The most beautiful places in Peru. The legendary sights of Peru. White City of Arequipa

Peru is the largest center of ancient civilization. The Norte Chico civilization flourished along the Pacific coast in early 3000 BC. Many other civilizations such as Moche, Chavin, Chimu and Nazca left their unique ruins and artifacts here. The most famous ruins that have survived in Peru belong to the Incas, who appeared in the 15th century and became the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. Let's make an exciting journey together, seeing the most interesting sights of Peru. Most of the places described below have separate articles on LifeGlobe, which you can visit to find a lot of additional interesting information. Also share your impressions, reviews and photos, take part in the discussion in the comments.

1. Huacachina Oasis

Located near Ica, Huacachina is a tiny oasis city surrounded by nature, small lakes, and high sand dunes. One of the most famous sights in Peru.

2. Chan Chan

Chan Chan was the largest city in pre-Columbian America. Approximately 30,000 people lived in this city. In the center of the city is the citadel, in which the burial chambers are concentrated. The city was built by the Chimu around 850 AD. The Incas conquered it in 1470.

3. Mancora

A small city located on the north coast, presents tourists with the best sandy beaches of Peru, which stretch for several kilometers along the Pacific Ocean. The city is full of luxurious restaurants, clubs, and everything that tourists need for an exciting holiday. Mancora is a popular place for surfing and other water activities.

4. Iquitos

According to some reports, the Peruvian Amazon jungle is a better place for outdoor activities than the Brazilian jungle. The starting point for the Amazon tour is the boat from Iquitos.

5. Nazca Lines

6. Monastery of Santa Catalina

Founded on October 2, 1580, the Monastery of Santa Catalina in the city of Arequipa has a total area of ​​20,000 square meters, including walls, streets, pavements ... It is one of the most important monasteries of colonial Peru and Latin America.

7. Uros Island

The artificial islands of the Uros are the main attraction of Lake Titicaca. Artificial reed islands are about 40 hand-made islands. Legend has it that the Uros Indians were forced to flee here, fleeing the Incas pursuing them.

8. Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas is located in the center of the historical part of Cusco. The square was built by the Incas and was known as the "square of wars". The area functioned as a cultural center of Inca life. Cusco, which was the capital of the Inca empire, was created in the shape of a cougar.

9. Colca Canyon

The canyon is located in the Andes mountain range, in the south of Peru. Kolka is 2 times deeper than the Grand Canyon, however, the slopes of the canyon are less steep.

10 Machu Picchu

The most beautiful and impressive ancient Inca ruins in the world, Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by the Hawaiian historian Hiram. The "Lost City of the Incas" is invisible from below and completely autonomous. Machu Picchu is Peru's most important tourist attraction.

The unique landscapes and cultural monuments of Peru contain many mysteries and mysteries of our planet. Its ancient temple complexes, ceremonial centers, pyramids, amphitheaters have preserved bizarre figures, lines, images of animals and people created by artists of the most ancient eras. The rich cultural heritage of Peru is very often a fantastic mosaic, created from fascinating events and incredible speculation and rumors.

The fame of the country was brought by its amazing natural landscapes: the lunar relief of the Nazca desert, the vast and majestic mountain ranges of the Andes, the powerful high-mountain ranges of the Cordeliers, and the zones of tropical rainforests. It was in the high mountain valleys of Peru that the ancient centers of Indian civilizations were formed, the peak of which was the famous Inca empire. The best natural and cultural attractions of Peru, which are witnesses of the country's thousand-year development, are presented to the attention of tourists.

See photos of the best sights of Peru, all pictures are supplemented with a description:

1. The complex of Huaca Puklana - the administrative and ceremonial center of Lima, was created in the period 700 - 200 BC. An architectural landmark in the form of a truncated pyramid, surrounded by galleries and courtyards.

2. Machu Picchu - the lost ancient city of the Incas, founded around 1440, is one of the seven wonders of the world. From a height, the citadel has the shape of a condor.

3. Huaca Hualyamarca is an archaeological complex located in the San Isidro area of ​​Lima. The ceremonial center of the religious elite is known for its pyramids with unique ramps.

4. The ruins of the city of Karal are witnesses of the most ancient civilization in the world. Founded in 2600 - 2000 BC the Peruvian city consists of temples, an amphitheater, pyramids and ordinary residential buildings. The prosperity of Caral is attributed to the time of the construction of the Egyptian pyramids.

5. The Nazca Desert - known for its unique giant lines, geometric shapes and patterns drawn on the ground. The length of some geoglyphs reaches several kilometers.

