Peru

Peru is the classic South American gap year destination. Peru is divided in to three very distinct regions, each one offering very different and unique opportunities to gap year travellers. On the west of Peru is its Pacific coastline, alongside the length of which run Peru's dry and arid deserts. Travelling east from this coastal shelf the altitude rises steeply in Peru, culminating in the Andes mountain range. The Andes region of Peru is home to deep canyons and some truly spectacular mountain scenery. Continuing further east through Peru, the altitude drops again to reveal the vast rainforests of the Amazon basin.

The main departure and arrival point for visitors to Peru is its capital, Lima. Most people simply use Lima as a stepping-stone to other parts of Peru. By far the most convenient way of getting around Peru is by flying. Internal flights within Peru are numerous and relatively inexpensive. Flying will shave days off your travelling time in Peru and it's also a far safer and more comfortable means of transport than using long-distance buses.

Peru's Pacific coastline is where you'll head to if you want to get involved with Real Gap's ‘Dolphin Conservation Volunteer Peru.' This programme gives volunteers the chance to get up-close to dolphins and make a valuable contribution to their welfare. It's an excellent opportunity to see areas of Peru that most backpackers and travellers don't. Western Peru is also where the famous Nasca Lines are situated (approximately 450 kilometres south of Lima). Cut into the stony Peruvian desert are large numbers of lines, (thought to have been created by various civilisations between 900BC and 600AD), that have created numerous different striking images which can only properly be seen from the air. These mystical images are huge and include lizards, spiders, monkeys and humming birds to name just a few. Viewing trips by small plane can be organised locally, and you can then make up your own mind as to which one of the many different theories of how and why the lines were created you prefer - including one that they were made by spacemen visiting Peru!

One place you really shouldn't miss on a visit to Peru is the Andean city of Cusco. Cusco stands at 3,310 metres and, if you've just arrived in Peru and flown straight from coastal Lima, you'll need a day or two to acclimatise to the high altitude. Cusco was the capital of Peru's famous Inca Empire, one of the greatest planned societies the world has known, from its rise during the eleventh century to its eventual demise in the early sixteenth century. Cusco is one of Peru's most beautiful and historic cities and is also a great place to meet other backpacking travellers. The ‘Cross Keys' pub on the main square has become a real Cusco landmark, and is the best place to meet other travellers. Cusco is also the base for Real Gap's ‘Cultural and Language Experience Peru'. With this programme you can learn Spanish and then have the option, if you want it, of volunteering for a placement of your choice in Peru. Learning Spanish in Peru is really useful if you're travelling around South America and is advised if you want to volunteer on a project there.

If you travel east from the Andes in Peru you reach the Amazon basin, which contains some of the most important tropical flora and fauna in the world. This area is home to Real Gap's 'Amazon Turtle Conservation Peru', a volunteer project that takes place alongside jungle communities on a tributary to the Amazon river. This is a real back-to-basics project working in a remote area of Peru untouched by tourism. Volunteers take part in turtle conservation work and really get close to the Amazonian wildlife.

If you want to visit South America on your gap year then Peru is almost certain to tick all the boxes on your wish list of things to do.


Peru gap year - Click here to find out about gap year programmes in Peru


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