfect vacation for anyone with a willing pair of feet, a passion for exploring the unknown and a love for first-time experiences.