A http://vacation.com/insider original post.
Thanks to Linda Khanna for taking us along on a spectacular journey to Peru.
As I seasoned traveler, when a destination moves me to amazement and wonder, I’m compelled to share. Such was the experience I had on my recent return from Peru.
What a country! From the vast deserts of Nazca to the unspoiled wonder of the Amazon Basin to the high Andes and the wonder of Machu Piccu and the Lost City of the Incas, Peru offers something for everyone.
I was privileged to experience all of it, feeding both my adventurous , free spirit side as well as my taste for total decadence in the lap of luxury. Here is a breakdown of my excursions in Peru to spark your sense of adventure.
LIMA
Our adventure began when we arrived into Lima, the capital, known as the “City of Kings”. Lima’s famous for it’ Spanish Colonial architecture and world-class cuisine. I was shocked to learn that 2 of some of the top restaurants in the world were in Lima. The Central Restaurant, owned by Virgilio Martinez in Lima is one of the top 50 restaurants in the world. Virgilio uses the diversity and colours of Peru’s diverse landscape to create foodie masterpieces. I was amazed to learn what a culinary haven this vast city of over 10-million people offered.
Lima is also the home of the famous Larco Gold Museum. It’s remarkable chronological galleries provides an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. This rich, bustling city of 10-million people intrigues visitors with its trendy neighborhoods of which I would highly suggest the Miraflores District. This is an exclusive residential and upscale shopping district, right on the ocean in downtown Lima. I was impressed with the modern, flashy shopping malls and boutiques. To see Lima in the sunshine is a rare and special gift as the climatic region often produces fog and grey clouds for most mornings.
CUSCO
From Lima, we flew to Cusco. With an elevation of 11,800 ft, it is actually higher that the famous Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas), that sits at an elevation of only 7,970 feet, which is a surprise to most tourists. You will feel the high altitude immediately when you land in Cusco. however by keeping high carb foods to a minimum, drinking lots of water and coaca tea, you’ll be fine. 
I did hike the entire Inca trail over 22-years ago and I must say, that’s an adventure for the fittest of us but one I’ll never forget. However, on this trip, we were blessed with the decadence of the tourist train through the Sacred Valley of Urubamba to Aguas Calientes where you board a little mini-bus and transcend the twisty mountain road up to Machu Piccu. The first glimpse of this famous Lost City of Incas moves even the hardest soul.
It’s a hidden jewel of wonder and mystic that unfolds around the final bend. Hidden by the mountains and semi-tropical jungles for over 400 years until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911, archaeologies believe the Inca “Virgins of the Sun” took refuge from the Spanish Conquestors here. I could speak volumes on my experience in Machu Piccu but for the sake of the other wonders I need to cover, let’s just say, the experience will move you to tears and no one can visit this special city without being touched.The next excursion is one I must share.
I’ve heard about the Nazca lines but never really understood what they were, and why so many theories about how they came to be came to be. This journey is a full-day adventure, starting with a 3-hour drive from Lima to Paracas. From Paracas, you board a small plane, seating only 12 people. Believe me, one cannot lie about your weight as you are weighed in on the baggage scale to keep the plane level. I must also say, I’d recommend this 1-day tour to anyone who doesn’t get air sick as these adventurous pilots do some creative maneuvering when the journey begins. It’s a total flying time of 1-hr – 40 minutes and not for someone who gets motion sick.As a plane soars over the high desert of southern Peru, the dull pale sameness of the rocks and sand organize and change form constantly. Distinct white lines gradually evolve from tan and rust-red. Strips of white crisscross a desert so dry that it rains less than an inch every year. The landscape changes as lines take shape to form simple geometric designs: trapezoids, straight lines, rectangles, triangles, and swirls. Some of the swirls and zigzags start to form more distinct shapes: a hummingbird, a spider, a monkey.
These are the renowned Nasca lines—subject of mystery for over 80 years. How were they formed? What purpose could they have served? Were aliens involved?The lines are found in a region of Peru just over 200 miles southeast of Lima, near the modern town of Nasca. In total, there are over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 animal and plant designs, also called biomorphs. Some of the straight lines run up to 30 miles, while the biomorphs range from 50 to 1200 feet in length (as large as the empire state building.)
Puerto Maldonado
The adventure continues. The next morning we embark on another short one-hr flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, in the south, right on the Amazon basin. The climate changes from temperate and comfortable in Lima to hot and humid.
We are here, deep in the Amazon basin, ready for our jungle experience staying at the 5-star Inkaterra Lodge. This remote gem is a 45-minute boat ride from Puerto Maldonado and we were shocked to find out we were so remote, we had no cell service, no phone service, no air conditioning and limited electricity for 12-hours per day to charge your cameras and power the high ceiling fan.
We were originally shocked by these lack of services in this hot, steamy jungle, but this experience was awesome! It enabled us to connect in ways we haven’t in years. The food was amazing, the service impeccable and to sit in your tented hut, along the mighty river and see a guy come and bring you lanterns at dusk, simply blows your mind.
The excursions at the Inketerra are all included. The Lake Sandoval full day excursion is one I would highly recommend to the fit and adventurous but not one I’d suggest to anyone who doesn’t want to experience a real expedition. This excursion involves hiking over 6 klms through a hot, steamy jungle in mud as high as your knees. They give you high rubber boots and I highly recommend you use them. After the 3-klm trek to Lake Sandoval, the marvel of the jungle astounds you. We boarded dug-out canoes and paddled through this large lake, being astounded by the abundance of fish, bats, birds, turtles and diverse flora and fauna.
Other must see excursion is the fantastic canopy tour where you hike into the jungle (approx. 2 klms each way) and get to walk over 7 free-form suspension bridges to view spectacular wildlife. As you sway through these suspension bridges which are almost 200 ft above the ground, you feel you are truly at one with the jungle.
Lake Titicaca
Driving through these highlands around the lake, the pre-Inca people amazed me. Their brilliant knitted outfits and hats made a photo op at every turn in the road. Their primitive agriculture practices took you back over 300-years. To see the wrinkled, happy face of a lady, dressed in her colorful traditional dress, knitting happily as she herded her sheep back from the fields is priceless.Our excursions took us out on Lake Titicaca where we took a 2-hr boat ride to the floating islands. Here, the Uros Tinto people live on these islands which are made from the totora reeds. We got to interact with the skilled reed rafts-men and the expert women weavers, and see the ancestral techniques they still use to keep their islands afloat.
After visiting the remote floating reed islands, we proceeded by boat to the large island of Taquile Island where we had to climb 2klms uphill and were invited to enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch with the native Incas at a small Quechua village. Meeting the pre-Incas in the Floating Islands and then the actual Incas was quite an experience. Taquile Island is a UNESCO site as these Inca Indians have still managed to keep their heritage and practice the same life-skills of their ancient ancestors. I was thrilled to partake in these unbelievable tours which all contributed to “The wow-factor” of this Peruvian experience. The memories I shared will remain with me forever. To be in such a remote jungle surrounded by impeccable service, amazing food and lavish river-front huts was an experience I’ll remember forever.
Ready for your own spectacular adventure?
Find a travel agent near you to help plan all the details from flights and hotels to excursions and guides
The post The Mystic and Wonder of Peru appeared first on Vacation.com Insider.