Dean Stockwell once said, “Going to Peru is, well, if you ever have an opportunity in your life to go there, you should do it because it is absolutely mind boggling.” From world-class mountain treks to one of a kind rainforests, from a culture brimming with color to a landscape burgeoning with wildlife, Peru can easily claim to be one of the avid traveler’s most thrilling adventures. Here we take a look at four adventures not to be missed in Peru.
Machu Picchu
Originally thought to be the famed Incan “lost city,” Machu Picchu remains Peru’s most popular and visited wonder each year. The ancient indigenous ruins, rediscovered by explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911 with the help of locals, sit atop the Inca Trail that winds through mountains surrounding the town of Aguas Calientes. Due to its high-altitude location and virtual invisibility, Machu Picchu remained unspoiled by Spanish conquistadors and survived for our appreciation today.
The Colca Canyon
The Colca canyon is the world’s deepest canyon. To give some perspective on just how deep that is, the depth of the United States’ Grand Canyon would have be doubled to equal that of Colca. It’s also home to the rare Andean condor, which is the largest bird living in the world.
The Second Largest Rain Forest in the World
Covering roughly 60 percent of the country, the Peruvian Amazon Rain Forest is an unforgettable jungle experience. Smaller only than the rain forests of Brazil, Peru’s Amazon boasts a diversity of jungle landscape, including floating reed islands and Lake Titicaca. The Peruvian Amazon is home to the indigenous Uros tribe of the country as well.
New Year’s Eve in Cusco
Cusco, located near the ruins of Machu Picchu, is one of Peru’s most visited cities. And with good reason – the small city is comprised of a unique mix of ancient Inca and Spanish colonial architectural style and boasts the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán. But the best night of the year to be in Cusco is New Year’s Eve, when locals and visitors gather alike in the city’s main square to light firecrackers and celebrate. The rules are simple: wear yellow underpants, eat grapes for good luck and be careful not to light something on fire as the festivities commence.