South America : Peru

The Republic of Peru, located in western South America, borders the Pacific Ocean between Chile and Ecuador. It also shares borders with Columbia, Brazil, and Bolivia. Containing 84 of the 118 known "life zones" of the earth, Peru offers some of the most spectacular landscapes on the continent, including the coastal plains of the west, the low-lying jungle of the Amazon Basin, the steep and rugged Andes, and the world's highest navigable lake. Rich in cultural anthropology, the country is perhaps best known as the cradle of the mighty Inca Empire. Of its many ancient Incan ruin sites, the crown jewel is Machu Picchu, a fortress constructed from white granite and perched 1,000 feet above the Urubamba River. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu was abandoned by the Inca, reclaimed by the jungle, and hidden from view until American archaeologist Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911; it is among the world's most extraordinary archaeological finds. Discover for yourself the altars, temples, fountains, and terraced gardens of this legendary "lost city"; wander colonial cities established by the Spanish conquistadors; explore the Andean settlements of highland Indians whose traditions have remained unchanged for centuries. Peru is a fascinating compendium of ancient civilizations.

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