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Must see sights in Peru/Bolivia?

Taking a long trip; please do not respond with check out lonely planet etc. First-hand knowledge is what I am looking for here. Also, climbing gear/no climbing gear????? I know there is climbing to be had, but I will be backpacking for a long time….and the weight….

As a Peruvian I can suggest you so many places to visit (which I myself have visited):
If you start with the norh of Peru, I recommend:
Lambayeque, the cradle of the Mochicas, who lived there between the first and fourth centuries A.D., which makes Lambayeque one of the most interesting archeological destinations in the country. In 1987 the famous royal tombs of Sipán were discovered. Besides the Sipán archeological site, you can visit the modern Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum that contains the most extraordinary gold pieces found in the excavations.
Túcume is another archeological site of unique beauty. There, you will see more than twenty adobe pyramids, all approximately forty meters high, that belong to the Lambayeque culture. Another must see in Lambayeque is the Chaparrí Ecological Reserve, in the district of Chongoyape. Try the beach resort of Pimentel and the tradition town of Saña with its Colonial houses and churches.

La Libertad:
Otuzco, Julcan, and Santiago de Chuco, and ending in the upper jungle (The Amazon Rain Forest). Trujillo, the capital of the department, is known as the city of eternal spring because of its blessed climate and festive atmosphere. The area was inhabited by two important, ancient Peruvian civilizations, the Mochica and the Chimú, and later, it became an important vice royal city. You must not miss visiting Chan Chan, the largest mud city in the Americas and ancient capital for the Chimú. There, you can see the remarkable huacas (pre-Incan sacred places) built by the Mochicas like the Huaca of the Sun and of the Moon. Also, the El Brujo complex, decorated with inspiring figures of dancers and warriors. The city also has a splendid Colonial architecture where you will want to see the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Church of the Company of Jesus Christ, the monastery of El Carmen, and the many Colonial houses.The Huanchaco beach resort is only fifteen minutes away from the city. It is famous for the caballitos de totora, which are lightweight boats made of totora reeds that have been used to cut through the ocean since the time of the Mochicas and Chimús.

Cajamarca:
The territory is made up of numerous valleys and gorges. The city of Cajamarca is of significance for Peruvians, besides its magnificent Colonial architecture and beautiful countryside, it was the scene of an important episode of South American history. Here, the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the Inca Atahualpa who, in spite of fulfilling his part of the ransom(a room filled with gold and another with silver), was killed. From that point onward, the conquistadors drafted the city in the traditional Spanish way. Today the Colonial constructions of the Cathedral, the churches of San Francisco, Belen, and la Recoleta, mansions, and monuments are preserved.
There are many excursion possibilities: the Inca Baths, thermo-medicinal hot springs where the Inca used to go after long trips, the Ventanillas de Otuzco (Otuzco Windows), a cemetery carved into a wall of volcanic rock, Cumbemayo, a demonstration of pre-Incan hydraulic engineering still functioning today, that is located in a wonderful natural area, the old hacienda La Colpa, where the cattle go to be milked at the sound of their name, Kuntur Wasi, a commercial center that dates to the year 1100 b.C. and its site museum with the numerous examples of the oldest objects of gold in the Americas.

Loreto:
The largest yet least populated department in Peru, covered by dense vegetation and by primary and secondary jungle with low hills and slightly rolling landscape, crisscrossed by the many rivers of the Amazon River basin, which is born at the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers. Iquitos, the capital of Loreto, is the main port city on the Amazon River and the largest city in the Peruvian jungle. Different indigenous people groups like the Cocama, Huitoto, and Bora first inhabited the area. You find the homes in the Belen neighborhood that are constructed on top of rafts and pylons to protect them from the flooding of the river. One of the best attractions in Loreto is navigating on the rivers and lakes and enjoying the beautiful beaches.The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (2,080,000 hectares), the largest reserve in Peru, is located 183 kilometers from the city and is home to numerous plant and animal species, many of them in danger of extinction like the charapa river turtle, the giant river otter, the black caiman, and the river dolphin. The Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve (58,000 hectares) protects the largest concentration of white sand forests, or varillales as they are known in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

In the Center of Peru,:
Ancash:
In the Callejon de Huaylas, a dazzling valley stuck between two mountain ranges, the Blanca and Negra Cordilleras, picturesque cities like Recuay, Carhuas, Yungay, and Caras and the capital Huarás. Visit the impressive archeological complex of Chavin de Huantar, its a must. In Ancash you will find the most spectacular snow covered mountains, among them Mount Huascaran (6,768 ma.s.l.), the tallest peak in Peru. In addition, there are hot springs and spectacular lakes as those of Llanganuco.

In Lima (there is no way around as the only international airport is located there):
Im not a big fan of Lima as it is overcrowded, traffic is awful. However if you must stay in Lima and want to visit places, there are too many to even try to list them as the city itself has been sitting in the same place since 1535. It was considered the vice-royal capital of South America for three centuries, and historical columbian and pre-columbian sites abound.

In the south of Peru
If you go to Cuzco:
The city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, is without a doubt one of the most important destinations in Peru. There are Incan buildings waiting for you to discover them among its cobble-stoned streets, ones like the Koricancha and the palace of Inca Roca as well as Andean Baroque structures from the Colonial Period like the Cathedral and the Church of the Company of Christ. San Blas where the best artisans in the department have set up their workshops. Just ten minutes away from the city, there are the massive walls of the Sacsayhuamán fortress, and a few kilometers from there, you find the archeological sites of Qenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay, Incan buildings constructed completely with stone. Tthe towns of Písac, Maras, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo, which are spread throughout the Sacred Valley of the Incas, one hour from Cusco. From there, it is possible to catch the train to Machu Picchu. Another way of getting to the citadel is by following one of the Inca Trails(are you healthy and strong?) This is one of the best trekking routes in the world, since scattered throughout it, you find remarkable archeological sites and areas rich in unique plant and animal species. Machu Picchu, the most important and beautiful legacy of the ancient Peruvian, is part of the Historic Sanctuary of the same name.

If you are atracted by nature, then go to Madre de Dios (border with Cuzco):
Puerto Maldonado, Manu Park (1,716,295 hectares, this is the park that set the world record for the number of bird species seen in one day at one spot with 324 species), Tambopata-Candamo Park (274,690 hectares), Bahuaja-Sonene National Park (1,091,416 hectares)

If you go to Puno (also border with Cuzco):
Lake Titicaca, The Uros this people group lives on “floating islands” that they have artificially made entirely of totora reeds, Tiahuanaco culture remains.

If you go to Arequipa:
Volcanos Mount Chachani, Mount Mist. The downtown of the city, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plazas. Sabandía, Tiabaya, and Tingo. Just 3 hours and 45 minutes from the capital is the Colca River valley and canyon, one of the most extraordinary destinations in the country. And, at the Cross of the Condor, you can view the majestic flight of the condors. Toro Muerto petroglyphs, the Andagua Valley of the Volcanoes, and the Cotahuasi Canyon.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

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