When people plan a trip to explore some incredible and ancient sites, the nations of the Mediterranean often come to mind first. Egypt’s pyramids, Rome’s Colosseum, Greece’s temples, and Tunisia’s ancient city of Carthage often take priority for these kinds of trips. Even so, there’s a lot to like by looking much further west.
On the other side of South America, the landmarks created by an incredibly successful ancient civilization are as captivating as anything you’d find around the Mediterranean. Exploring these sites dotted around Peru could make for a unique and enriching trip. Before buying your tickets, however, there are some things to know.
Travel Advice for Going to Peru
While seeing ancient sites is an intriguing prospect, more factors will be weighed into your equations for committing to such a hefty trip. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK advises a few no-go zones that, thankfully, are quite detached from the main points of interest.
The main place to avoid is anywhere from the Peru-Colombia border southwards for 20 kilometers. That’s to say, to avoid travel within 20km of the Putumayo River. A few other spots are said not to be good for tourists, too. These are Ene, the Mantaro Rivers, and the Valley of the Apurimac. Known as the VRAEM region, it should be avoided.
As for your day-to-day in Peru, you’ll want to go to hotels that are at least three-star, but preferably four-star, to ensure comfort. This will send up the prices in tourist-ready cities like Cusco, but generally, the extra cost is worthwhile. Wherever you are, though, always go for bottled water and avoid drinking from or using tap water.
While these points may sound more like heavy warnings, they’re minor elements in the background for the most part. The major cities are very tourist-friendly, you can buy water just about anywhere you’d need to, and the country is actively trying to become even more of a tourist hotspot.
Travelling Back in Time to the Inca Empire
The Inca Empire might not be among the most famous or visited of the world’s ancient civilizations, but intrigue is certainly growing. While Hollywood may not be catching the trend yet, online casino slots are seeing demand for Inca-themed games grow. That’s why there are a few Inca slots online, including the most recent addition, Inca Queen.
With the jungle-bound setting featuring the wilds of South America and epic stone buildings, the Inca Empire is instantly recognizable across entertainment media. In games like Inca Gems and Inca Gems v2, the theme leans into the potential riches hidden within these ancient temples.
The fact that we have these entertainment products is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship that went into the Inca buildings that still stand to this day. The most famous is Machu Picchu, which stands over the Sacred Valley. It’s the quintessentially Incan building and stands as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Around Machu Picchu, there’s even more to explore in the stunning hills of Peru. Tipón sprawls down a hillside, Pickillaqta is a colossal site famed for the volume of guinea pig bones excavated there, and Sacsayhuaman was once the empire’s main fortress and continues to overlook Cusco.
There’s a lot to explore in Peru, close to tourist-primed cities, making it a very intriguing pick for your next trip.
