Travel Guides

There is nowhere quite like South America. A combination of ancient and modern, no matter where you go you will always have plenty to do and see, and may end up experiencing more then you ever thought possible. But even with so many great travel locations, there is one that sticks out, and that will always have you coming back for more: Lima.

Lima skyline at night

The largest (and capital) city of Peru has long since been a place of wonder and entertainment, with plenty of culture and history rich areas, as well as modern playgrounds that give the best of both worlds. It is also a place of mixed heritage, showing the origins of the indigenous people, as well as the influences of the Spanish conquistadors who settled the area in the 1500’s, adding some extra flavor to the region.

In the beautiful old city of Cusco, Peru, an immense fortress was built by huge stone blocks weighing upto 300 tons. There isn’t any such record on how these stones were actually cut and moved to put into that place. These stones are so well placed that some of them won’t even let a single piece of paper come between them.

Saksaq Waman is an ancient Inca ruin at an altitude of 3,701 meters and it is walled with mystery near Cusco.  “A good example of Inca stonework at Sacsayhuamán, Peru. They cut and hauled huge stones to make walls like this, and fit them together — without mortar! — so tightly that you coudn’t get a knife-tip or a piece of paper between them. Solid enough to have survived tremendous earthquakes.”

Known to many as the ‘City of Kings‘, Lima, Peru is one of the most beautiful modern cities today. With an eclectic mixture of Spanish colonial architecture, ancient Peruvian ruins, and ultra-chic modern buildings and attractions, Lima has developed a certain reputation over the years as a quickly developing hot spot for tourism.

It’s not as hard to find information on Machu Picchu hotels as one might think. If you know anything about Machu Picchu, you know how primitive the area sounds. Steep cliffs that lead to breathtaking ancient ruins in the middle of a rainforest. It sounds like a setting for a novel, doesn’t it?

But in your novel is the hero on the run, using the rainforest as cover? Is he sleeping on the ground, fighting off all kinds of insects and predatory animals? Or is he on a grand adventure, sleeping in comfort on some of the softest mattresses, enjoying culinary delights most people can only dream of?

You might be wondering what Machu Picchu is. Or why you should even care. Well, Machu Picchu is a city–a “Lost City”, in fact–that sits up in the clouds. Machu Picchu, which means “old peak” is an absolutely amazing sight to see. There’s only two ways to get there. There’s an easy way, which is a train ride from Cuzco and then there’s the option of hiking through the rainforest.

Either way, it’s worth the trip to see this miracle in the clouds. These ruins used to be the main worship place of the Incas. And, boy, does it show in the beautiful craftsmanship in the stairs, tombs and sacred temples. And as you wade through the rainforest and your eyes fall upon the landscape of these ancient ruins, you are awed by the sight.

When you are planning a beach holiday you probably don’t immediately think of Peru, but this South American country has a Pacific facing coastline of over 2,500 km, which is dotted with some of the most beautiful and exotic beachfronts in the world.

For those that like the glamorous life there are a number of top class beach resorts, particularly to the south of Lima, which is the capital city. Here you will find long stretches of white sandy beaches, washed by the cool clean waters of the Pacific ocean, which are perfect from peaceful sunbathing, and also a variety of water sports including scuba diving, snorkeling, yachting and jet skiing. Some of the beaches in Peru are not suitable for swimming, as there are some tricky underwater currents and water quality is poor in some areas, so make sure you check each beach out before you jump straight in the water.