What is Peru famous for? Legendary sights of Peru. Lake Sandoval and the Peruvian Amazon
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 home to Norte Chico, a civilization that is one of the oldest in the world. The Inca Empire also existed here - largest state in America before Columbus. The Spanish Empire conquered the area in the 16th century and made it its colony. The country gained independence in 1821.
Peru today - representative democratic republic, divided into 25 areas. Its geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific Coast to the peaks of the Andes Mountains and the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country with a cost of living of approximately 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 led to a wide variety of expressions in areas such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.
Peru is one of the most visited countries 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 there are monuments of such ancient cultures as Nazca (Nazca Lines, which are visible only from space), monuments of the Chavin and Quechua cultures.
Sights of Lima
The country's capital, Lima, was founded in 1535, and during the Conquista period it was the political and military capital of Spanish possessions in South America. Nowadays this huge city, located on the shore Pacific Ocean, is considered one of the most unfavorable for visiting - a 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 of people and cars give Lima the reputation of "a city where never the sun is shining". But nevertheless, the historical center of Lima Centro, built according to a clear pattern, with Spanish colonial mansions and lattice wooden balconies (declared by UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites of Humanity), as well as the rich neighborhoods of the outskirts are quite interesting.
The main attractions of the capital are central square 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 preserves 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-Incan 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 , National Museum archeology and anthropology, as well as the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum of Ceramics.
Noteworthy are the theater and restaurant district of Miraflores, the bohemian quarter of Barranco - 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 beautiful views 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 Marcahuasi plateau. Concentrated here great amount megalithic sculptures and rock paintings, the origin of which is still unknown. On a rocky cliff 29 km south of Lima lies Pachacamac, a place of worship of the Divine Creator of the Earth, the most important religious center of the pre-Inca period. In the neighboring Rimac Valley are the mysterious structures of Puruchuco and Cajamarquilla.
Other attractions of Peru
Cusco (Hoxo - “center of the earth”) is one of the most ancient and unusual cities in the world. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire. The name of the city is translated from the Quechua Indian language as “navel of the Earth.” He truly was during the height of the Inca Empire, which stretched from Peru to Chile and Argentina. Start from Cusco excursion routes. For example, in Pisac - the Inca citadel on the top mountain range, to the Pyramid of the Moon, in Chincheros, a typical village of Quechua Indians who hold folk markets on Sundays. To the north-west of Cusco, at an altitude of approximately 3500 m above sea level, there is the monumental archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman ("Bird of Prey of a grey-stone color") - three parallel zigzag walls, a stone "Inca throne", 21 bastions, above which rise powerful towers , each of which was capable of sheltering up to a thousand soldiers. 80 km. from Lima, at an altitude of approximately 3900 m, there is the little-known Marcahuasi plateau, 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, archaeological museum and colonial mansions. The capital is located not far from Trujillo ancient empire Chimu - Chan-Chan, built of clay and stones. Millions of stones were used to build the Pyramids of the Sun and 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 was discovered - the “Tomb of Lord Sipon”. During excavations, a lot of gold and silver jewelry was found in it. Another archaeological complex, open by Tour Heyerdahl, attracts tourists to small town Tukums.
In the cities and villages of the Sierra, the 300-year-old influence of Spanish culture is also felt - the Catholic style, churches, the obligatory central square Plaza de Armas ("Arms Square"), the rectangular "chessboard" development of cities. The eastern part of the country, Selva - a humid hot climate, tropical forest, the wild sources of the Amazon River, numerous fortresses of the Inca culture, many of which are still lost in the jungle.
One of them is Machu Picchu (“Machu” in Quechua means “old”, “picchu” means “mountain”), located not far from Sacsayhuaman, was discovered only in 1911. There are a lot of assumptions and hypotheses, but this is also true It is unknown 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, staircases, of which there are more than a hundred, aqueducts carved into the stones.
Machu Picchu is an ancient city lost in the Andes, one of the most important monuments of the Inca civilization. Thanks to its strategic location in the Andes, the city was not captured by the Spanish conquistadors, which saved the city from looting, and now it is a completely preserved and most important architectural monument of Peru. Peru is an internationally recognized reserve of historical monuments. The cultures of Chavan, Chimu, Nazca, Tiahuangco, 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. Costa (Pacific coast) attractive sand dunes, flocks of flamingos, cormorants, penguins, colonies 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, there are the great Andes, the deepest gorges, turbulent rivers, and inaccessible villages.
