I’ve been to 40 countries, but Peru is one of my favorites. Here are 5 things to know before you visit.

If you’re not planning to leave Lima or Cusco, then you probably don’t need a car during your visit. Instead, you can hire a driver or participate in sightseeing tours when exploring the Sacred Valley.

However, if you’re planning to venture outside these areas — like going to the Amazon as my husband and I did — then a car may be essential.

Driving in this country is not for the faint of heart, though. We consider ourselves experienced international drivers, but this was easily the most challenging driving situation we’ve ever found ourselves in.

Throughout our drives, we encountered damaged roads, many stray dogs (including some that aggressively chased our car), fellow drivers disregarding “normal” traffic rules, and environmental hazards in more rural areas.

Still, our six-hour road trip from Cusco to Quincemil — to stay at the incredible Kuporo Lodge in the rainforest — was absolutely breathtaking, so the tough drives were well worth it.