Lima, PERU

Lima, the capital city of Peru, was founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. This city's historic places include the National University of San Marcos, which was established in 1551 and is the oldest university in the Americas.

• Casa Aliaga

  Casa Aliaga is a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains, Jerónimo de Aliaga. This is the only house from that time still belonging to the same family.

• Plaza de Armas

  Also Plaza Mayor, located in the Historic Centre of Lima, it is surrounded by the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop's Palace of Lima, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union.

• Cathedral Basilica of Lima

  A Roman Catholic cathedral located in the Plaza Mayor of downtown Lima constructed in 1535 - 1649.

• Larco Museum

  Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district and housed in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built over a seventh-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artefacts, as well as pieces of erotic art.

Cusco, PERU

This city once served as the capital of the Inca Empire. Many of its most popular sights are the ruins of this once-great people, such as the famous "lost city" of Machu Picchu. Cuzo itself also has many sights.

• Cuzco Cathedral

  This cathedral, also called the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, was completed in 1654, and is located in the Plaza de Armas. It contains many historically significant objects and relics.

• Sacsayhuaman

  Sacsayhuaman is strategically built on a hill overlooking Cuzco and famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9m/30ft high and weighing over 350 tons.

• Qenko

  An archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of Peru located in the Cusco Region. The site was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Cusco Region by the National Institute of Culture. It is one of the largest huacas (holy places) in the Cusco Region. Many huacas were based on naturally occurring rock formations. It was believed to be a place where sacrifices and mummification took place.

• Puka Pukara

  In the ancient Quechan language, the name of this set of ruins near Cuzco mean "the red fortress." It features large, terraced walls that sit on a hill overlooking the surrounding valley.

• Tambomachay

  One of the many archaeological sites located in and around the city of Cuzco, the exact purpose of this facility is still uncertain. It is comprised of a series of aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls that cut through terraced rocks.

Chinchero, PERU

The small rustic town of Chinchero lies off the main road between Cusco and Urubamba. It sits at 3762m above sea level. It is towered over by the Vilcabamba range and the snowcapped peak of Salcantay. There is a great display of Inca architecture, ruins and megalithic carved rocks. Chinchero is home to the famous Peruvian weaving and also has a colouful market. Chinchero is also believed to be the birthplace of the rainbow.

Ollantaytambo, PERU

This small town north of Cuzco is built around an archaeological site. At the height off the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti. It is one of the starting points of the Inca Trail.

Sacred Valley, PERU

The heart of the Inca Empire, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is the region of Peru surrounding the city of Cusco. The valley is full of the ruins of this once-powerful empire, such as Ollantaytambo, Pisac and Tipon.

Aguas Calientes, PERU

This town sits 20 minutes down the mountain from Machu Picchu. Its name, "hot waters" in English, derives from the presence of numerous thermal springs in the area that make thisvillage a great place to relax after a hike.

Machu Picchu, PERU

The famous citadel of the Inca sits atop a scraggy mountain peak overlooking the valley that was sacred to those people. These ruins feature many temples and the famous terraced-gardens the Inca developed for agriculture in the Andes.