Lake Titicaca, located on the border of Bolivia and Peru, is at an altitude of 3810 meters, it is the largest high-altitude navigable body of water in the world - 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 a lake, located at an altitude of 3625 m above sea level and occupies an area of 450 thousand square meters. m. Data from mathematical and astronomical estimates date the construction of Tiahuanaco to approximately 15,000 BC. The impressive ruins located here feature stonework similar to that of Machu Picchu. The largest and oldest of these buildings is the pyramid of Akapana ("artificial mountain" in the Quechua language), 15 m high, base side length - 230 m.
One of the “pearls” of the country is the famous Nazca Desert, located in the Ica department in the south of the country, between the Ingenio and Nazca rivers. A vast (about 500 sq. km), almost square stone plateau, lying in a harsh arid climate, is dotted with mysterious drawings of colossal sizes (from 40 m to 8 km), visible only from the air, made in one continuous line carved in stone. The date of their creation is approximately estimated as 350-700 BC. e., but it is still 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 (and many types of depicted living objects are simply not found in the Nazca region), cover a huge area, sometimes intersecting with each other, sometimes stretching in strict in rows for several kilometers.
In addition to the drawings, Nazca has another interesting attraction - the Chauchilla necropolis, dating back to the late period of the Nazca culture (around the 1st century AD).
The unique landscapes and cultural monuments of Peru contain many mysteries and secrets 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. Rich cultural heritage Peru very often represents a fantastic mosaic, created from fascinating events and incredible speculations and rumors.
The country became famous for its amazing natural landscapes: lunar landforms of the Nazca Desert, vast and majestic mountain ranges Andes, powerful high mountain ranges of the Cordilleras, humid zones tropical forests. 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 attractions of Peru, all pictures are supplemented with descriptions:
1. The Huaca Pucllana complex is the administrative and ceremonial center of Lima, created in the period 700 - 200 BC. An architectural landmark in the shape of a truncated pyramid, surrounded by galleries and courtyards.
2. Machu Picchu, a lost ancient Inca city founded around 1440, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. From above, the citadel has the shape of a condor.
3. Huaca Huallamarca is an archaeological complex located in the San Isidro district of Lima. The ceremonial center of the religious elite is famous 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 between 2600 and 2000 BC. The Peruvian city consists of temples, an amphitheater, pyramids and ordinary residential buildings. The prosperity of Karal dates back to the time of the construction of the Egyptian pyramids.
5. Nazca Desert - Known for its unique giant lines, geometric shapes and designs drawn on the ground. The length of some geoglyphs reaches several kilometers.
6. Urubamba Valley (Sacred Valley of the Incas) - located near ancient capital Cusco. Here you can see a number of unique objects telling about the culture and traditions of the empire.
7. The archaeological complex of Pachacamac is a ceremonial center with preserved ancient temples, palaces, and pyramids. In the museum on site historical monument an interesting collection of archaeological remains has been collected.
8. The historic center of Lima, included in the UNESCO list in 1988, is architectural ensemble colonial era.
It was on the territory of Peru that many centuries ago one of the largest and most mysterious Indian civilizations - the Inca Empire - was born. One of the most famous and largest monuments of this civilization today is the legendary city of Machu Picchu, lost and rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century. Visiting Peru and not visiting Machu Picchu is like visiting New York and not seeing the Statue of Liberty. You can get to Machu Picchu using a specially built railway However, the Indian trail to the city along the Urubamba River is still preserved.
Another ancient city of the Indians who inhabited Peru, and now interesting for tourists, is Chan Chan, a city that is more than 700 years old. The city was built by the Chimu Indians, however, in 1470 it was conquered by the Incas. Today the city is open to tourists; if you visit it during your holiday in Peru, you will be able to see buildings with wall ornaments and even burial chambers.
Fans of mysterious and extraordinary sights will love the idea of visiting the plateau between two cities - Nazca and Palpa, where the so-called Nazca Lines are located. These are strange drawings dating back to 200 AD, some of them resemble animals, some of people, some of them just lines. These images on stone are so huge that they became known only at the beginning of the 20th century. The exact purpose of these images is still unknown; versions range from ritual to secret messages.
