Set along the equator, some 600 miles off the South American coast of Ecuador, is a crown jewel of the natural world. The Galapagos Islands live up to our dreams of a sheltered place far removed from the usual worries of the world. The skies are almost always sunny, and the sea breezes create that perfect air temperature that instantly relaxes the body. The ocean is an ever-inviting turquoise blue, matched by long sandy beaches of crystal white, pink, black and looking-glass green. There are crystal coves and sheltered mangrove lagoons.

However, what will make your visit here truly exceptional are the many opportunities for close up encounters with wildlife. The islands and surrounding waters are quite literally teaming with exotic and colorful creatures that have never learned to fear humans. This results in a series of daily peak experiences including snorkeling with playful sea lions, tracking giant tortoise and trading stares with unconcerned iguanas. Bird life is abundant, varied and fearless. You may have to give way as a blue footed booby crosses your path, or have the opportunity to observe a Galapagos hawk perched just a few steps away, as an albatross launches itself off a cliff on a journey that will encompass thousands of miles.

The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, which would be stunning anywhere, are truly spectacular in their Andean setting, high above the Urubamba River. And Cuzco, once the center of the Inca Empire and now a vibrant gateway to Inca ruins, is even higher in the Andes.

Yet even at sea level, Peru can leave you breathless. With unspoiled beaches, coastal desert, deep canyons and dense Amazon jungle, its variety of natural wonders is astonishing. Then, there are the cultural treasures. The contrast between old and new runs throughout the land: Poncho-clad Amerindians walk their llamas through modern cities, past Spanish cathedrals built on the foundations of ancient Inca ruins. Giant, stylized designs were etched in the earth by a great - and unknown - civilization.

Peru is where pre-Columbian culture reached its most graceful peak. Like the Parthenon in Greece or the Pyramids of Egypt, the Inca and pre-Inca ruins of Peru provide an unforgettable glimpse of the genius of a lost world.