'Land of Abundance': Why You Should Add Peru to Your Travel Bucket List

Located on the west coast of South America, Peru, whose name means 'land of abundance', is renowned for its strong sense of history and cultural identity, boasting a wealth of geographic, natural and architectural phenomenons that mean Peru should feature on anybody’s travel bucket list.

For many people one of the biggest attractions of Peru is undoubtedly the Ancient city of Machu Picchu, one of the most infamous heritage sites in the world. The site, believed to be constructed in the 15th century, is one of the country’s main tourist attractions; its beauty, intrigue and uniqueness earning it a place as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Whilst the entirety of the citadel is in equal parts stunning and interesting, there are three key features that stand out: The Intihutana, a ritual stone; the Temple of the Sun and the Room of Three Windows; all three of which were believed to be created in dedication to the god of sun. The stunning and breathtaking architecture of Machu Picchu is just one of the reasons to visit. The location of this Wonder of the World makes it a popular destination for keen hikers, with numerous trails and even the opportunity to hike to the site instead of taking the train. The stunning mountainous surroundings ensure that the entire area, not just Machu Picchu itself, make this part of Peru worth the visit. Although Machu Picchu is probably the most renowned area of Peru, there is so much more that the country has to offer other than the Inca citadel. It has Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca empire and the Gocta waterfall, one of the tallest waterfalls in South America. It has history and culture and identity. From geographical and architectural phenomena that have existed in Peru for hundreds of years, to modern attractions, Peru has so much to offer to such a diverse range of people.

Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and located on the Peruvian and Bolivian border, further accentuates the beauty of Peru, albeit in this sense an amalgamation of both natural and manmade beauty. Similar to that of Machu Picchu, what makes Lake Titicaca special lies in how unique it is. Not only is Lake Titicaca visually spectacular for its sheer size and surroundings, but it is also home to ancient cultures; it being the birthplace of the Incas and considered within their own mythology as the birthplace of the sun. Lake Titicaca itself divides opinion amongst tourists and travellers; both see immense beauty and interest within the region however many argue that Lake Titicaca has become too much of a tourist destination. In reality Lake Titicaca caters to both types of people, those who enjoy the more ’tourist’ orientated activities and those who are looking for a more authentic experience. For those who find themselves in the former group, the Uros Islands are an ideal destination, popular with tourist companies and a significant feature of Lake Titicaca. The Uros Islands are made up of 45 separate islands created by reeds and home to the Uros people who are believed to be descendants of some of the first inhabitants of Lake Titicaca. For those looking for a more ‘authentic’ experience of Peru then Isla Amantani offers that. With the opportunity to stay with a local family and get a proper glimpse at local life, Isla Amantani has become popular amongst many travellers as a real insight into Peru and the people who live there.

No trip to Peru is complete, however, without a visit to the country’s largest city and capital of the country, Lima. Home to a wealth of monuments and experiences, Lima has so much to offer both historically and culturally. The Cathedral of Lima is one example of such a monument, with its towering facade that is equally as beautiful as its decadent interior. Whilst the inside of the cathedral on the whole is similar to that of others, little additions make it unique: doubling up as a museum and being the burial site of Francisco Pizarro. The Cathedral of Lima is located on the Plaza Mayor, home to the Cathedral, Government Palace and numerous other buildings in the core of the city. Moving away from the centre of Lima and Plaza Mayor, a short car journey provides the opportunity to experience one of Lima’s other popular attractions, Circuito Magico del Agua, or the ‘Magic Water Circuit’ as it is also referred to. The Magic Water Circuit is a series of thirteen water fountains including some interactive ones and which is home to a magical ‘dancing fountains’ display which combines the water features with colours, lasers and music to create a spectacular show for visitors. Particularly popular amongst tourists the show is particularly spectacular at night and provides the perfect evening entertainment for all types of people of all ages.

Similarly, by venturing further from the centre of Lima provides the opportunity to visit Larcomar, another popular destination in Lima for locals and tourists alike, a leisure paradise located on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it is the perfect place for shopping, entertainment and food. One of the main cultural draws of Peru is its exquisite culinary scene and Lima in particular plays a huge role in this. Not only was the country’s capital named one of the best culinary destinations by the World Travel Awards, it is also home to three of the world’s 50 best restaurants, two of which stand in the top 10: Central and Maido. Peruvian cuisine incorporates a mixture of local and indigenous foods, with international cuisines to provide an ideal destination for any foodie, with flavours from across the world readily available across the country and especially within the capital.

Whilst Peru, perhaps, isn’t the most obvious choice for a travel destination, it offers so much beauty and there is so much to experience within its borders. The beauty of Peru lies within the fact that whilst it has embraced aspects of international culture, it has not strayed away from its own history and its own identity.