Friday, February 10, 2012

Introducing Peru

For anyone in search of nature at its most dramatic, Peru is a must. Rugged mountains, beautiful coastal deserts and the breathtaking green expanse of the Amazon rainforest combine to make this one of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet.

It’s also a great place to try your hand at volunteer work – if you’ve ever wanted to volunteer in Guatemala for example, but been daunted by the idea of impoverished slums and vast urban sprawl, then perhaps a stint of volunteering in Peru might suit you better. There are countless projects operating here, that would all be glad of the extra support – from teaching English in village schools, to community healthcare programs and even conservation work in the Amazon rainforest!

The culture of Peru is a fascinating blend of many different influences. Christianity is widespread, and yet it exists amongst cultures that still worship the older, indigenous gods. Head into some of the larger towns and cities on the other hand, and you’ll be able to find bars, nightclubs and restaurants, as well as shopping centres and full service resorts.

The mountains are one of the main attractions here, and many people choose to set out on walking expeditions through the Andes. Alternatively, you could spend your time enjoying exhilarating outdoor activities – just a few of the many sports on offer here include horse riding, rock climbing, surfing and white water rafting.

For many people, Peru is a first step on the road to exploring the countries of South and Central America. Many people immerse themselves in the culture here before going on to travel deeper into the Andes, south towards Brazil, or even heading further north to volunteer in Costa Rica or Panama.

One thing is certain – visit Peru just once, and it will be enough for the magic and mystique of this fascinating land to stay with you for a lifetime.

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