6. Urubamba Valley (Sacred Valley of the Incas) - located near the ancient capital of Cusco. Here you can see a number of unique objects that tell about the culture and traditions of the empire.

7. Pachacamac archaeological complex - a ceremonial center with preserved ancient temples, palaces, pyramids. The museum on the territory of the historical monument contains an interesting collection of archaeological remains.

8. The historic center of Lima, listed in 1988 by UNESCO, is an architectural ensemble of the colonial era.

Or spend the night at.

A remarkable feature of Peru is that on its territory there are as many as three natural and climatic zones and a huge variety of landscapes, flora and fauna. The plane will take you from the dry and deserted coast of the Pacific Ocean to the jungles of the Amazon or to the snowy peaks of the Andes in just an hour or two.

Costa- a strip of sandy deserts - located in the west of the country and stretches along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

East of the Costa, in the central part of Peru, is located Sierra- the Andes mountain range with deep canyons, snow-capped peaks and high mountain plateaus (the highest peak is 6788 m).

Behind the Sierra comes Selva- zone of tropical rainforests (Amazon lowland), which occupies most of the territory of Peru.

It is very difficult to say which of the natural areas is the most interesting.

Costa- this is the beauty of the Pacific coast, and a reserve with a huge variety of birds and marine animals, and sand dunes, from which they move out on boards (sandboarding) and buggy cars, and monuments of early Indian civilizations (for example, belonging to the Moche civilization). The Peruvian government is investing heavily in the development of a route called the Moche Road, which runs along the coast through the main archaeological sites of the Moche and Chimu civilizations.

Peru is an amazing country in which the traditions of the Indians have survived to this day, despite the former onslaught of the Spanish conquistadors. Two cultures, native and European, mixed up, eventually forming a cocktail that is amazing in its brightness and originality. But local traditions and beliefs are still strong here, which makes Peru an extremely interesting country for any tourist.

1. Peru is the third largest country in the South American continent after Brazil and Argentina.
2. The first people appeared in the territory now called Peru, 10 thousand years before our era.
3. In the XII century, the Incas appeared in Peru, who founded a state called Tahuantinsuyu. Over the five centuries of its existence, it has grown to the largest empire that existed on the continent before its discovery by Christopher Columbus.
4. Machu Picchu is one of the largest and most famous Inca cities in Peru. This amazing ancient monument is officially recognized as a wonder of the world. All the townspeople suddenly disappeared in 1532, and scientists still do not know what could have happened to them.
5. The capital of Peru was founded by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro, who destroyed the Inca empire by executing their leader. Lima's birthday celebrations take place in January and last for a whole week.
6. In the 19th century, the territory of Peru was divided into two parts - Peru proper and Bolivia (see).
7. In Peru, on June 28, Ceviche Day is celebrated at the state level - this is a national dish of raw fish marinated in lime juice and seafood. In 2013, a monument to this gourmet food was unveiled in Lima.
8. Peru has at least one strong earthquake every year (see).
9. Russians do not need a visa to travel to Peru - you can spend up to 90 days in the country without issuing any documents other than a passport.
10. Lima is a city with an unusual climate. Its distinguishing feature is high humidity combined with an almost complete absence of rain.
11. In Lima, you can try almost all the cuisines of the world, for which the city has earned the title of culinary capital.
12. Peru is a corn country, about 55 species of this plant grow on its territory. Fruit grains can be not only yellow, but also black, purple or white.
13. In Peru, a traditional guinea pig dish is prepared (see).
14. The oldest university in the Americas is located in Lima - the university opened its doors to students in the middle of the 16th century
15. Peru ranks sixth in the world in gold production.
16. The Peruvians managed to breed over 3 thousand types of potatoes (see).
17. Peru ranks second in the world in terms of the number of practicing shamans.
18. In the south of Peru, locals eat cats.
19. In the Peruvian region of Arequipa, one of the deepest canyons on the planet is located - the depth of the Colca Canyon exceeds 3.5 kilometers.
20. Peru is widely known for its tropical forests, which cover almost two-thirds of the country's territory (see).
21. Experts believe that Peru produces the best cotton in the world.
22. A hotel in Peru houses the world's largest privately owned orchid collection. It includes flowers of more than 500 varieties.
23. Before the onset of the New Year, Peruvians give shorts to their relatives and friends.
24. In the Peruvian mountains, Lake Titicaca is located, which is considered the highest mountain lake on Earth suitable for navigation. This reservoir is also the largest in South America (see).
25. The inhabitants of Peru managed to tame llamas over 3000 years ago.
26. Almost 90 different ecosystems coexist on the territory of Peru, thanks to which the country is famous for its rich populations of plants and animals.
27. In the Sechura Desert, tourists climb the world's highest sand dune - its height from base to top is almost 1.2 kilometers (see).
28. Peru ranks first in the world in the export of asparagus.
29. The national cuisine of Peru, due to its diversity, is included in the Guinness Book of Records.
30. The mysterious Nazca lines, intriguing scientists from all over the world, are located on a desert plateau in Peru. These are huge images of animals or geometric shapes, made using furrows up to 135 centimeters wide and up to 50 centimeters deep. Science is powerless to explain when and how these incredible drawings appeared, distinguishable only from a bird's eye view.

