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DESTINATIONS
(See our PHOTO
GALLERY)
- Circuits
How does one go about touring Perú,
a country whose geography is dominated by the Andes,
one of the world´s highest mountain chains and
by the exuberant Amazon jungle?
Some visitors may get the impression
that this will be hard to do, bit it´s not really
that difficult. A well-informed traveler such as yourself
will have a different experience and plenty of surprises
in store. As your hosts on your tour of our country.
We suggest the following 8 circuits. For how long do
you plan to visit?
Do you have less than a week?
- Lima
- Callejon de Huaylas
- Chincha - Paracas - Ica - Nazca
- Huancayo - Jauja - Tarma - Chanchamayo Valley
Do you have more than a week?
- Arequipa - Colca
- Puno - Cuzco
- Trujillo - Chiclayo - Cajamarca
- Cuzco - Manu
- Iquitos
Lima
Suggested length of stay: 2 days.
Lima is the only gateway of entry
to the country because it has the only international
airport.This fact constitute a big advantage for the
visitors because it gives them the oportunity to know
this beatiful and historic city.Lima was founded in
1532 by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
With an actual population of 8 million
people-almost one third of its total population-Lima
is the seat of the national government and the financial
,industrial and commercial center of the country.
Peru's best museums,restaurants and
art and crafts shops are here and many of the classic
colonial buildings are located in the historic center.
We recommend at least two days in
order to know the landmarks of this great city.In the
morning of the first day you can visit the Historic
center.which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.The
center consists of the Cathedral,the main square,the
Presidential Palace and the San Francisco church with
its Monastery,museum of religious art and its catacombs.
The travel agencies sell these attractions
in their city tours and finish the tour with the visit
to the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores
concluding with a magnificent view of the Pacific ocean.
Peru boasts of one of the largest
varieties of arts and crafts on earth.Because of this
during the afternoon we recommend visiting these shops
and like millions of visitors,perhaps to purchase these
wonderful and inexpensive souvenirs.
If you are a nature lover,in the
second day we recommend visiting Parque de las leyendas
located in Lima or the Zoo of Huachipa which is outside
of Lima.For the birdwatchers,beside these two places,we
recommend visiting Pantanos de Villa (see city of Lima).
If you are like the majority of visitors
that come to Peru to admire the archaelogical remains
of the pre-inca and Inca civilizations,the visit of
these three more important museums is a must.They are:The
National Museum,National Museum of Archaelogy,Antropology
and History and the Larco Herrera Museum.
According to the connoisseurs,the
peruvian cuisine,is the best of Latin America alongside
the french and chinese.Recently the well know magazine
Conde Nast Traveler in its april 2003 edition said that
no country in South America cooks like Peru and Lima
is its gastronomic heart (see Peru-Gourmet Paradise),so
during your stay in Lima you must try these delicious
dishes.
Callejón de Huaylas
Suggested length of stay: 5 days
This valley lies 400 km (248 miles)
northeast of Lima, wedged between the Cordillera Blanca
and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges. The Cordillera
Blanca, so-called for its snow-capped peaks, is the
highest mountain range in the Andes and the world´s
highest tropical mointain region.
The region is reached from the Peruvian
capital by the Lima-Pativilca road as far the city of
Huaraz, capital of the departament of Ancash. The journey
takes around seven hours by car or bus. Huaraz is the
center of operations for the region.
The Callejón de Huaylas offers
attractions, services and infrastructure for adventure
sports lovers. Climbers have at their disposal an expert
rescue team backed by a helicopter. The area features
climbing routes that take just a few days and others
that can take two weeks. In addition to montain climbing,
adventure seekers can also try rafting, hang gliding,
mountain biking, skiing and trekking in the Callejón
de Huaylas.
Visitors can tour tows of Recuay,
Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz. Life here follows the old
traditions, and the local inhabitants rear livestock,
sow their fields and live tranquil lives.
The best time to visit the area is
from May to September. Visitors should take it easy
the first day of arrival due to the high altitude (see
travel tips: altitude sickness). Take along a heavy
jacket and warm cloting and plenty of water or other
beverages.
Chincha - Paracas -Ica -Nazca
Suggested legth of stay: 4 days
This circuit along the south coast
provides a combination of sun, sea, beaches, history
and traditions, but above all, the area features marvelous
landscapes, making it a major attraction for a different
kind of adventure.
The area is reached, by road down
the South Pan-American Highway, First stop is the city
of Chincha 202 km (125 miles), two and-a-half hours
from Lima, the cradle of Afro-Peruvian culture.
