Peru – Pearl of South America

Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.  And still one lifetime is not enough to see and experience the entire world. The traveller spirit in me would like to see the world, every nook and corner of it and I would like to begin this journey with Peru.

Located in South America, and bordered by Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile on its four sides, with a mesmerising view of the Pacific Ocean in the west, this country holds a bounty of adventures that await the adventurous. It is one of the many countries that should be on every traveller’s list – a haven for natural wonders, gastronomical delights and known for its world heritage sites Peru ticks all the right boxes for every traveller.

It has an interesting character – a land of culture, nature, adventure and ancient civilisation. It can be what you want it to be, remember these lines by Plato  – ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’. Still if you are looking for reasons to visit Peru we give you our 5 reasons to visit this beautiful country.

1.Amazon River

Serpentine curves of Amazon river

Also known as the ‘River Sea’ due to its gigantic size, fishing in the Amazon River will definitely be a fantastic holiday outing, after watching movies like Anaconda that have Amazon as their backdrop I would love to sail in the mighty river. Just the thought of it gives me goose bumps.

Amazon is home to a variety of plants and animals. It is the mightiest river in the world by volume, and possesses the most extensive drainage system. It is 6,992 km long with a discharge of about 2, 09,000 cubic meter per second, greater than the next seven largest independent rivers combined. Whoa! that’s like a really big river.

 2. Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons

Deeper than Grand Canyon of America

Two times deeper than the famed Grand Canyon of America, Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons are hidden like precious gems in southern Peru. They are known for their beautiful terrace and gliding condors. Cotahuasi Canyon is 11,500ft deep, whereas Colca Canyon stands second to it with a depth of 10,725ft.  You can also take a halt at the iron and sulphur rich waters of the town of La Calera on your way to the canyons.

 3. Nazca Lines

Looks like a stylised plant

Giant monkey

One of a kind geoglyphs formed on the Sechura desert of the Southern Peru, Nazca lines will leave you awestruck with their humongous sizes and intricate designs of insects, plants, birds, animals and many other strange geometrical figures. These images on the ground are so big in size that the best way to get a full view of them is by flying over them. It spreads for more than 80 km between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km of south of Lima. It was also declared a World Heritage Site in 1994.

 4. Machu Picchu

One of the most visited sites in Peru

Machu Picchu was also declared a World Heritage Site in 1983. It is a citadel built during the reign of Inca Empire in 15^th century. Located in the Cusco region, it is 2,430 meters (about 7,970ft) above the sea level on a mountain ridge. It is one of Peru’s most visited sites.

5. Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca – the largest lake in South America

A relaxing boat ride in Lake Titicaca will complete your journey to Peru on a happy note. It is the largest lake in South America with a surface elevation of 3,812 meters and length of 190 km. It is located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, and is also known as the highest navigable lake in the world.

With such wonderful places that can be seen in one trip, Peru is a once in a lifetime experience.

Compiled by Utkarsha Arvind