Peru Guide
Introduction to Peru
A fantastic land of gold, Peru was sixteenth-century Europe's major source of treasure, and once home to the largest empire in the world – the sun-worshipping Incas. Since then, the riches of the Incas have fired the European imagination; the country was home to the world's first stone pyramids, whose genuine antiquity was only discovered in the last few years of the twentieth century. The desert coast, meanwhile, is studded with monumental adobe temples and ruins from several pre-Inca civilizations. These archeological sites generate more than enough awe and wonder to attract visitors and pilgrims from all over the globe. Equally unique and appealing, however, is the sheer beauty of the country's landscapes, its abundant wildlife, and the strong character of the people – which has withstood a relatively recent, lengthy period of bloody political upheaval.