The Indians of ancient Peru left behind not only images and abandoned cities; settlements are still active on the artificial islands of the Uros tribe, which created them in flight from the warlike Incas. The islands on Lake Titicaca are more than 40 small, artificially created islands where houses stand, fields bloom and people live.
Another ancient and still active settlement is the city of Cusco, former capital Inca Empire. The city boasts more than three thousand years of history. In itself, being an important attraction of Peru, the city of Cusco has many palaces, monasteries, and squares. In addition, in Cusco there is a slightly smaller copy of the statue of Christ - the same as in Rio de Janeiro.
Peru is also known for its natural attractions, which are undoubtedly also worth seeing. The amazingly beautiful Colca Canyon in the majestic Andes is twice as deep as the American Grand Canyon. Oasis Huacachina is an incredibly beautiful island of greenery and water in the middle of the desert in the Ica region. Active volcano Misty is located in Peru. It is possible to climb, although the journey to the top takes about two days.
Of course, it is impossible to cover in one article all the variety of Peruvian attractions generously left rich history countries, as well as those created recently. In order to feel the spirit of this region, you need to visit it and take the time to explore everything interesting places, both man-made and created by nature.
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Peru is rightfully considered one of the most interesting countries peace. Many interesting cultural monuments of the pre-European period have been preserved here. And the nature of this country simply amazes with its splendor.
The city of Lima is the capital of Peru. It was founded in 1535 and lies on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. During the Conquest, this city became the political and military capital of Spanish possessions in South America. Currently, Lima is a large city with a not very favorable climate. It is a crowded and noisy city.
It is very hot and dry here, in addition, a cloud of smog constantly hangs over the city.
It is worth visiting the historical center of the capital, which was built according to a clear plan and is under UNESCO protection. There are many colorful Spanish colonial mansions here.
In the central Plaza de Armas square you can see a stone fountain created in the 17th century. It is considered the oldest building in the city. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo, built in 1540, houses the tomb of Francisco Pizarro.
Also of interest to tourists are the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace and two pre-Incan temples in San Isidro. The Church of San Francisco preserves catacombs from the colonial period. In the Plaza de San Martin there is a statue of San Martin, who became famous for declaring the independence of Peru.
Among the museums, it is worth highlighting the Museum of the Inquisition, the National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, the Museum of Art, the Museum of the Nation and the unique Museum of Gold.
Theaters and restaurants are concentrated in the Miraflores area. Night life thrives in the bohemian quarter of Barranco.
The "Lover's Street" Puente de los Suspiros ("Bridge of Sighs") leads to an observation deck with a magnificent panorama of the Pacific Ocean.
Tourists can visit and a large number of huge "Indian markets", the best of which are: Mercado Indio, Miraflores, Pueblo Libre and Kennedy Park.
The surroundings of the capital are more picturesque than the city itself. The Marcahuasi plateau is located 80 km from Lima, at an altitude of about 3900 m. Here you can see many megalithic sculptures and rock paintings. Scientists are still arguing about their origin.
29 km south of the capital Pachacamac is located. It represents a place of worship of the Divine Creator of the Earth, a very important religious center of the pre-Incan period.
In the neighboring Rimac Valley are the mysterious structures of Puruchuco and Cajamarquilla.
Cusco (Hoxo - “center of the earth”) is one of the most ancient and unusual cities in the world. It was the capital of the Inca Empire during its heyday. If you believe the legends, it was founded by the first ancestors of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo around 1200 AD. e.
The city is located at an altitude of about 3500 m, but is quite crowded. Its entire territory is under UNESCO protection.
The entire city was carved out of the mountains by the Incas many centuries ago. The city was built in the form of the silhouette of a sacred puma. Huge boulders were used during construction, but they were not held together with mortar. In this case, there are practically no gaps between the stones. The streets are striking in their straightness, and the entire city is permeated by a unique system of stone watercourses.
Plaza de Armas was built by the Spaniards on the site of the ancient cult center of Huacalpa. The main attractions of this city include: the ruins of the granite Palace of the Supreme Inca, two Inca statues of Inca Pachacute on the mountain, the Palace of Justice, the ruins of the Inca Coricancha, located east of the city center, the El Triunfo Church, the Church of Santo Domingo.
La Compaña Cathedral is interesting for its huge three-hundred-year-old Maria Angola bell, which is the largest bell in South America. Among the museums we can highlight: Museum of the Institute of Archeology National University, Viceregal Museum and Museum of Religious Art.
