Whilst you are in Peri, you must definitely explore the surroundings of Ica. Who would have believed that the country is home to an oasis and a desert, penguins, Pisco and everything, all in such a small place? A journey to the heart of the region can offer you incredible diversity and an unforgettable experience with nature.

Surf, try new things, explore and more in Ica

Huaraz is the perfect departure point for excursions into both the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. It's in the heights of the Sierra that you will truly discover all the fantastic features that the Ancash region has to offer.

Huarez: a jewel nestled between snow-covered peaks

Arriving in Iquitos by air gives a foretaste of what awaits you in the dense jungle. From above, all you see is a thick forest that covers the land as far as the eye can see, where only the river and its tributaries stand out from an immense green carpet.

In the heart of the Amazon rainforest: Iquitos and its floating shantytown

Located between the Selva and the Cordillera of the Andes, the Huancavélica and Cerro Pasco region will put you under its spell, with its incredible landscapes, the welcoming nature of the local inhabitants and the old traditions that are still very much alive

Pasco and Huancavélica: a voyage combining nature and tradition

Machu Picchu

Puerto Maldonado

Llanganuco

Choquequirao

On the Puno to Cuzco road, not far from Lake Titicaca, Pucara is a tiny, hidden away Peruvian village that sits at 4,000m altitude,

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I had the opportunity to briefly discover Pucará when taking the bus from Puno to Cusco. To tell you the truth, my exploration was quick, the time between getting off the bus and getting back on around 20 minutes later...
Pucará is above all known for its archaeological site. There are objects and tools which would have belonged to native Indians from Pucarábetween 500 years before and after JC. The Pucará culture is particularly known for its arts of pottery and weaving. Incidentally, you'll see ceramic pots engraved with typical motifs from the pre-Colombian era at the archaeological site.
The Pucará archaeological site used to be a stone pyramid but these stones were used some centuries later to build churches when the Jesuit missionaries arrived. 
Unless you are keen on archaeology, I would recommend that you go along your way and head in the direction of Cusco or Puno according to the direction of your <a href="/peru/">circuit of Peru</a>.

Pucará is a little town situated 80km from Titiaca Lake.

During my <a href="/peru/">trip to Peru</a>, I found myself at Pucara a bit by chance. At 100km north of Puno, quite close to the famous Lake Titicaca, this archaeological site is known country-wide for its bull design ceramics. These clay animals were placed on the roofs of houses to bring prosperity as well as to protect families, children and livestock. It was a custom that slowly spread from the high plateaus to other Peruvian towns. Whether you're in Puno, Arequipa, Cuzco or even the capital, Lima, you'll often see these figurines on rooftops. It's an unusual and moderately interesting stopover. I suggest you pay it a visit if you're heading that way but not if it means taking a detour.

On the Puno to Cuzco road, not far from Lake Titicaca, Pucara is a tiny, hidden away Peruvian village that sits at 4,000m altitude,

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