A rich cultural heritage and magnificent landscape draws travellers from around the globe to this South American country. Peru is the land of the Incas and Chavin cultures, home to the ancient city of Machu Picchu and has the highest mountains anywhere in the tropics, the Andes. These dramatic mountains are also the most beautiful. Trekkers can circumvent entire mountain ranges passing glaciers, volcanoes, emerald alpine lakes, and remote villages.

Trekking in the Andes fires the imagination with its mega biodiversity. I chose to hike the Ausangate Circuit and the Huayuash Circut.

The Ausangate Circuit

This six-day, moderate trek involves a complete circuit of Nevado Ausangate, the highest mountain in the region. It is just one of many peaks in the Cordillera Vilcanota. The trek starts and finishes in the puna and crosses four high passes en route. “Consequently it features varied scenery, including fluted icy peaks, tumbling glaciers and turquoise lakes, rolling brown puna and green marshy valleys. There are warm mineral springs near Tinqui, at the start and finish of the walk.

Herds of alpacas and llamas graze the valley floors and vicunas can be sighted on the highest slopes. Viscachas inhabit almost any rocky slope. Most species of highland birds may be seen. The large black-winged Andean geese, several ducks and perhaps Andean gulls are the most obvious birds in the marshy puna valleys. Mountain caracaras are common, either wheeling overhead or scavenging on the ground. - Trekking in the Central Andes.