Next stop is the Bay of Paracas 50
km (31 miles), 30 minutes from Chincha, home to the
Paracas Reserve, which harbors a large variety of bird
species, sea lion colonies, penguins and many other
species, making the area one of the country´s
richest in tems of biodiversity . The area is ideal
for adventure sports, eco-turism and sailing. We recommend
the early morning boatrides around the Ballestas Islands.
Ica, 50 km (31 miles),
40 minutes from Paracas, a festive region steeped in
religious traditions, is the next stop on the tour.
Here, visitors can take in the Ica Cathedral and the
shrine of the Señor de Luren, the patron image
of the city. Lake Huacachina, an oasis surrounded by
vast, wind-sculpted sand dunes, lies further inland
in the desert.
Visitors can board light planes and
fly over the Nazca Lines from Ica or continue along
the road down to the city of Nazca, 140 km (87 miles),
2 hours from Ica. One can see part of the lines from
a lookout tower by the road in the Pampas de San Jose
plains. Before returning, Visitors should not miss a
tour of the traditional local vineyards, or taste some
of Peru´s finest wines and pisco, the country´s
national beverage, particulary in the month of March,
when the area celebrates the Ica wine Festival
Huancayo -Jauja - Tarma -
Chanchamayo Valley
Suggested length of stay: 6 days.
Huancayo can be reached by bus or
car up the Central Highway, some 310 km (192 miles)
from Lima, in five and a-half hours. We suggest stopping
briefly at Ticlio, at 4,818 meters (15,803 feet), the
highest inhabited spot on Earth. We recommend a tour
of the city in Huancayo, the Cathedral, the city squares
(Constitucion and Huamanmarca ) and the La Libertad
hill overlooking the city and the Mantaro Valley.
Just 22 km (14 miles) away lies Concepcion,
an interesting colonial province which features scenic
countryside. The Santa Rosa de Ocopa convent, which
was the base of the Church´s efforts to convert
jungle natives to Christianity is also not to be missed.
There are two good options for lunch:
Ingenio, which is famous for its trout farm and outdoor
restaurants, or Lake Paca near Jauja, where visitors
can take boatrides around the lake.
The road leads on to Tarma, where
visitors can feast their eyes on fields of bright flowers.
The landscape changes drastically as the road drops
down into the cloud forest from here on. The Chanchamayo
Valley (La Merced), with its emerald green countryside
and steamy heat, lies two-and-a-half hours away. The
valley is a well-known fuit-growing area studded with
cascading waterfalls and dotted with orchids. The best
time to visit is from May to October. Remember to take
basic precautions against altitude sickness.
Arequipa - Colca - Puno -
Cuzco
Suggested length of stay: 11 days (by plane)
and 15 days (by car).
This is one of the most heavily-visited
circuits in South America, not just because of the connections
between the cities, but also for the many attractions
in the region.
 
The route starts out at Arequipa,
a 50-minute flight from Lima or 14 hours by road 1,003
km (622 miles), a road. The stopover in Arequipa, at
2,335 meters (7,659 miles), will enable visitors to
get used to the altitude, but above all take in sights
such as the Cathedral and the Santa Catalina Convent
, while the city outskirts features some beautiful countryside.
The road heads on, from Arequipa to the town of Chivay
(five hours), the gateway to the Colca Valley, which
is littered with soaring volcanoes and breath-taking
landscapes. Chivay offers a wide range of possibilities
to tour the valley and reach the lookout point of Cruz
del Condor, which grants visitors spectacular views
of condors wheeling across, one of the world´s
deepest canyons, the Colca Canyon. The nearby picturesque
villages, which feature fine Baroque churches and main
squares, authentic traces of their colonial past, are
also worth a look-in. Adventure sports lovers will also
discover endless opportunities for hiking, climbing
and rafting.
The next stop on the tour, whether
by train, car or plane, is Puno, 281 km (174 miles)
southeast of Arequipa. Visitors can take boat trips
across Lake Titicaca and visit the islands, which feature
marvelous natural scenery, white sandy beaches, the
unique fauna and flora of the highland plains and above
all, the people and their traditions.
From Puno, the train winds its way
north to Cuzco,  dubbed
the archaelogical capital of the Americas. The trip
takes five hours by road. The city of Cuzco, offers
visitors endless possibilities for tourism. One interesting
alternative is to tour the city´s many churches
and colonial buildings and take in the exquisite art
forms which were the result of the encounter between
native and Western cultures. Particulary striking are
the oil paintings dating from the seventeenth-century
Cuzco School. Above all Cuzco is an archaeological treasure,
featuring temples, fortresses, palaces and other Inca
buildings, including the citadel of Machu Pichu, held
to be one of the wonders of the world. The area around
Cuzco is also ideal for adventure sports of all kinds.
