Living the RV life seems so adventurous, carefree, and all-American.
21.07.2023 - 08:05 / roughguides.com / Lake Titicaca
The South American nation of Peru is a glittering land of colour and light, riotous fiestas and monumental landscapes. From the awe-inspiring Inca ruins of Machu Picchu to the enigmatic geoglyphs at Nazca, the lush Amazon rainforest and excellent surfing beaches in the northwest, it offers a wealth of treasures for travellers at any season. To help you plan your own journey around the country, here is Ros Walford's guide to Peru.
Machu Picchu at dawn © Ros Walford
Top of the list is without a doubt Machu Picchu. This remote Inca temple, perched on a mountaintop in the remote southern Andes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This designation is in recognition of the astonishing achievements of its pre-Columbian architects. Enter the site before dawn, then sit and wait for the sunrise. The first rays of the sun spill over the surrounding peaks to illuminate the well-preserved stone buildings, paths and terraces.
The mysteries of the London Underground are nothing compared with the Nasca Lines, another UNESCO World Heritage site. These drawings of animals, etched in the sand for eternity by an ancient civilisation, are only visible from the air. Hop in a light aeroplane at Nasca airstrip to take in perfect – if at times stomach-churning – views.
The engineering prowess of the ancient Peruvians remains evident at the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, where entire villages float on rafts made of reeds. See them on an island-hopping trip and admire the elaborately crafted reed boats on which locals travel between the islands.
Parasailers glide above the Malecón in Lima © Ros Walford
Lima, Peru’s vast capital, spreads out from its colonial heart into a dynamic metropolis that is one of the largest in South America. Get your bearings in the central district of Miraflores; walk along (or parasail from) the elegant Malecón cliff-top promenade, before making the most of the city’s best shops, restaurants, bars and nightlife.
Peru’s second city, Arequipa, is a calmer affair – a grid of streets lined with low-rise colonial townhouses and peppered with leafy plazas.
Cusco is the charming departure point for trips to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Visit Cusco Cathedral, explore the megalithic ruins at Sacsayhuamán and experience a night out at high altitude.
Cusco Cathedral © Ros Walford
The most popular trek in Peru is, of course, the Inca Trail, a 4-day jungle and mountain hike that passes through a series of important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley before culminating at the dramatic hilltop site at Machu Picchu. If you prefer to hike away from the crowds, the region is rich with alternative treks, including the high-mountain Salkantay Trail and the easier Lares Trek.
The beautiful Colca Canyon is Peru’s
Living the RV life seems so adventurous, carefree, and all-American.
If you’re like many travelers, you’ve long dreamed of taking a cruise to Alaska—and for good reason. An Alaskan ocean voyage provides an enviable almost-Arctic itinerary, opportunities for adventure at every port, and a constant supply of magnificently icy views, the likes of which probably won’t exist in 50, or even 20, years. You get all this via the comfort of an ocean liner that’s stocked with restaurants, theaters, hotel-like guest rooms, and much more.
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The Uros Islands are a group of over 60 floating grass islands located in the middle of Lake Titicaca, Peru. The 1,200 or so people who inhabit those islands, the Uru people, have lived here for centuries. They started building islands out of totora reeds they harvest from the lake to protect themselves against the Incas and have preserved this lifestyle ever since.
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Getting around abroad doesn't have to be all about cars, trains, buses and bikes. From cruising Peru's Lake Titicaca on a boat made of reeds to flying down the streets of Madeira in a wicker toboggan or taking an odd horse-drawn carriage in Pakistan, there are so many unusual types of travel to be tried. Here's ten of the best.
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