Highlights of Peru

Having spent two days in the relatively sophisticated metropolis of Lima, visiting museums, Cathedrals and wandering among its stunning architectural mix of buildings old and new, it was now time to explore the true ‘highlights’ of Peru.

Highlights of Peru

From Lima our small group flew to Cusco, an enchanting town nestling in the Andes some 3,360 metres above sea level. Despite its altitude it is a great town to wander around and soak up the local culture and the many colonial constructions built on Inca foundations. Visitors must see Sacsayhuaman, an Inca fortress built out of huge carved rocks joined together with incredible accuracy, one of many reminders of the legacy of the Incas. At night, the town comes alive with panpipes and dancers creating a wonderful natural charm.

From Cusco we took the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu ,a journey of 3 hours 45 minutes, providing an opportunity for George (our guide for this part of the trip) to brief us on the history of Machu Picchu. His enthusiasm was contagious and we couldn’t wait to arrive at one of the outstanding wonders of the ancient world. It is not until you stand on the mountainside overlooking the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ that you can really understand how mysterious and complex their empire must have been. Having seen images of Machu Picchu in travel brochures all I can say is that they paled into insignificance when confronted by the real thing and the weather provided a magnificent backdrop to the view of this extraordinary archaeological site, surrounded as it is by dark canyons and awe-inspiring mountains.

The 10 hour journey to Puno flew by as the train wound its way past  he snow capped Andes across almost desolate and uninhabited looking plateauxs. Climbing our way through the thin atmosphere we arrived at La Raya at an altitude of 4,023 metres. We were greeted by a small number of villagers dressed  in colourful costumes – a great opportunity to purchase locally hand crafted souvenirs. The first class carriage was extremely comfortable and beautifully designed, with wood panelling reminiscent of a more traditional era.

During the journey, we were served a delicious three course lunch as well as a light tea. The service could not be faulted and the staff were wonderful, blending friendliness and efficiency. The train is equipped with an observation car, a perfect place to switch off and watch the world go by. Entertainment is also included, ranging from displays of traditional rituals to singing. This was a truly memorable journey and one that will remain with me for a very long time.

In the early evening we disembarked into the hustle and bustle of Puno, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca – the worlds highest navigable lake. It wasn’t until the following morning, seeing the sun rising over the lake that I got a real feeling for the outstanding beauty of its location . Watching the glorious pinks and oranges reflecting over the vast stretch of water with small fishing boats bobbing in the early morning breeze was indeed unforgettably surreal.

Lake Titicaca is home to unique floating islands made of reeds, and populated by the Uros, descendents of a nearly extinct culture. We took an early boat ride over to the community of islands where we were met by a lady, who welcomed us into her house. We were then confronted by the juxtaposition between the straw bedding and the modern TV and hi-fi. In this part of the country domestic boundary disputes can have an interesting solution. If neighbours have a major difference of opinion, it is not uncommon for one of them to wake up in the morning to find themselves on their own island having been cut away overnight – an easy and effective way of solving the problem!

Visting a small remote village where the inhabitants were celebrating one of many local festivals , being the only western tourists there , the villagers were just as interested in us as we were in them, one of the benefits of having specialist guides who can take you to see the real Peru.

Throughout our journey, our guides showed a passion for their country’s history and culture which was truly inspiring. Peru is undisputably the most beautiful and interesting country that I have visited and there is so much more to Peru than at first you may think... I cannot wait to return.