Trujillo -Chiclayo -Cajamarca
Suggested length of stay: 8 days
Visitors can get to Trujillo from
Lima overland 561 km (348 miles) up the North Pan-American
Highway, an eight-hour trip, or a 45-minute flight.
Trujillo, capital of the departmet of La Libertad, is
home to dozens of superb examples of colonial and republican
mansions. as well as pre-Inca constructions, such as
the Temples of the Sun and Moon and Chan Chan, the world's
largest mud-brick citadel. For those fond of water sports,
the beaches near the city are superb.
From Trujillo the road heads north
to Chiclayo. capital of the department of Lambayeque,
a two-hour trip by road. In addition to the area's sun-drenched
beaches, the city of Lambayeque also features the Brüning
Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of gold
pieces crafted by the Moche and Chimu, two of the ancient
civilizations that dominated the area.
From Chiclayo the road climbs up
into the northern highlands, a six-hour journey to the
bucolic city of Cajamarca. Visitors are advised to rest
upon arrival and take precautions against high-altitude
sickness. Cajamarca is filled with reminders of Its
ancient past: the Ransom Chamber of Atahualpa (the Inca
emperor captured by the Spaniards), the Inca Baths and
the Ventanillas de Otuzco tombs . in addition to colonial
churches and convents. Cajamarca nestles amidst fertile
countryside where visitors can take part in farming
chores alongside the local community.
Cuzco-Manu
Suggested length of stay: 8 days
This circuit combines the archaeological
and cultural legacy of Cuzco with Peru's greatest natural
treasure: the Manu National Park. .
Due to the high altitude,
visitors are advised to take the one-hour flight to
and rest upon arrival. Cuzco is a unique of blend native
and Colonial architecture, where visitors will fínd
colonial constructions built on top of Inca foundations
. The surrounding region also features many attractions:
The town and church of Andahuaylillas. the Ollantaytambo
fortress and the town of Pisac are just a few found
in Cuzco, which are crowned by a visit to the citadel
of Machu Picchu.
From Cuzco, the road heads
down to the Manu National Park, a journey that can take
from 9-12 hours to the villages of Atalaya and Shintuya,
where one continues by boat for another 5-6 hours. There
are also 30-minute flights from Cuzco to Boca Manu,
where the boat ride takes 4-6 hours. The Manu teems
with record numbers of species of plants, birds. insects.
butterflies, mammals and reptiles and is doted with
an extraordinary diversity of eco-systems. The area
is best visited from May to August. Visitors should
bring insect repellent and sunblock.
Iquitos
Suggested length of stay: 7 days
Because of the particular geographical
location of Iquitos in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon
basin and because this city is the point of departure
to the main attractions of the region,the proposed circuit
is not a sequence for the developing of an itinerary
but a nonconsecutive list of the most important places,as
well as suggestions for the best enjoying of the trip.
- Getting
there
- What to see
- Lodges and services
- Amazonian cruises
- Ecotourism
- From above
- The Pacaya - Samiria National Reserve
GETTING THERE
Daily flights from Lima to Iquitos
take one and a half hours.
The distance between Pucallpa
and Iquitos by the Ucayali river is 990 km (613 miles)
and the trip takes 4 to 6 days.The distance between
Lima and Pucallpa by land is 782 km (485 miles) and
the trip takes about 24 hours.
The city of Iquitos,capital
of Loreto,is located on the north-eastern Amazon plain.Loreto
is the largest region of Peru and covers 30% of the
national land area.
Iquitos,almost 4 degrees to
the south of the Equator is located at about 1009 km
(625 miles) northeast from Lima and at 100 meters (328
feet)a.s.l.It was founded in 1864 although it had already
been settled some decades before.The city has 250,000
inhabitants.Located between the Nanay river and the
left bank of the Amazon.It is the most important river
port of the country.
The weather in Iquitos is warm and humid.The temperature
ranges from 17 to 20 degrees C (62 to 68 degrees F)
in June and July,to 36 degrees C (97 degrees F) between
December and March.These months are considered as winter
time in spite of the high temperature.The average humidity
is 84 %.