North-west of the city center is the monumental complex of structures of Sacsayhuaman (Grey-Stone Bird of Prey). This military and religious center of the Inca Empire lies on the top of a mountain, 3500 m above sea level. It is made of huge stone blocks. The center of the structure is the so-called “Inca throne”. It is surrounded by 21 bastions with powerful towers.
Nearby lie the ruins of the fortresses of Kenko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay.
30 km from Cusco is Pisac, which is an Incan citadel at the top of a mountain range.
The main attractions of this area are: the ruins of ancient Ollantaytambo, the pyramid city of Ollantaytambo, the Cosnipata valley ("Valley of Smoke"), and the secluded Sinacara valley.
Tumbes has picturesque Cathedral and the Aguas Verdes Nature Reserve. Chinchero (“rainbow village”) is located 28 km northwest of Cusco. In the Inca era it was famous resort. Paucartambo and Tres Cruces also deserve attention here.
The "Inca Trail" stretches along " Sacred Valley"past the most mysterious structures of ancient civilizations. The valleys of Huantanay and Vilcanota (Urubamba) are considered the center of the spiritual culture of the Incas.
The archaeological complex of Caral dates back to 2600-2100. BC e. It lies 200 km north of Lima and is considered the most ancient city on the continent.
35 km from Cusco is Choquepuhio, which is home to the mysterious Lurche culture. Corihuayracina, Vilcabamba Vitcos and Espiritu Pampas are the last pockets of resistance to the Spanish invasion.
Worth a visit and National Park Manu, whose area is 1.5 million hectares.
The famous Machu Picchu ("old mountain") is the most famous and most mysterious Inca monument on the continent.
It is located 112 km northwest of Cusco. About the purpose of this ancient holy city The Incas are still debated by historians and scientists. His total area is about 33 thousand hectares. The city lies on a flat mountain plateau, which is located at an altitude of 2700 m above sea level in the Urubamba Valley.
Excavations carried out here revealed the famous Intihuatana Gate of the Sun and an observatory. You can see temples and palaces carved into the rock or built from carefully fitted giant blocks. The Palace of the Moon is located at the foot of Huayna Picchu ("young mountain"). Of great interest famous Temple three windows and the "Sacred Square", numerous burials and objects from the pre-Inca period. Staircases, gutters, defensive walls, swimming pools, terraces and buildings can also be seen here.
The famous Nazca Desert is one of the main attractions of the country. It is located in the department of Ica in southern Peru, between the Ingenio and Nazca rivers. Its total area is about 500 square meters. km, the desert has the shape of an almost regular square. It's very harsh here climatic conditions. This place attracts tourists and researchers because... the entire desert territory is covered with mysterious drawings of enormous size - from 40 m to 8 km. These drawings are visible only from the air, they are carved into stone and made in one continuous line.
Approximately these drawings date back to 350-700 BC. e., but their purpose is still unknown. Here you can see geometric shapes, as well as stylized images of animals, birds and people in strange attire. It should be noted that many of the objects depicted are not even found in the Nazca region.
Another attraction of this area is the Chauchilla necropolis, which dates back to the late period of the Nazca culture (around the 1st century AD).
The high-altitude Lake Titicaca is another unique monument of the country. Its name translates as "stone puma". It is located on the border of Bolivia and Peru and is the largest high-altitude navigable body of water in the world. Its area is 8287 square meters. km.
This lake by its nature is an ancient sea bay, which was raised by tectonic forces to a height of 3810 m. Therefore, oceanic ichthyofauna is observed in it - a large number various types marine invertebrates and fish, there are even sharks in the lake.
Reeds grow along the shores of the lake, from which local residents belonging to the Quechua and Aymara tribes build their homes, buildings for various purposes, as well as real floating islands "Uros". These islands were named after the extinct tribe of Uro Indians. On them, people's lives have remained virtually unchanged over the past five hundred years. The Incas considered the lake itself and its islands, of which there are more than 30, sacred.
The lake itself attracts with its fantastic panorama. Of great interest to tourists are also the funerary towers (“chulpas”) of Sillustani, which house the burial places of local leaders of the Inca era. The total burial area is 4 thousand square meters. m.
On the “island of knitting men” Taquile there is a good Textile Museum. Amantani Island is worth a visit. on which is the temple of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Pachatata (Father Sky).
