Peru on the Road

From Lima, the capital, the journey heads south along the arid and desert coast: the Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands, Pisco, Ica, the Huacachina oasis, and Nazca with its mysterious lines. The trip then climbs up into the Andes, reaching the beautiful and festive Arequipa, surrounded by the stunning Colca Canyon — where, for a moment, we touch 5,000 meters. Just a few steps leave us breathless in Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca (altitude 3,800), whose islands (Amantaní, Uros, and Taquile) dazzle us with incredible landscapes and sunsets..

The final stop of the journey: the capital of the Empire, the glorious city of Cusco, still stunning, nestled in the Sacred Valley among fascinating ruins and terraces, rocky slopes, and breathtaking cliffs. And finally, the long-awaited Machu Picchu — a place as magical as it is mysterious, completing our journey and filling us with emotion.

Traveling through Peru is unforgettable — a pleasant challenge to face with close-knit companions, or at least with a bit of breath, given the altitude.

One of the most vibrant and dynamic countries in South America, Peru is a revelation of nature, history, and culture. A journey to the edge of reality, where winter in the middle of August greets us with temperatures ranging from 0 to 40 degrees — you never know what to wear.

Also known as the land of the Incas: a fascinating civilization, a people of farmers who, in less than a century, built the largest empire on the continent.

The route is the classic one — the Gringo Tour: nature, wildlife, and Inca ruins.

Apart from Lima, many of the small towns — especially those isolated in the mountains — still rely on animal-powered transport.

To cope with the strain of climbing and descending, to suppress hunger and thirst, and especially to avoid soroche — the terrible headache and possible nausea caused by high altitude — the locals, since the time of the Incas, have discovered the pleasant effects of coca leaves.
Naturally, we go along with it...

Numerous civilizations have inhabited this land since ancient times, well before the year zero. Yet the most significant — also because they were the last — were the Incas, devastated in the 16th century by the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.

PISAC