Peru 8 Nasca Lines, Batán Grande

7 Fly Over the Nasca Lines – The Nasca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs that dominate the San José desert and in particular, the Nasca Valley. There are over 10,000 lines and 300 different plant and animal figures depicted. No one really knows how they got there (maybe aliens?). Without a doubt the best way to view the lines is by a helicopter or plane tour which costs around 415 PEN.

8 Step back through time at Batán Grande – Batán Grande is an archaeological site comprised of 50 pyramids and tombs, which are thought to date back to between 100-1000 AD. This site was once the Sicán capital and has had its fair share of impressive pre-Columbian artifacts recovered over the years – for example, a gold Tumi weighing almost seven pounds which was recovered from one of the royal tombs.

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Peru 7 Colca Canyon, Máncora Beach

5 Hike the Colca Canyon – Colca Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world and is thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at certain parts. This is a great place to spot Andean condors and unlike the Grand Canyon, Colca is habitable. A trip here isn’t complete unless you visit one of the small agricultural villages for a taste of daily life.

6 Surf at Máncora Beach – Seafood, watersports, horse riding and relaxation are the order of the day at this popular beach resort. Máncora is one of the finest beaches in South America and its year-round sunshine and huge waves also makes it Peru’s surfing Mecca. Prices here can be expensive December to March so it’s best to book in advance.

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