In the high mountain village of Chuquito you can see the Church of Santo Domingo. And at the bottom of the lake, scuba divers found a city that dates back to the era of the Tiahuanaco culture (IX-X centuries AD). It is very reminiscent of the legendary city of Cusco - the ancestral home of the Incas.
The city of Puno, which is the capital of the region, was founded in 1668. It lies at an altitude of 3800 m on the southwestern shore of the lake. He is main port lakes, and was formerly one of the richest cities on the continent, because There are silver mines next to it. The colonial cities of Juli and Pomata were built by the Spaniards in the 16th-17th centuries.
Ancient city-Tiahuanaco port is 20 km away south of the coast. It is located at an altitude of 3625 m above sea level. Its total area is about 450 thousand square meters. m. According to archaeological data, the heyday of this city dates back to the 5th century. BC e. But mathematical and astronomical calculations indicate that Tiahuanaco was created approximately in the 15th millennium BC. e.
Tiahuanaco was a thriving port and was located right on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The pyramid of Akapana ("artificial mountain") has been preserved here, the height of which is 15 meters, and the length of the side of the base is 230 m).
You can see the "standing stone" Kalasasaya with the famous Gate of the Sun, a small underground temple and giant statues, the height of which is up to 7.5 m.
The ruins of other impressive structures, also made of huge stone blocks, have also been preserved.
Arequipa, whose name can be translated as “let's stop here,” is Peru's second largest city and an important economic center. It is located in the very south of the country at an altitude of 2335 m above sea level. It is known that this city appeared on the site of an estate that belonged to the conquistador Francisco de Carvajal. It is located in a basin between huge volcanoes, one of which is active.
Arequipa is considered to be the most beautiful city Peru. It is built up with buildings made in the Spanish colonial style of the late 18th century. Here is located convent Convento de Santa Catalina. dating back to 1580 and famous throughout the world.
It is also worth seeing the Jesuit Church of La Campania, the Cathedral, and the central square Plaza de Armas. The former Casa de la Moneda mint, built in the 18th century, and the Casa Moral mansion are noteworthy.
180 km from Arequipa you can visit the Colca Canyon, which is unique natural object. This canyon is considered the deepest in the world. Its total depth is 3400 m.
Tourists have the opportunity to observe observation deck Cruz del Condor behind the soaring condors. Other attractions of this region of the country include the Cotahuasi Canyon, the “Valley of Volcanoes,” the Salinas y Agiade Blanca National Park, and the Pata Pamba Pass (4825 m). You can explore ancient Inca burials in the rock caves above Antauilqui or swim in the geothermal springs located near the village of Chivay.
Costa is the Pacific coast of Peru. There are few seaside resorts here, but a large number of tourists are attracted here by numerous historical and cultural sites.
On one side this narrow strip of land is framed by the Andes, and on the other side it is washed by the waters of the ocean. The main attractions of Costa include the Paracas National Marine Reserve, the ancient clay city of Chan Chan, the Huascaran National Park and cultural monuments that date back to the 10th-5th centuries. BC Many tourists visit the seaside resort of Picasmayo, which is considered the best place for windsurfing in Peru, as well as the resort town of Paracas. There are also resort towns to the south and north of Lima.
Quite interesting are the sand dunes of Huacachina, the oases around the “capital of winemakers” Ica and the Huaylas Valley. The mysterious pre-Incan cultural cities of Sipan and Tucume are also worth seeing.
The city of Trujillo is the capital of Costa. It was founded in 1535 and represented the center of Spanish expansion into the mainland. And today this city attracts tourists with the same charm of the colonial era. Here you can see a large number of beautiful mansions built in the Spanish style.
The central square of the city, Plaza de Armas, deserves attention. It is also worth visiting the Bishop's Palace, the Town Hall, numerous monasteries and the cathedral. The central club is located in the Palacio Iturregui mansion. You can visit Archaeological Museum and the Cassinegli Museum, as well as an art gallery.
Not far from the city are the ruins of the capital of the ancient Chimu Empire - Chan-Chan. This colossal city was built entirely from clay and stones. Previously, it was surrounded by a wall with seven bastions. The heyday of Chan-Chan was around the 12th century. At that time the city was the largest building of its era. It had important political and cultural significance. The entire territory of the city was built up with palaces, rich houses and religious buildings.
