The Chimu Kingdom, with Chan Chan as its capital, reached its apogee in the 15th century, not long before falling to the Incas. The planning of this huge city, the largest in pre-Columbian America, reflects a strict political and social strategy, marked by the city’s division into nine ‘citadels’ or ‘palaces’ forming autonomous units.

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Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world’s large lakes. Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on earth, and is thought to be three million years old. Said to be the birthplace of the Incas, it’s home to numerous ruins.

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Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

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At 3,812 m above sea level, in the Peruvian highlands is located the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, in Puno. Here you can find the Floating Islands of the Uros, a set of approximately 80 islands built of totora, an aquatic plant that grows on the surface of Lake Titicaca. The totora is woven and laid in layers to build the surface of each island. These islands are inhabited by the Uros, one of the oldest cultures on the continent, which dates back to pre-Inca times. The inhabitants of this floating community claim to be owners of the waters of Lake Titicaca.

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Known as the “Oasis of America,” this small village has remained relatively unknown to non-backpackers, overshadowed perhaps by the soaring stone citadel, the bustling country’s capital, and the highest lake in the world.

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The Basilica Cathedral of Lima, otherwise known as the Lima Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the Plaza Mayor of downtown Lima, Peru. Construction began in 1535 and was completed in 1649. The building has been damaged by earthquakes three times. The current impressive building is from 1746 and has a museum inside.

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Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.

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