Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests.

Few journeys of the nineteenth century crossed such extremes in so short a distance: from desert coast to icy cordillera to steaming forest. This traveller made the whole ascent and set it all down.

What it's about

Travels in Peru records an extended journey through the country's dramatically varied regions, beginning on the Pacific coast, climbing into the highland sierra, crossing the Cordilleras and the Andes, and descending into the primeval forests beyond. The traveller reports on the terrain, climate and natural history encountered along the way, together with observations of the inhabitants, their customs, and the towns and antiquities passed through.

Themes

The book belongs to the great age of scientific and exploratory travel writing, in which close observation of nature and society went hand in hand. It is concerned with the extraordinary diversity of Peru's environments and the human life adapted to each, and with the encounter between an outside observer and a land of Inca ruins, Andean peoples and Amazonian frontier. Curiosity, endurance and description are its keynotes.

Why it still matters

Nineteenth-century travel accounts like this preserve invaluable snapshots of landscapes, communities and conditions since transformed, and they document the natural history of regions then little known to outside readers. For students of Peru, of exploration, and of the traditions of travel writing, the book remains a rewarding source.

Who it's for

Lovers of classic travel and exploration narratives, readers interested in the Andes and South American history, and anyone who enjoys vivid firsthand accounts of demanding journeys through remarkable country.