For many Americans, Peru evokes images of ancient Incan culture, highlighted by the mystical archaeological site at Machu Picchu. But the country is a diverse destination that also features cosmopolitan cities, beautiful beaches and the natural wonders of the Amazon region.

Peru hosted more than 641,280 American tourists in 2018, a seven percent increase compared with 2017, and the country is poised for another strong tourism year in 2019, as the South American nation grows increasingly popular among U.S. travelers and consumers.

The upscale neighborhoods found in Peru’s capital city of Lima offer a variety of trendy restaurants, museums, shops and cultural attractions. Peru is also among the world’s most bio-diverse countries, with hundreds of endemic species of flora and fauna and multiple opportunities for bird-watching in distinctive landscapes filled with wildlife.

Meanwhile, Peru’s celebrated gastronomy is a product of the country’s cultural diversity, tourism officials say, with each city offering its own regional dishes and flavors. We spoke recently with Edgar Vasquez Vela, Peru’s minister of tourism and foreign trade, to learn more about this exotic and emerging destination.