Be it learning about the four breeds of camels native to Peru or exploring the markets of Cuzco, this guide provides the best suggestions for getting the most out of your trip. The guide begins with a detailed account of the country - what not to be missed, Peru today, food and drink, land and environment, history, and the arts - followed by nine regional chapters. The area chapters start in Lima, proceed south through the Southern Lowlands and Southern Highlands, before turning inland to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. The trip continues back toward the North Coast via the Central Highlands, and Huaraz and the High Andes before ending with the Northern Highlands and the Amazon.Special features include walking tours along the famous Inca trail to Machu Picchu and the Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit, as well as city strolls through Cuzco and Colonial Lima. Additionally in-depth sidebars tell you about learning Quechua, volunteering in the highlands, visiting native artisans, and staying with local families. A detailed travelwise tells you how to get there and how to get around, with author-picked hotels and restaurants.

British-born Rob Rachowiecki is an award-winning guidebook author and active member of the Society of American Travel Writers , with a Masters Degree in Ecology. He has travelled extensively and frequently throughout Peru since his first visit in 1982. Rob has written numerous books about Peru and works there as an adventure travel guide, leading treks in the high Andes and cruises on the upper Amazon.