Of great interest to tourists are: the "Temple of the Rainbow" Templo del Arco Iris, the temple-fortress of Tshudi, the "Emerald Temple" of Huaca Esmeralda. The pyramids of Huaca del Sol and Huaca del Luna ("Sun and Moon") date back to the 6th century. n. e.
Not far from here lies the archaeological complex of El Brujo (III thousand years BC) with the famous Cao pyramid. You can also see the remains of extensive irrigation canals and temples from the pre-Inca period.
In the vicinity of the city of Chiclayo, which is located 200 km north of Trujillo, is the “Tomb of Lord Sipan”.
50 km south of Chimbote is the area of the most ancient Indian buildings in Sechin, which date back to the 16th century. BC e. Interesting are the ruins of Gran Pajaten, monuments of the Inca period around Cajamarca and Chachapoyas. Many tourists visit seaside resorts Chicama and La Pimentel and the Ecological Reserve in Batan Grande.
The eastern part of the country is called Selva, which accounts for 60% of the territory of all Peru. Moist evergreen forests predominate here. Locals They call this area "Green Hell". It is a unique ecosystem. This is where the Amazon River (Solimoes) begins. The area is home to unique Native American tribes. It is home to a large number of endemic species of plants and animals. In the jungle you can find many monuments of Indian cultures that have not yet been fully explored.
The largest city in Selva is Iquitos. Sights worth visiting include the Pacaya Samiria Nature Reserve, the picturesque Lake Yarinacocha and the Amazon forests.
Peru is the most mysterious country on the South American continent. Its main wealth is climatic and biological diversity. The landscape and climate conditions vary from the Pacific coast through tropical jungles to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Animal and vegetable world These places have virtually no analogues in terms of species diversity. The mixture of different cultures makes itself felt in music, painting, literature, fashion, architecture, food. The ancient city of Machu Picchu is built on rocks and stones. The sculptures were carved directly into the rock, and the temples literally hang over the abyss. The amazing Nazca geoglyphs have been exciting the imagination of scientists and researchers for many years and have even inspired many writers to create literary masterpieces.
Sights of Peru
1. Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful and impressive ancient monuments in the world. Mysterious ruins, which everyone dreams of seeing, whose heart in his youth froze over the breathtaking stories about the disappeared ancient civilizations of the past, cities abandoned by people. The “Lost City of the Incas,” invisible from the Urubamba Valley much lower, is a completely self-sufficient city surrounded by agricultural terraces that receive water from natural springs. Machu Picchu is undoubtedly Peru's top tourist attraction.
Machu Picchu was closed to the outside world until 1911, when Yale University professor Hiram Bingham discovered it. It is believed that it was Professor Bingham who became the prototype for the famous archaeologist Indiana Jones from the Spielberg blockbuster.
2. Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon on the Colca River in southern Peru, located approximately 160 kilometers northwest of Arequipa. Colca Canyon is Peru's third most visited tourist attraction, with approximately 120,000 tourists visiting the canyon each year.
The depth of the Colca Canyon is 3,270 meters and it is one of the deepest in the world, more than twice as deep Grand Canyon in USA. The locals in this place preserve their original traditions and continue to cultivate them as in the times of the Incas, farming on stepped terraces.
3. Lake Titicaca
The biggest fresh lake South America and the highest navigable body of water in the world, Lake Titicaca. This name was given to the lake by the Spaniards, and before their arrival it was called Pukina, “Titi” is nothing more than a sacred animal in South America, the puma, and “kaka” is a rock. The lake is fed by 25 rivers, and about 40 islands are surrounded by its waters. Titicaca is famous for its unique Uros reed islands.
Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca main city region - Puno, it is considered to be the folk capital of Peru.
4. Costa
Costa, that is, the Pacific coast of Peru, is one of the richest historical and cultural places in this entire wonderful country. This is the famous Paracas National Marine Reserve, the resort of Picasmayo, popular with surfers, and also on the Costa there are unique monuments such as the ancient clay city of Chan Chan, the pre-Inca city of Tucume and Sipan. Huascaran National Park and many others amazing places in this beautiful country.
5. Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is located in the center of the historical center of Cusco, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. The square was built by the Incas and is known as “Warrior Square”. The size of the square was reduced during the arrival of the Spaniards; the Spaniards built two churches in the square, a cathedral and the Church of La Compaña.