Peru - officially the Republic of Peru - is a country in western South America. It is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil, to the southeast by Bolivia, to the south by Chile, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The Peruvian territory was the birthplace of the Norte Chico, one of the oldest civilizations in the world. The Inca Empire also existed here - the largest state in America before Columbus. The Spanish Empire conquered the area in the 16th century and made it their colony. The country gained independence in 1821.

Peru today is a representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions. Its geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific coast to the peaks of the Andes mountains and the rainforests of the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country with a cost of living of about 40%. Its main areas of activity include agriculture, fishing, mining, and the production of products such as textiles.

The Peruvian population of 28 million is multi-ethnic, including Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide variety of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.

Peru is one of the most visited countries in Latin America - the territory of this country contains the largest number of monuments of the ancient Inca Empire - Machu Picchu, Cusco and many others. Also in Peru are monuments of such ancient cultures as Nazca (Nazca lines, which are visible only from space), monuments of Chavin and Quechua cultures.

Sights of Lima

The capital of the country - Lima was founded in 1535, and during the Conquista was the political and military capital of the Spanish possessions in South America. Today, this huge city, located on the Pacific coast, is considered one of the most unfavorable to visit - dry and hot climate (average annual temperature is about +26 C with 50 mm of precipitation), constant smog from "garua" and car exhausts, the accumulation of millions people and machines give Lima the reputation of "the city where the sun never shines". But nevertheless, the historical center of Lima Centro, built according to a clear scheme, with Spanish colonial mansions and lattice wooden balconies (declared by UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritage of Humanity), as well as rich neighborhoods of the outskirts, are quite interesting.

The main attractions of the capital are the central Plaza de Armas with a stone fountain (XVII century, the oldest building in the city), the Cathedral of Santo Domingo (1540, it houses the tomb of Francisco Pizarro) and the Government Palace, numerous buildings of the colonial era , the Archbishop's Palace and the Church of San Francisco, which preserved the catacombs of the colonial period, the Plaza de San Martin with the statue of San Martin, who declared the independence of Peru, two temples of the pre-Inca period in San Isidro, the Museum of the Inquisition, the Museum of Art, the colossal Museum of the Nation and the unique Museum of Gold, the National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, and the Museum of Ceramics named after Rafael Larco Herrera.

Noteworthy are the Miraflores theater and restaurant district, the bohemian Barranco quarter - the center of the city's nightlife, the rich seaside district of San Isidro, the "street of lovers" Puente de los Suspiros ("Bridge of Sighs"), leading to an observation deck with a beautiful view of The Pacific Ocean, as well as a number of huge "Indian markets" (Merchado Indio, Miraflores, Pueblo Libre, Kennedy Park, etc.), which are considered the best places for shopping.

The outskirts of the city are more picturesque than the capital. 80 km from Lima, at an altitude of about 3900 m, is the plateau of Marcahuasi. A huge number of megalithic sculptures and rock paintings are concentrated here, the origin of which is still unknown. On a rocky cliff 29 km south of Lima lies Pachacamac - a place of worship for the Divine Creator of the Earth, the most important religious center of the pre-Inca period. In the neighboring Rimak valley, the mysterious buildings of Puruchuko and Cajamarquilla are located.

Other sights in Peru

Cusco (Khosho - "center of the earth") is one of the most ancient unusual cities in the world. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire. The name of the city is translated from the language of the Quechua Indians as "the navel of the Earth." Indeed, it was during the height of the Inca Empire, which stretched from Peru to Chile and Argentina. Tours start from Cusco. For example, in Pisac - the citadel of the Incas on the top of the mountain range, to the Pyramid of the Moon, to Chincheros, a typical village of the Quechua Indians, who organize folk markets on Sundays. To the north-west of Cusco, at an altitude of about 3500 m above sea level, there is a monumental archaeological complex Sacsayhuaman ("Gray stone-colored bird of prey") - three parallel zigzag walls, a stone "Inca throne", 21 bastions, over which powerful towers rise , each of which was able to shelter up to a thousand soldiers. 80 km. from Lima, at an altitude of approximately 3900 m, there is a little-known plateau of Marcahuasi, striking with giant stone sculptures of animals (elephants, turtles, camels), which currently do not live not only in Peru, but throughout South America, and rock paintings of human persons.

