Peru

Peru is probably the most powerful cultural destination in South America — a 1,285,000 km² country (twice the size of France) bordered by the Pacific Ocean over 2,400 km, crossed by the Andes from north to south and covered over 60% of its territory by the Amazon rainforest. This extraordinary geographical diversity (desert coast, Andean highlands at 3,000-5,000 m, tropical jungle at 200 m) produces a cultural, gastronomic and scenic variety unique in the world.

Civilizational heritage is exceptional. The country was the heart of the Inca Empire (Tahuantinsuyu, 1438-1533) — the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, stretching from southern Colombia to central Chile and maintaining sophisticated administration without writing or the wheel. The Spanish conquest by Francisco Pizarro in 1532 marked the end of the empire but paradoxically preserved many of its constructions — Machu Picchu (1450, rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911), Cusco's Sacsayhuamán, the agricultural terraces of the Sacred Valley, Q'enqo, Ollantaytambo. Peru holds 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Machu Picchu (1983), Cusco (1983), Chavín de Huántar (1985), Huascarán National Park (1985), Chan Chan (1986), Manu (1987), Nazca Lines (1994), Lima historic centre (1991), Río Abiseo (1990), Caral-Supe (2009), and the Qhapaq Ñan (Inca Trail network, 2014).

The Peruvian tourist proposition revolves around four large regions. Cusco and Machu Picchu (south-east Andes) concentrates most international flows — Cusco the Inca historical capital (3,400 m), Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras-Moray), Machu Picchu citadel (2,430 m), 4-day Inca Trail. It's the absolute must-do. Lima and the Pacific coast offer the gastronomic dimension (world culinary capital with Central, Maido, Astrid y Gastón) and the southern desert triptych (Paracas-Ica-Huacachina-Nazca). Arequipa and Lake Titicaca (southern Andes) unfold the White City at the foot of Misti volcano, Colca Canyon (1,500 m deep, twice the Grand Canyon), and the Inca sacred lake at 3,812 m. The Peruvian Amazon (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Manu) covers 60% of the territory — one of the world's richest biodiversities.

Peruvian culture fascinates by its fusion. Three official languages coexist (Spanish, Quechua, Aymara — 4-5 million Quechua speakers in the Andes), Andean spirituality (Pachamama) coexists with baroque Catholicism introduced by the Spanish, traditional textile crafts remain alive. Peruvian gastronomy, ranked in the world top 3 by leading guides and chefs since 2010, is among the world's most creative — ceviche (raw fish in lime), lomo saltado (beef-tomato-fries stir-fry), ají de gallina (chicken in ají amarillo), causa (cold potato terrine), tiradito (Peruvian sashimi), pisco sour (national cocktail). The country counts three restaurants in the world top 10 (Central, Maido, Kjolle), all in Lima.