Experience
culture, Amazon in Peru
By Amy Cucinella
On-line Forty-Niner
For
many college students hoping to travel this
summer, an ideal destination is one that
is economically viable and that offers a
wide variety of outdoor activities and cultural
experiences.
Peru,
a country with multiple layers of civilizations
in northwestern South America, meets and
exceeds these criteria. Peru is a perfect
destination for a traveler looking to find
ecology ranging from the Amazon rainforests
to the Andes mountains to the Nasca Lines
in the coastal deserts. For those who love
more than just nature, it is also a country
brimming with arts, culture and history.
If
Peruvian travelers can not take at least
a month to see everything the country has
to offer, then they must choose between
a dozen worthy destinations when deciding
where to spend their limited time.
At
the top of the “must see” list is the three
or four day-long hike on the Inca Trail,
the most popular hike on the continent,
which is filled with fascinating ruins and
mountain scenery every step of the way.
At the end of the hike, climb the steps
to Intipunku, the “Sun Gate,” to watch the
sunrise over Machu Picchu and the surrounding
Andean mountain peaks. This hike is not
for those who prefer a relaxing weekend,
although porters and guides can be hired
to help carry your food and belongings and
to better ensure safety.
Another
popular destination in Peru is the lowlands
of the Amazon jungle, which offer an incredible
array of plants species and wildlife. This
region is perfect for the inquisitive traveler
as there are many trails to explore and
much to learn about the eco system. Eco
tourism, or the touring of natural habitats
in a manner meant to minimize ecological
impact, is a major component of the Amazonian
tour industry. There are several lodges
to choose from which offer comfortable but
simple accommodations in bungalows. However,
don’t expect warm showers or electricity
at many of these eco lodges.
The
town of Puno, located at almost 13,000 feet
above sea level, is also a must see for
the Peruvian traveler. It is well known
for its wealth of traditional dances and
is also near Lake Titicaca, South America’s
largest lake and one of the world’s highest
navigable lakes at an elevation of almost
13,000 feet. While at Lake Titicaca, visit
the floating islands of the Uros people,
who began their existence centuries ago
on the floating reed islands as a way to
isolate themselves from the Incas and the
Collas. Around 300 Uros still live on the
floating island.
Cuzco,
the hub of the South American travel network,
attracts thousands of visitors who come
to visit this unique destination. Cuzco,
the continent’s oldest continually inhabited
city, could keep a traveler busy for over
a week. It has numerous colonial churches,
many great museums, is close to great Inca
ruins and offers adventures such as horseback
riding, whitewater rafting on the Urumbamba
and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley.
There
are also several great cities worth seeing
while in Peru. Lima, known as the City of
Kings, has a cathedral dating to the 18th
century and has many excellent examples
of Spanish-colonial architecture. In Lima,
a traveler can experience big city life
in South America and also has access to
the many fine museums in the city.
Miraflores,
Barranco and San Isidro, all affluent coastal
districts, offer good night life and cafes.
These cities have many interesting museums,
churches, markets and restaurants.
The
list of enticing places to visit in Peru
is seemingly inexhaustible. To avoid the
hassle of organizing the trip and to maximize
the time one has in the country, a guided
tour is often a reasonable option for a
Peru-bound traveler. Guided tours can range
from a week to over a month long and vary
in cost depending on the tour service.
The
best bargain for a guided trip appears to
be the Great Adventure People, or G.A.P.
This company offers a variety of guided
tours, in a group of 12 or less, through
various parts of Peru. One package deal,
known as Absolute Peru, consists of a 21
day guided tour throughout the entire country
and includes all sleeping accommodations,
nearly half the necessary meals, and all
internal transportation for $1,650. Other
companies have similar trips for as high
as $3,500. The G.A.P. Web Site can be found
at www.gap.ca/home.asp.
Information
for this travel piece was found at the following
Web Sites: www.gap.ca/home.asp
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_america/
peru/
www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/6110/.
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