A CONTINENT IN A COUNTRY

Peru packs an astonishing variety of landscapes into one remarkable destination. Bordering the Pacific Ocean, one of the driest deserts on Earth rises into the mighty Andes—a realm of soaring condors, grazing llamas, and towering snow-capped peaks.

Continue east and the transformation begins again. Glaciers give way to grasslands. Grasslands become mist-shrouded cloud forests, and cloud forests yield to the immense jungles of the Amazon. It is a journey from silent sands to symphonies of scarlet macaws. From one extreme of the natural world to another.

These diverse environments have shaped not only the wildlife but also the people who call them home. Along the coast, life revolves around the sea, where fresh ceviche has become as much a part of Peru's identity as its colonial plazas. Higher into the Andes, brightly woven textiles, ponchos, and Quechua traditions remain part of everyday life, while in the steamy Amazonian forests, indigenous cultures still live in close harmony with one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.

Wander among the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Explore flooded forests by dugout canoe. Ponder the mystery of the Nazca Lines from high above the desert, or spend time on Lake Titicaca's floating reed islands. The remarkable variety of experiences found in Peru is simply a reflection of the country itself—a place where every change in altitude brings with it a different way of life, and over every mountain pass awaits another world.