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.