The city lies on the banks
of an Amazon river branch in front of a large and woody
permanent shoal called Padre Isla,almost 20 km (12 miles)
long. It is surrounded by rivers and small channels.The
Napo and Amazonas rivers converge close to Iquitos.
Communications,in this fluvial
world,depend on navigation more than on land transportation
which is almost unavailable outside the city.
The most popular means of transportation
in the city is the "motocar":a motorized tricycle
for passengers.The traditional means on the rivers,are
the "pequepeque",the "pamacari"
boat (larger and roofed for travelers' convenience )
and the outboard motorboat which is faster and more
powerful.Some large fluvial vessels are also available.
WHAT TO SEE
Iquitos has a recently inagurated
zoo among its main attractions,as well as some interesting
buildings dating back to the rubber boom of the last
century,such as old mansions covered with mosaics,along
the riverside and the first "Iron House",prefabricated
building of America.The Iron House was designated and
built by Gustave Eiffel,brought from Europe in pieces
and assembled where it is now,in the center of the city.
There are several places around
the city where plenty of local culture and folklore
can be admired.
Moronacocha,located 3 km (1.8
miles) from the city and the well known Quistococha-16
km (10 miles) away are among the lakes.Quistococha has
a paiche fish farm.
LODGES AND SERVICES
There are several jungle lodges on the banks of the
Amazon, Itaya, Yarapa and Manati rivers, specially conditioned
for the tourist who wishes to experience a close contact
with nature. Some of these lodges have bungalows with
private bathrooms and others have comfortable rooms
as well as other facilities, such as orchid nurseries
and bio-diversity laboratories. There is also a lodge
which has a canopy walkway for the observation of the
jungle wildlife. All of the lodges include traditional
regional dishes which are nutritious as well as delicious.
AMAZONIAN CRUISES
A tourist service offers exciting
international cruises along the largest river in the
world. The ships make a round trip from Iquitos (6 nights/7
days),thanks to the 1987 free navigation treaty. The
service includes:meals on board, air-conditioned cabins
and visits to Leticia in Colombia and Tabatinga in Brazil.
It also offers excursions during the trip, including
jungle treks, visits to Indian villages, night expeditions
and fishing.
ECOTOURISM
The Amazon basin is the most
extensive and varied natural reserve of the world.It
is home to 25,000 classified species of plants and believed
to have many others which still remain unknown.
The Peruvian jungle hols more than 4000 butterflies
species and in the basin of this great river (literally
millions of square miles of water courses) live some
2000 different fish species,more than in the Atlantic
Ocean.There are also plants such as the aquatic lilies
known as "Victoria Regia",with leaves that
reach a diameter of 2 meters (6.5 feet);exotic birds
like the hoatzin,that dives to escape from its pursuers
and whose chicks have claws on their wings.There are
also pink dolphins more than 2 meters (6.5 feet) in
length,jaguars and the tapir,the biggest native mammal
of the Amazon jungle,all of them living harmoniously
in this wonderful ecosystem.
FROM ABOVE
The camp,over the Sucusari river,affluent of the Napo,is
considered one of the most important attractions of
ecotourism throughout the world,because it has the first
canopy walkway for the observation of fauna and flora.Nature
lovers may enjoy a walk "on the high side"
along this 200 meter (656 feet)-long walkway,30 meters
(98 feet) above the ground,which links the 6 tallest
treetops of the area.This is the first and largest canopy
walkway in the Americas.
The Biosphere Reserve of the
Amazon and the ACEER (Amazonian Center for Environmental
Education and Research) laboratory are also in this
area.The Reserve protects 2'023,500 hectares (818,910
acres) of pristine vegetation.This camp is accessible
by river from Iquitos.The trip takes 3 hours by motor
boat and 7 hours by rowboat.An airplane service is also
available.
THE PACAYA-SAMIRIA
NATIONAL RESERVE
Pacaya-Samiria is the largest
reserve in Peru,covering 21,000 km2 (8.106 sq miles).Its
area,12 % larger than Manu,is similar to that of El
Salvador.
The Reserve was created to preserve the wonderful flora
and fauna of the lower part of the jungle,between the
Huallaga low stream and the Pulnahua channel (an alternative
course of the Ucayali ).
The basin of the Pacaya and Samiria rivers also includes
8 big lakes and several lagoons.There are 2 kinds of
cetaceans and a unique sirenid-the large marine cow
or manati (thichechus inungis),not found elsewhere in
Peru,among the uncommon water species.
Access and guided visits are
possible in 4 hours by launch from the lodges or in
ten by "pamacari"
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