Peru Sights

Lima - the capital of Peru. The city was founded in 1535 by conquistadors and became the capital of the Spanish possessions in America.
Can not say that this is the most beautiful city in the country. It is quite noisy and crowded with locals and tourists. However, the Old Town was declared a UNESCO world cultural heritage of mankind. In the central part is the area Armas. This is the place where Francisco Pizarro gave the first settlement. At its center stands a large stone fountain. In the northern part of the square is the Palace of Government with the residence of the President. Every morning at 11:45 there is a change of guard of honor. In the eastern part of the square rises the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. The construction works began in 1564 and was completed in 1622. In 1746, during an earthquake the building was destroyed and was rebuilt in 1755. Here in a small chapel are buried the remains of Francisco Pizarro.
In five minutes from the plaza is the convent of San Francisco. This building was built in the late 17 th century and practically the only (of similar large buildings) withstand earthquakes in 1687 and 1746, respectively. The monastery is made in the Baroque style in the yellow-white and is considered the most beautiful in the city. The main attractions of the monastery are its dungeon. Before that, as in Lima organized the first cemetery, here was buried about 75 thousand people. Also, interesting and ancient library of the 17 th century.
In Lima, many museums, telling about the history and culture of Peru. Among the most popular can be distinguished National Museum, which occupies 3 floors. It exhibited a collection of finds of pre-Columbian era, national costumes, ceramics and mummies. Tourists are encouraged to examine the museum to visit the ancient Inca cities, because it exhibited exposure with reduced copies of the attractions of these places. The National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, you can see one of the largest collections of archaeological finds relating to the ancient civilizations of pre-colonial period.
Also noteworthy in Lima shopping district of Miraflores, the center of nightlife in the capital - quarter of Barranco, as well as market Mercado Indio.
Despite the fact that Lima is located on the Pacific coast, relax on the local beaches to tourists is not recommended. The water here is muddy, and in the summer months there is going to a lot of local residents. Also there is a possibility of theft. South of Lima along the coast can recommend beaches of El Silencio, Sinoritas, Caballeros, Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, San Bartolo, Santa Maria, and the influx Pukusana. These areas are desert-like, with sparse vegetation in the area.

At 80 km from Lima, at an altitude of approximately 3900 meters, is little-known plateau Markauasi, striking giant stone sculptures of animals (elephants, tortoises, camels), is currently living not only in Peru but also throughout South America, and rock pictures of human faces.

Iquitos - the capital of the Amazonian jungle of Peru. You can get here only by boat. The city itself is interesting only because of its weekly convened by the Belen market, which sell a variety of handicrafts of local tribes.

Tourists come to Iquitos in order to to travel on the wet tropical forests, which offer excellent opportunities for hiking. From the city daily sent a trip to the jungle or excursion by boat on the rivers of the region. During the trip, you can see the diverse flora and fauna of the jungle, in addition, directly in the jungle opened several boarding houses, where tourists can stay for the night.

Costa (the coast of the Pacific) attractive sand dunes, flocks of flamingos, cormorants, penguins and colonies of sea lions.

Tumbes is located in the northern coast of Peru, near the border with Ecuador. All the coastal part of the busy city beaches of white sand. There is a dry equatorial forest in the National Park Tserros de Amotape with mangrove forests and humid tropical forest in the protected area of the city. About 30% of Tumbes declared protected areas, so a beach holiday here is complemented by clean air and lush vegetation. Beach Puerto Pizzaro (13 km from the city) - the most popular among tourists.

South of Tumbes are seaside resorts Mankora and Punta Sal. This tranquil resort with small hotels and numerous restaurants. In addition to beach recreation in the northern part of the bone can be surfing, because in these places have been recorded the highest waves in the world. In Trujillo, Mankora and Punta Sal has recently become a popular diving. Although the dive centers here a little while, anyway divers come here to look at the inhabitants of coastal waters, especially on sea lions.

Tiahuanaco - an ancient city - the port on the lake, situated at an altitude of 3625 meters above sea level and occupies an area of 450 thousand sq. These mathematical and astronomical estimates include construction of Tiahuanaco to about 15000 BC Located here are the ruins of the impressive buildings of stone masonry, about the same as in Machu Picchu. Largest and most ancient of these buildings is the pyramid Akapana ( "artificial mountain" in Quechua), height 15 m, the length of the base - 230 m

Nazca is located in the department of Ica in the south-western part of Peru. 22 km north of the city on the desert plains are mysterious figures, carved from stone, which are visible only from above. Their size is impressive - they range from 40 m to 8 km. These pictures are tentatively dated to the XVIII - VI centuries BC. e. It shows the geometric shapes, animals, birds and people. New figures revealed during an airplane flight in 1939. There are many hypotheses about the purpose of ornaments Nazca. One of them is that the designs - part of a huge astronomical calendar, the other - that they were inflicted by aliens from outer space. In order to view the Nazca designs, tourists hour tours are offered on airplanes.

