Peru is a country that lies on the west coast of South America. It is best known for being the center of the Inca Empire, and is a land rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. The multitude of archaeological sites include pre-Incan adobe pyramids and the ruins of the Inca Empire. Although short-lived (1438-1533), the Incas ruled the largest empire of the time. Peru is also home to incredibly diverse ecosytems. In its Pacific Ocean coastline, the snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the jungles of the Amazon, Peru is home to 84 of the 118 known life zones found on earth. The people of Peru are among the friendliest tourists can encounter. One has only to witness porters running across the Inca Trail carrying over 30 kilos on their backs to see that Peruvians are also extremely hardworking people.
This page contains 235 photos of Peru in 9 galleries from when I visited the country. I began my trip in Lima, then traveled by plane to Puerto Maldonado to see the Amazon. I then returned to Cusco, explored the Sacred Valley, and finished this spectacular trip by hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
