Lima
Lima respects its past and achieves the perfect harmony between tradition and contemporary architecture. To walk through its streets is to admire its churches, archeological sites and large houses with balconies that coexist with modern buildings. In 1991, its Historical Center was declared a World Heritage Site: its artistic monuments were to be protected.
Lima is also the only South American capital with access to the sea. Its beaches are perfect for surfers and on its piers, the gentle breeze refreshes bike rides and walks. You can also fly in paragliding over the Pacific Ocean.
In this city with lineage, founded in 1535, the abundance of natural products, the fusion of techniques and cultures, forged in centuries gastronomy with mestizo identity. Because of the excellent quality and passion of Peruvian chefs, Lima has been named the Gastronomic Capital of Latin America.
ICA
Ica boasts characteristic dunes and a vast desert etched with enigmatic figures, the Nasca Lines, transformed into fertile fields by ancient cultures: The Paracas and the Nasca. Land of valleys, sun, beaches and a Natural Reserve inhabited by a lush variety of flora and fauna, it is also a mysterious land of villages, home of fine wine and “pisco”, Afro-Peruvian music, and an oasis-like the Huacachina, a patch of life in the heart of a blanket of sand.
CUSCO
Seductive, striking and natural, Cusco’s history lives in its streets, squares, valleys, and towns. Stunning destinations and examples of fine engineering by Inca stonemasons can be seen in Choquequirao, Saysayhuamán, Kenko, Tambomachay, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the Inca jewel built with the wisdom of the ancient Peruvians in an ecological environment. Captivating landscapes such as the Sacred Valley, where the mountains are clothed by terraces.
Pictures villages where the past forms part of the present. Cusco really is the birthplace of the world.
AREQUIPA
Peru’s ashlar (white stone) city with snow-capped mountains, volcanoes (e.g. Misti), deep canyons (e.g. Cotahuasi and Colca), renowned gastronomy, small coves, and beaches. Nestling between the coast and the southern highlands of Peru, Arequipa is the land of great destinations with heights on snow-capped peaks such as Ampato (6,288 m), volcanoes like Chachani (6,075 m) and El Misti (5,825 m).
LA LIBERTAD
Temples, pyramids and cities of mud that survive inclement weather: Chan Chan, Huaca del Sol y la Luna, el Brujo are some of the most remarkable destinations in the province of La Libertad. It offers exquisite colonial architecture in the beautiful mansions that line its streets, living culture with deeply-rooted customs like fishing on Caballitos de Tortora (the traditional reed rafts of the northern coast), and renowned beaches that attract surfers from around the world. It is the birthplace of the seductive “marinera”, the national dance of Peru. La Libertad, the very picture of ancient nobility.
PIURA
Piura has streets lit up by the constant northern sun. Its spas and beaches destinations are popular with surfers: Máncora, Colán, Los Órganos, Vichayito and Cabo Blanco (famous for having hosted the writer, Ernest Hemingway) and Lobitos. In the region of Piura, you can find colonial temples and artisan towns, like Chulucanas and Catacaos. Additionally, there are magical lakes like Las Huaringas. Piura is home to the largest dry region in Peru, the Sechura desert. Its festivals include that of the Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca (Captive Lord of Ayabaca), and Catacaos’ Easter festival, characterized by profound religious devotion. It has a wide selection of varied food. Piura is the land of eternal summer.