3 Reasons to Visit Peru (Besides Exploring Machu Picchu)
Peru, the third-largest country in South America, attracts visitors with its diverse landscapes, awe-inspiring attractions, boundary-pushing cuisine and eclectic cultures. Aside from the country's picturesque locales and ample opportunities to take part in adrenaline-pumping adventures, Peru offers an abundance of iconic wonders, from Machu Picchu and the legendary Inca Trail to 400-year-old structures across Cusco. In fact, Machu Picchu has become so popular that the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has implemented new rules stating that all foreign visitors to the sites must hire an official guide, follow predetermined paths and adhere to time limits to prevent long-term physical damage to sacred temples and stones across the endangered UNESCO site.