6. Uros Islands
The Uros Islands are artificial islands from dried totora reeds. Lake Titicaca is a world attraction in itself. And the Uros Islands give a certain flavor to these places. Totora reed has been used since the time of the Incas, it is the main source of food and is also used to make houses and boats. Reed is added to the top of the island constantly, about every three months, as it rots from below, so that the surface of the island is always soft and springy.
According to legend, the Uros tribe fled to these regions, fleeing the Inca ruler Pachacutec, and was forced to live not on earth, but on man-made islands made from reeds growing abundantly on the lake. Since then, the entire life of the Uros people has been inextricably linked with reeds, from They make their islands, boats and houses with it. Reed is even included in their diet..
7. Santa Catalina Monastery
The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena was built in 1579 and is located in historical center city of Arequipa, Peru.It served as a convent of nuns from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. M The Convent of Santa Catalina in Arequipa covers an area of 20,000 square meters: walls, streets, walkways, stairs and squares. The monastery is built primarily in the Mudejar style, and is characterized by brightly painted walls. This is one of the most important monasteries in Peru and all of Latin America.
And it's not easy religious building, and almost a citadel in the city center.It was founded by a wealthy widow, Dona Maria de Guzman. The monastery is the main religious attraction of Peru.
8. Nazca Lines
Peru is a real treasure trove of unique sights on a global scale, and the Nazca Lines, created by the pre-Incan civilization between 200 BC, are rightfully considered one of them. e. and 700 AD e. Ancient civilization Nazca supposedly left us stunning monuments: from the still functioning system of underground aqueducts to the famous Nazca Lines.
Nazca line designs range from simple lines to stylized spiders, monkeys, fish, llamas, lizards and human figures. The lines were created on such a large scale that no one knew about them until the 1920s, when Peruvian Airlines began flying from Lima to Arequipa and saw them from above. The Nazca Lines are probably one of the main attractions of Peru.
The Nazca Lines are located between the cities of Nazca and Palpa along the North Pacific coast 450 kilometers from Lima, in southern Peru.
9. Iquitos (Amazon River)
According to some, the Peruvian Amazon Jungle is the best adventure in the world. Starting point for a trip to the Amazon is Iquitos, The largest city in a world that cannot be reached by road. Iquitos also known as the "capital of the Peruvian Amazon."It is located in the Great Plains region, surrounded by forests.
10. Mancora
Mancore Beach is located on the northern coast, in the city of Mancora, this is a small town in Peru and is considered the best sand beach countries. Mancore Beach stretches for several kilometers along the Pacific Ocean. The city also boasts luxurious restaurants and nightclubs for such small town where the Pan-American Highway serves main street city, this is very unusual. Stable good waves makes Mancore popular place holiday for surf lovers.
11. Chan Chan
The largest pre-Columbian city in South America, Chan-Chan is an archaeological site in the Peruvian region of La Libertad, 5 kilometers west of the city of Trujillo, in the northern part of what is now Peru. Chan-Chan was the capital of the Chimu kingdom and about 30,000 people lived in the city at the peak of the kingdom's power. The city was built around 700 AD. e. and lasted until its conquest by the Inca Empire in 1470 AD. The most famous attractions of Chan Chan are the Emerald Temple and the Rainbow Temple (Dragon Temple). Chan Chan is listed world heritage UNESCO.
12. Pisac
One of the most impressive sights of Peru, where the traveler remains alone with the inexorable passage of time, is Pisac, located 33 kilometers from the city of Cusco. The buildings in Pisac amaze with the incredible art and incomprehensible logic of those who created them.
In the center of the ruins, as in one of the temples of Machu Picchu, there is the so-called intihuatana, a sacred stone, surrounded by a semicircular wall, which, as the Incas believed and as the priests taught, is “Bound by the Sun.” Upper town, Pisak, amazes not with its size, but with its quirkiness - this is a real labyrinth. In addition, in Pisac you can see a system of cascades leading a mountain stream to the “sacred bath of the Incas”. And from above there is an incredible view, as if straight out of an illustration for a science fiction book.
The remains of the fortifications of Pisac and rare written sources have led scientists to the idea that at the turn of the 13th-15th centuries, very close to Cusco there were cities of the Quechua Indians, independent of the Inca civilization.
13. Huacachina
Located near the city of Ica, Huacachina Oasis is a tiny town surrounding a small natural lake, and the city itself is surrounded by high sand dunes. The city has a permanent population of about 200 people, but it is incredibly popular among tourists from all over the world.