Cuzco was the capital of the Inca empire. The town's name translates from the Quechua Indian language as "the navel of the Earth. He really was such a period of greatest prosperity of the Inca empire, stretching from Peru to Chile and Argentina. From Cusco start excursion routes. For example, in Pisac - Inca citadel on top of the mountain chain, to the Pyramid of the Moon, in Chincheros, a typical Indian village of Quechua, suiting Sunday folkloric markets.

To the north-west of Cusco, at an altitude of approximately 3500 meters above sea level, is a monumental archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman ( "Bird of Prey serokamennogo color") - three parallel zigzag walls, stone "throne of the Incas, 21 Bastion, over which rise the strong tower, each of which was able to shelter up to a thousand soldiers.

Trujillo is famous for its churches and monasteries, archaeological museum and the colonial buildings. Near Trujillo is the capital of the ancient Chimu empire - Chan Chan, built of clay and stones. On the construction of the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon went millions of stones. Another pyramid - Kao, decorated with colored reliefs can be seen in the archaeological complex of El Brujo.

In the vicinity of the city of Chiclayo, in 1987 it was discovered one of the most impressive tombs in the world - "The Shrine of Lord Sipona. It was found during excavations of a lot of gold and silver ornaments. Another archaeological complex, open Tours Heyerdalom, attracts tourists in the small town of Tukums.

In towns and villages of the Sierra is felt, and 300-year influence of Spanish culture - Catholic style, temples, mandatory central square Plaza de Armas ( "Space Weapons"), rectangular "Chess" building cities.

The eastern part of the country, La Selva - a rainforest, fabulous source of the river Amazon, the Inca fortress of many cultures, many of whom are still lost in the jungle. One of them - Machu Picchu (Machu "translated from Quechua means" old "," Picchu "-" mountain "), located near Sacsayhuaman, discovered only in 1911. There are a number of assumptions and hypotheses, but so true and is not known when this town came and by whom it was founded. In essence, this is a complex archaeological groups, whose number currently stands at 24 (and is constantly increasing as a result of new research), which are scattered over an area of about 33 thousand hectares. Special interest of visitors is the Sun Stone - "Intiuatana", which is believed to have played the role of an astronomical observatory. Sacred area, the ruins of the temple of the Three Windows, the ruins of various buildings, stairs, of which there are hundreds more, aqueducts, punched in the rocks.

The city of Arequipa is located in southern Peru at an altitude of 2335 meters above sea level, between the volcanoes Misti and Chachani Ampato. This is the second largest city in Peru and its major economic center. Arequipa was founded in 1540.
The city is filled with the spirit of the colonial era. The houses are built of white stone with carved facades. Central area of the city Armas is the most beautiful in Peru. The main attraction in Arequipa is the convent of Santa Catalina, which was built in 1580. For the public it was inaugurated only in 1970. Now the internal decoration of the monastery are decorated with paintings and furniture, colonial style. This is a true individual cities. Inside the monastery walls are broken flower gardens with beautiful fountains, even here there are small streets connecting the buildings of the complex. Among the other interesting places of the city you can visit the Cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Campagna, a former Mint Casa de la Moneda and the mansion Casa Mora.

180 km from Arequipa Colca Canyon is located. This was the deepest canyon in the world, its depth from the bottom to the mountain peaks reach 3400 m. From the observation platform of the canyon Cruz del Condor can be seen hovering in the air, the giant Andean condors, which are considered landmarks of the region. Also it is necessary to inspect the nearby canyon Kotahuasi and pass Pat-Pambou. Arequipa is visible from the snow-capped peaks of the volcano Misti. This active volcano has a height of 5822 m. It is very popular climbing Misty. Hikes are organized here in Arequipa in travel agencies. They continued for two days. Before climbing to the volcano tourists encouraged to spend a day or two in the mountainous areas in the cities of Cuzco and Puno, or go here after visiting the Colca Canyon.

Lake Titicaca, located on the border of Bolivia and Peru, is located at an altitude of 3810 meters, is the world's largest high-navigable body of water - an area of 8287 sq. km. This ancient lake preserved to this day its fish fauna, ocean rather than freshwater, because that in it are found even sharks.