Peru, main attractions

Machu Picchu

Located west of Cuzco and four kilometres from Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu is the site of a mysterious Inca city. The ruins were made from conjoined rocks without any adhesive properties, thus remaining a puzzle for archeologists as to how it was constructed. Machu Picchu was only rediscovered in 1911 since the ruins were very well hidden 2,400 meters feet above sea level and located atop the Urubamba River . One has to travel a long trail in the valley and pass through many check points and watch towers. It is unknown how important Machu Picchu was to its former inhabitants, but it is the most important destination in Peru as the archeological ruins have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Lake Titicaca

Found in Puno, this is the world's highest navigable lake at 3,815 meters above sea level. Interestingly enough, the lake is also the site of several floating islands named Islas Flotantes , which is home of the Uros people. The floating islands are made up of numerous layers of the buoyant totora reeds that grow in the lake's shallow portion. The topmost portion is always replaced as the bottom portion of the "island" is the part that rots away in time.

Arequipa

Dubbed the " White City ", Arequipa is surrounded by white scenery filled by buildings made of white volcanic rock. Also found here are colonial structures transformed into art galleries and museums, as well as the solemn sanctuary of the Convento de Santa Catalina . Arequipa is shadowed by the imposing El Misti volcano and is also the site of the Cañon del Colca, one of the world's deepest canyons.

Cañon del Cotahuasi

This holds the distinction of the world's deepest canyons. It is even twice deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States as it reaches a depth of 3,535 meters in depth. However, it is not as popular as Cañon del Colca as it is located in the remote region of La Union, which is also in Arequipa .