It is the multiple layers of great civilizations that make Peru so fascinating. One can wander around colonial cities, which have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquistadors, visit the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, or explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

All of this exists in a country with some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in South America. The Peruvian Andes are arguably the most beautiful on the continent and the mountains are home to millions of highland Indians who still speak the ancient tongue of Quechua and maintain a traditional way of life.

But you don't have to be a zoologist, an anthropologist or a mountain climber to enjoy Peru, all you need is a keen eye, a love of landscape, and a willingness to meet the people.