Trujillo is famous for its churches and monasteries, the archaeological museum and colonial mansions. Not far from Trujillo is the capital of the ancient Chimu empire - Chan Chan, built of clay and stones. Millions of stones went to the construction of the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. 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, one of the most impressive burials in the world, the "Tomb of Lord Sipon", was discovered. During excavations, many gold and silver jewelry were found in it. Another archaeological complex discovered by Thor Heyerdahl attracts tourists to the small town of Tukums.

In the cities and villages of the Sierra, the 300-year-old influence of Spanish culture is also felt - the Catholic style, temples, the obligatory central square of Plaza de Armas ("Weapons Square"), and the rectangular "chessboard" urban development. The eastern part of the country, Selva - a humid hot climate, tropical forest, wild sources of the Amazon River, numerous fortresses of the Inca culture, many of which are still lost in the jungle.

One of them - Machu Picchu ("Machu" in Quechua means "old", "picchu" - "mountain"), located not far from Sacsayhuaman, was discovered only in 1911. it is not known when this city arose and by whom it was founded. In essence, this is a whole complex of archaeological groups, the number of which currently reaches 24 (and is constantly increasing as a result of new research), which are scattered over an area of ​​​​about 33 thousand hectares. Of particular interest to visitors is the Stone of the Sun - "Intihuatana", which is believed to have played the role of an astronomical observatory, the Sacred Square, the ruins of the Temple of the Three Windows, the ruins of various structures, stairs, of which there are more than a hundred, aqueducts, punched in the stones.

Machu Picchu is an ancient city lost in the Andes, one of the most important monuments of the Inca civilization. Due to its strategic location in the Andes, the city was not captured by the Spanish conquistadors, which saved the city from sacking, and now it is the most preserved and most important architectural monument of Peru. Peru is an internationally recognized reserve of monuments of the past. The cultures of Chavan, Chimu, Nazca, Tiahuanco, Mochica and, of course, the Inca left many mysteries - the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu, palaces, pyramids, mausoleums and religious buildings of the Lambasque Valley. The Costa (Pacific coast) is attractive with sand dunes, flocks of flamingos, cormorants, penguins, colonies of sea lions. In the Nazca desert, in addition to the famous mysterious drawings, numerous monuments of the ancient Indian cultures of Peru are well preserved - Mochica, Chan Chan, the cult and priestly center of Pachacamac. In the central mountainous part, the Sierra - the great Andes, the deepest gorges, turbulent rivers, inaccessible villages.

Lake Titicaca, located on the border of Bolivia and Peru, is located at an altitude of 3810 meters, it is the world's largest alpine navigable reservoir - its area is 8287 square meters. km. This ancient lake has preserved its ichthyofauna to this day, more oceanic than freshwater, there are even sharks.

Tiahuanaco is an ancient port city on the shore of the lake, located at an altitude of 3625 m above sea level and occupies an area of ​​450 thousand square meters. m. The data of mathematical and astronomical estimates relate the construction of Tiwanaku to approximately 15,000 BC. The ruins of impressive structures located here have stonework, about the same as in Machu Picchu. The largest and oldest of these buildings is the Akapana pyramid ("artificial mountain" in the Quechua language), 15 m high, the length of the side of the base is 230 m.

One of the "pearls" of the country is the famous Nazca desert, located in the department of Ica in the south of the country, between the rivers Ingenio and Nazca. An extensive (about 500 sq. km), almost square stone plateau, lying in a harsh arid climate, is dotted with enigmatic drawings of colossal (from 40 m to 8 km) sizes visible only from the air, made by one continuous line carved in stone. The date of their creation is tentatively estimated as 350-700 BC. e., but it is not completely known why they were created. Several hundred different figures - from squares and simple straight lines to stylized images of animals, birds and people in strange attire (moreover, many types of depicted living objects simply do not occur in the Nazca region), cover a huge area, sometimes intersecting with each other, sometimes stretching in strict rows for several kilometers.

In addition to the drawings, there is another interesting attraction in Nazca - the Chauchilla necropolis, dating back to the late period of the Nazca culture (around the 1st century AD).