Attractions

Lima
Lima, Peru's capital, is overcrowded, polluted, noisy and often has wretched weather. Nevertheless, the inhabitants are friendly and hospitable, opportunities for dining and nightlife are ample and the city has a great selection of museums. Attractions include the Museo de Oro, which has numerous artifacts of gold, silver and precious stones, and the Museo Nacional de Antropologia y Arqueologia, which is noted for its excellent exhibits of prehistoric Peru. Churches such as San Francisco (famous for its catacombs) and Santo Domingo (aprox. 1540) provide a welcome respite from the outside clamor. There are also plazas, lovely colonial buildings and a zoo. Inexpensive accommodation can be found in the city center. The suburb of Barranco has a number of cheap restaurants and live music venues and is very popular with backpackers. The suburb of Miraflores has the city's best stores, restaurants and nightspots.

The South Coast
The Panamerican highway hugs the coast and passes through many areas of interest south of Lima, including Pisco, a small fishing port used by travelers as a base to see the wildlife of the nearby Islas Ballestas and Peninsula de Paracas. The area is of much historical and archaeological interest, with burial sites of the Paracas culture a major lure. Further south is the town of Nazca, known for its colorful and elaborate pottery and the world-famous Nazca Lines - huge geometric designs, mostly of animals and birds - which are thought to have been built between 900 BC and 600 AD. The designs are only visible from the air but there are numerous flights over the area for around US$50.

Arequipa & Lake Titicaca
Nicknamed "The White City", Arequipa is surrounded by spectacular mountains, including the volcano El Misti. A feature of the city is its many beautiful buildings made of a light-colored volcanic rock called sillar. The Convento de Santa Catalina, perhaps the most fascinating colonial religious building in the country, was, until recently, home to almost 450 nuns. Many of the city's beautiful colonial houses, such as Casa Ricketts, are now used as art galleries or museums. Accommodation and food is cheap and often provided in lovely locations. The Colca Canyon, arguably the world's deepest canyon, is a popular excursion from Arequipa. Lake Titicaca, at 3820m, is the highest navigable lake in the world. At over 170km long, it is also the largest lake in South America. Its altitude means the air is unusually clear and the azure waters particularly striking. Interesting boat trips can be made from Puno, the major port on the lake. The area is also known for its folk dances and huge herds of alpacas and llamas.

Cuzco
The archaeological capital of the Americas and the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent, Cuzco is now an important link in the South American travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Inca empire is readily apparent: most of the city streets are lined with Inca-built stone walls and crowded with quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas. The city has magnificent repositories of colonial art such as La Catedral (begun in 1559) and La Iglesia de la Merced. There is also the Coricancha ruins, east of the city center, which were formerly covered with gold (the stonework is all that remains) and the Museo de Arqueologia, the interior of which is filled with metal and gold work, jewelry, pottery, textiles and mummies. Four other ruins - Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara and Tambo Machay - are nearby. West of Cuzco is Machu Picchu, the best-known and most spectacular site on the continent. Despite the relentless stampede of tourists to the ruins, this "Lost City of the Incas" still retains an air of grandeur and mystery and is a "must see" for any visitor to Peru.