Jon

If you think Peru is all about the Incas and Machu Picchu, think again. Two thousand year ago a mysterious and little know civilization inhabited the north of Peru. In recent years archaeologists - with a little help from grave robbers - have uncovered some of the most fabulous pottery and jewellery ever to emerge from an ancient civilization.

Ask anyone to think about a trip to the Amazon Rainforest and it's more than likely that Brazil will spring to mind. But did you know that more than half of Bolivia's territory is in the Amazon basin? Bolivia is an undervalued place for fabulous jungle tours and for spotting wildlife in the Amazon.

Paddington Bear is the hero of a series of popular children's books and, apparently, comes from 'Darkest Peru'. He wears a blue duffel coat and a large black hat under which he hides his marmalade sandwiches, much to the amusement of generations of British children.

One of the most fascinating all round treks in Peru takes you through the Lares valleys near Machu Picchu. These alternatives to the Inca Trail offer an outstanding combination of fine trekking, mountain scenery, and unforgettable real life experiences with local Andean people.

If you are thinking of planning a South America vacation and are not sure where to start, here are some ideas to get you started.

Hiking in Inca Trail or any other high altitude trek in Peru can be very unlike hikes you do back home. Being prepared will ensure that you get the most out of your Peru trekking holiday. Here is a list of what to take on the Inca Trail, or any Peru trek.

Over the last decade, a dispute has been running between Yale University and the Peruvian government based on the famous archaeological site of Machu Picchu. The problems began over 90 years ago when Hiram Bingham discovered the site. Find out more about the problems in this article.

It's no secret that Machu Picchu has large numbers of visitors all year round. If you'd like to visit the site and get a unique experience that is probably better than most other visitors, here are some tips.

If you're thinking about visiting the Galapagos Islands, you're in for a treat. Made famous by Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle in the 19th century, the Islands lie 972 km west of mainland Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Undiscovered by mankind until relatively recently, you'll see a fantastic range of flora and fauna in ecosystems that exist nowhere else on the planet.

One of those necessary annoyances of travelling to Peru is planning the luggage that you will carry. You don't want to end up lugging around giant suitcases of empty space, but you don't want to be breaking zippers either. Here's some helpful advice on sorting out your luggage for a Peru vacation.