Abstract

Peru is perhaps one of the most dramatic and unpredictable of all Latin American countries. Blessed with natural wealth and historical sites, it is also cursed by widespread poverty and a legacy of political violence. A gulf separates the westernized elites of Lima from the indigenous majority of the Andean highlands, creating intractable social and political problems. A mix of landscapes and cultures, Peru contains the splendours of Machu Picchu as well as the horrors of Lima's shanty towns. Ancient Indian culture exists alongside US-influenced modernity, while dramatic political events keeps the country in the headlines. The book is part of the "In Focus" series of books aimed at students and independent travellers.