With legendary historical sites, a thriving culinary scene, astonishing natural diversity, and some of the friendliest people around, Peru is truly a stand-out destination. Here are 3 reasons every traveler should visit this extraordinary country at least once.
1) TO EXPLORE ITS FASCINATING ANCIENT HISTORY.
Nearly everyone has heard of Machu Picchu and the Inca, but Peru’s history stretches back for millennia and encompasses much more than that. Civilizations like the Nazca, the Wari, the Tiwanaku, and the Moche existed long before the Inca and laid the groundwork for what would become their vast, flourishing empire. Today, you can find evidence of these long-lost cultures in places like the northern city of Chan Chan, the southern Lake Titicaca, and the famously mysterious Nazca Lines.
Machu Picchu — the crowning achievement of Peru’s mightiest ancient civilization — is the breathtaking culmination of thousands of years of cultural advancement and a must-see for visitors. Standing at cloud-level amongst the massive stone structures is an indescribable experience not to be missed.
2) TO INDULGE IN PERUVIAN CUISINE.
Though it’s hard to definitively say one country’s food is better or worse than another’s, there is a reason Peru — and particularly Lima — has become a hot destination for gourmands worldwide. The country is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, and thus blessed with an incredible variety of natural resources. From excellent fishing along the Pacific coast to the fertile, temperate farmland of the Andes to the abundance of wild tropical herbs and game in the Amazon, Peru is truly a melting pot of flavour and culinary style.
In Peru, the food is its own landscape and reason enough to visit, equally compelling as any historical monument or natural wonder. Do your palate a favour and try everything.
3) TO EXPERIENCE ITS WILD NATURAL BEAUTY.
Peru’s natural diversity is prolific. Its territory straddles approximately 84 of the 104 existing ecosystems and contains approximately 10% of the world’s species of flora in addition to hundreds of different animal species.
It’s difficult to think of any other place on earth with such a variety of landscapes to explore—the cold Pacific waters of the south, warm northern tropical seas, dry coastal deserts, lush valleys and mountains of the Andes, and the deep, humid basin of the Amazon. Travelers can be summiting snow-capped mountain peaks one day and then rowing along tropical jungle rivers the next.
If ever there was a place to unplug and reacquaint yourself with nature, Peru is it.
The Divine Destination Collection will be travelling to magical Peru this September! Click to learn more about our itinerary and reserve your spot.
