Few places on earth have as rich a natural heritage as Peru. Its archeological treasures are unearthed each day reflecting many of the oldest and some of the most cultured civilizations which existed long before Christ. The local cultures could fuse metals in a plating process before the new testament was written, tamed the llama and irrigated crops more than 6,000 years ago. This country’s wonders don’t stop with its cultural accomplishments, they only begin with them for many of Peru’s greatest treasures are found within its complex environmental structure. It has 1701 known species of birds which is more than 50% of all the birds found within the neotropics, a region 25 times larger. 1347 species of orchids in 167 genera are known to grow in Peru and more than sixty are awaiting classification and verification. More than half of the orchids are found in eight of its departments and six of those same regions are home to more than 50% of the endemic species. 

To try and experience Peru is so large a scope that it's difficult to define what the highlights are as a generalized statement. It's probably more important to look at a cross section of attractions and experiences that are both popular and can be seen within the context of published tour formats. From the standpoint of popularity the most obvious attractions are Machu Picchu, Paracas, Nazca, Colca Canyon, Iquitos, Pulcalpa, Cuzco, Lima and the Manu.

Peru's climate can be divided into two seasons - wet and dry - the coast and western Andean slopes are generally dry, with the summer falling between December and April; during the rest of the year, the garúa (coastal fog) moves in and the sun is rarely seen. In the Andes, the dry season is from May to September, while the wet season takes up the remainder of the year. On the eastern slopes of the Andes, the drier months are similar to the highlands, though the wet season (January to April) is more pronounced.

Peru has three major regions, each with its own main city and attractions: a narrow coastal belt, predominantly desert with Peru's major cities; the wide Andean mountains and the pristine Amazon Basin. Within these regions there are many variations due to altitude that further divide the country in smaller enclaves. We have therefore divided Peru into 5 different tourist areas that you can visit at your leisure.

Northern Peru - From Lima to the border with Ecuador, one finds extraordinary archaeological monuments such as: Sechin in Casna, Chan Chan in Trujillo and Tucume in Chiclayo. There are beautiful tropical beaches in Piura and Tumbes as well as the highest mountain (6,880 mtrs.), the majestic Huascaran is located. North of the mountains one finds Cajamarca and its lovely countryside, Inca ruins and Spanish Colonial Buildings. A little more to the north are the charming towns of Huanuco and Tingo Maria, where you find a mountain shaped like a sleeping woman.

The Amazon - The Peruvian Jungle, a large area encompassing more than 500,000 Kmq. crossed by the Amazon River, an area where plant and animal life abound. An ideal place where nature and adventure lovers can thrill to the sight of the incredibly wide variety of birds, insects and plants. 

Central Peru - Lima is the main site here, the old capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty in the New World. Towards the east, one also travels on the highest highway in the world (4871 mtrs) to the Montaro Valley in Junin, an area rich in folklore and handicrafts.

South-Eastern and Southern Peru - To the south-east is Puno with Lake Titicaca. the highest in the world, has been declared the Folklore capital of America, due to the variety of its music and dances. - To the south, the Bay of Paracas is alive with fauna, Ica produces its famous wines and the Nazca Lines sit majestically in the desert area. More to the south there is Arequipa, a city known for its beautiful colonial structures and the impressive Colca canyon.