Peru

Traveller Neil Gibson Peru is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries on earth. It stretches from the Amazon, across the Andes to the Pacific Coast. Neil Gibson's journey begins in Lima, one of the fastest growing capital cities in Latin America. Here he meets Father Eugene Kirke, an Irishman who runs a mission in Villa El Salvador, which was on of the first shanty towns to spring up on the outskirts of Lima. He also samples food found in local markets. From Lima, Neil travels North for nine hours by coach to the Andean city of Huaraz, the center for trekking and mountaineering in Peru. After acclimatizing to the altitude, Neil takes a day trip to a glacier at 16 000 ft above sea level. From Huaraz, Neil travels by bus for twelve hours to the coastal town of Trujillo and visits the beach at Huanchaco, where surfers flock during the summer. Here he takes a trip in a traditional reed boat, and visits a Shaman. The next part of his journey takes Neil into the Amazon, via Peru's largest jungle city Iquitos, where he explores the rainforest wildlife. From Iquitos, he flies back to Lima before heading South through Peru's coastal desert towards Ica. In the desert Neil is taken to an ancient burial site that has been destroyed and looted. The next leg of Neil's journey takes him south to Nazca, where he takes a flights over the mysterious Nazca lines - shapes of animal forms up to 200 meters long, drawn over an area of 350 Sq. miles. From here he journeys on to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and crosses from the town of Puno to the island of Taquile. Here he celebrates the potato harvest with the self-sufficient islanders. Neil's final destination is Cuzco, the Inca capital. His visit coincides with the sun festival of Inti Raymi, celebrated at the time of the summer solstice at the Inca stronghold overlooking the town. He also treks the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, walking for 2 days along the sacred path before reaching the awe-inspiring Inca ruins, where he ends his journey.