This week, we're heading to a country that's been in the news in recent months, but not in a good way. Remember December 1996, when an armed group of revolutionaries called the Tupac Amaru took as hostage hundreds of people attending a party at the Japanese embassy in Lima, Peru? Well, not only does Peru have terrorists, it's also a great place to visit for those who like beautiful scenery and have a feel for adventurous travel. Advertising guru and amateur alpaca farmer, Tamara Brown, recently returned from a two-week adventure in Peru. "A trip to Peru without walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is like a trip to NYC without kissing a cross-dresser at The Tunnel at four in the morning," says Tami. Indeed, Hiking the Andes is definitely one of the best reasons to visit Peru. Ms. Brown highly recommends "taking a four-day trip [there are two- or three-day options] as it is the longest and most beautiful route," but warns, "it is rigorous, really rigorous." In addition to Machu Picchu, another major Andes attraction is Lake Titicaca. Located on the high plateau between Peru and Bolivia, Titicaca is thought by many to be one of the most breathtaking spots on Earth. Peru offers travelers more than just impressive scenery. The ancient Incan culture left behind a staggering amount of impressive architecture that makes for great sight-seeing. Brown, the Peru expert, suggests the town of Cusco for some interesting Peruvian culture. "At night they light up the Plaza de Armas and it's spectacular! Big, old colonial churches around a cobblestone square. There is a pretty major extranjero [gringo] scene here. Everyone just hangs out in their newly purchased alpaca sweaters." Ms. Brown also offers some good culinary tips for the sensitive gringo stomach. "The most consistently enjoyable food in Peru is the chicken soup. You want to order Sopa Dieta de Pollo [diet chicken soup]. This is broth with nice white meat chicken pieces, vegetables and noodles. Perfect for the inevitable stomach troubles. Also eat the local foods; the Ceviche is to die for!" As with all developing nations (especially those in Latin and South America), there are some security concerns in Peru. Fielding's DangerFinder has a whole book devoted to the dangers of Peru and makes for an amusing read. (Buy a strong moneybelt!) A look at the U.S. State Department Warning Sheet is a good idea. Two terrific general online guides are the Peru Explorer and the Welcome to Peru Guide as well as the others listed below. One last tip from our guest adventurer, Ms. Tami Brown: "Stay away from the Cuy (pronounced Coo-ee), roasted guinea pig. I didn't meet anyone who felt they were better for trying it." Muchas gracias, Tami!